Teachers- should I stay or should I go?

[pixiefish]

I'm posting this under education as it's relevant to education- even though it's a work issue it's not a general work issue- it's fairly specific... hope that's ok

I?m in a total quandry about my job and what to do for the best for me, dd, dh and work. This is so confusing and I don?t know what to do.

Here?s the background:
I teach English in a secondary school and have gone part time since September. I don?t think the bosses are entirely happy about this but that?s irrelevant at the minute.

My degree is in another subject but because of the shortage of English teachers I was appointed- initially I thought I?d only do it for a year and then I?d go back to my subject. 5 years on I?m still doing it although for the last 2 years (not this year) I have had a Gcse and an A level group in my degree subject(this was because I was being tempted by another job and the head wanted me to stay so he gave me what the other school were offering)

I am never going to progress any further or teach a level in English- that has been made more than clear to me as the head and head of dept think that it?s only a specialist who should do that- this is no longer an issue for me- I have accepted this and am not going to try and fight it (even though I've been told that my lack of degree in the subject isn't an issue when it boils down to it then it is).

If I leave now then I can put on my cv that I was an English and degree subject teacher but if I stay another year or so then I?ll be back to being an English teacher who?s stuck at the same school and in the same position for ever more. Even though I?m not particularly ambitious at the moment I don?t want to have a ceiling on my career as I don?t know how I?ll feel in the future. I also feel like a 'poor relation' IYKWIM in that I don't teach A level but others do.

My quandary is this:
Do I quit in February and leave at Easter and hopefully get some supply work for a couple of years before trying to get back into teaching my degree subject or what?
I?ve also got issues with dd and her eczema- the clinic is on one of my teaching days and I feel like shit for taking the time off- however it was my hod who insisted I worked that day so that she could get me to attend the after school meeting, dd?s eczema is particularly bad this week and ve had to leave her with my mum so that I can go to work- if I was doing supply then I could turn down work this week and stay at home with dd- I feel totally torn and that whatever I do I?m letting someone down. (Dh has accepted that the decision is mine and so long as I do some supply he is ok)
There is an abundance of supply work in this area.
Unfortunately not an abundance of work in my degree subject, certainly no hope of part time work in that subject at the moment.
Many thanks for reading this- sorry if it?s long and boring

quandry I mean- not quandary

(((hugs))) Toughie Pixiefish. I was just about to log off for bedtime, but didn't want to ignore your post.

My friend does supply teaching and really loves it, although it is primary not secondary. Supply has loads of benefits, but also the problems too. But there is loads of it around, and it is well paid. You don't have the same commitments as a permanent job - marking, parent's evenings, reports, planning, etc - but I guess you don't have the consistency either.

If you are unhappy at work, then go and chat to one of the local supply agencies and get more details. Going for a chat can't hurt anyway.

I have to sign off in a sec, but I will remember to come back tomorrow and chat more if you like. I am happy to be a listening ear for you whilst you bounce ideas around.

I remember doing the same thing last year and it really helped.

Cheers Hulababy

We don't have supply agencies here. The primaries are supplied from 'The Pool' which the lea run and teachers apply to go on it once a year- you can't get a permanent or supply job without being on 'The pool'.
Secondary is different- you just contact the schools and they contact you when they need you. I'm known in a couple of local schools but once you start going into them and they like you then you get used. Another problem I have is that I'm fairly inflexible in that I've only got childcare mon, tues and fri as mum has other comittments weds and thurs.
Dh says he's happy to go along with what I want because I'm so unhappy and this is leading to us arguing.
Anyway- will try to catch you on here tomorrow
Thanks

Hi pixiefish, from a career point of view, it does sound better to make the move sooner rather than later so that as you point out, you would leave your post on a high note. Also, it sounds as though you really need a more flexible work pattern a the mo for family reasons and supply would obviously give you this.

My only other thought is have you talked to your union for advice? I know you are not talking about a confrontation with your employer, but we pay our union fees to get all kinds of support and advice. Might be worth a try. Good luck .

When I talked to the union before they were very pro me staying at the permanent contract- that's more to do with work as a whole rather than the career thing.

Don't know what to do for the best

I'm a Classics grad who did an English PGCE & now teaches English, History & Latin - oh & Geography or Drama when the school's stuck to sort out the timetable. Sadly unless you do your initial degree in a shortage subject, you're liable to get mucked about I think!

After 5 years as an English teacher your lack of a degree definitely shouldn't stop you progressing, tho'. But if the school are unlikely to let you loose on A Level (have you asked them if there's anything you could do to reverse that decision?), how do you feel about going for something more pastoral (HOY or whatever)?

Or alternatively, lie low in current job for a bit whilst keeping an eye open for jobs in your degree subject? I'd avoid supply as a career move (kids are HORRIBLE to supply teachers, & it doesn't necessarily impress future employers), unless it suits you better as a lifestyle choice (ie. no marking fits in with spending time with dd & dh).

One thing in your favour is your school are evidently keen to retain you, so it might be worth a word with your HOD or the boss to indicate your concerns.

This has been on my mind a bit as I'm keen to progress too, don't much fancy a pastoral role & have a HOD & 2nd in Dept who are unlikely to move on anytime soon. More or less decided to stick with existing job once I go back from ML - whilst keeping anh eye out for something better...

I was always told that about 5 years in one school is enough and after that it can be a good idea to move on. Can't rememeber who told me this though!

Supply sounds tempting. I did it for a while and it is OK but does have it's downfalls too. I always found it best to stick to 2 or 3 schoold you know well, as this makes life easier for you!

The union has a good point on that. The impression I get is that part time permanent contracts aren't easy to come by.

hmm..
I am not a teacher and don't know all the ins-and outs.. but you sound like you are being torn at the moment.

Go with your gut (if you can)
Teachers will always get jobs (particularly in the S.east!!)

They've given the a level group to someone with 1 year in rather than me because she had the degree- that speaks volumes to me. have threatened to go in the past because of it and my hod says that they will give me a level- just not now- this has been said for about 4 years. I haven't helped things by getting pg, mat leave and now part time. Getting a job in my subject isn't really an option at the moment- my part time needs interfere there.

I do also feel that the marking and paper work is very heavy in English- as it is in Welsh- my degree subject- that's why I'm considering the supply angle- am dreading the mocks at xmas- have got 2 groups.- that's something else- even though i'm only 2 days- 6 of the 10 lessons are Gcse groups- how heavy is that

unicorn- but i live in Wales- think the commute might kill me

Great when they all go on study leave though!

but if you were supply wouldn't you would feel more in control?
bit like freelancing- you call the shots?

No such thing at our schoolas study leave. the 6 lessons are 3 year 10 and 3 year 11 so they don't all even leave at the end of term

pixiefish, you sound as though you want a change for all sorts of reasons. Go for it .

cheers Puff- think i needed to write it all down to help me decide- would like other teachers opinions though

Yes, write down all the pros and cons and keep bumping this up for other teacher's input.

Lots of luck x.

am a teacher and I would leave.
Sounds like a good time 'to go' and you'll always have supply work until a good job that you like comes along. It may even give you opportunities to see what other local school are like, and perhaps get in through the back door so to speak. lots of luck!

I trained in a shortage subject and it is no guarantee that you'll just teach that subject. I ended up teaching yr9 English for SATS - I don't have a degree in English, never even read any Shakespeare, but because I teach MFL I was considered able to cope.
As a specialist MFL teacher though, I would be upset if a non-specialist colleague was given a precious A-Level group ahead of me.
I didn't return to teaching after ds was born, I reckoned that I would be able to do supply if I wanted and that it couldn't be any worse than my last school.
If you accept that you won't be considered for A-level teaching, maybe you could take responsiblity for something like KS3 co-ordination or KS2/3 liaision to keep your cv sparkly?
I'd be tempted to do supply. The summer term is a bit thin for work though, because of staff being freed up by exams.
Sorry, this is all a bit disjointed.

But if you've been teaching the subject for 5 years, doesn't that make you a specialist?!

It certainly ought to mean that IF you want to teach A Level, you can get advice on how to satisfy the requirements to do so. I'd've thought that an experienced English teacher (however she initially started teaching English) was a better bet than someone with a year's experience.

Certainly, and if you've been in the department that long, they should definitely be offering you PD to develop your career.
You could also do exam marking (as well as supply.

Thanks everyone- have done exam marking and I hated it but if I couldn't get any other work then it's an option I suppose.

Carrie- even though I've been teaching English for 5 years I'm still not considered a specialist- I'm good enough to teach the A set at GCSE- 32 kids with their folios of 7 pieces of coursework each over 6 pages long!!! but I'm not good enough to teach A level!!! It pisses me off to tell you the truth and even though I keep asking I never get- it's always- next year pixie i promise then the timetable 'won't allow it'

Am scared that now that I've reached the 'ceiling' so to speak there's nowhere else to go- yes I know i could go down the pastoral route but i don't want to restrict myself to that avenue IYKWIM. I am also scared of being 'stuck' at my present school because of my lack of 'specialism'

I would teach English in other schools if they offered me Welsh and English- I quite enjoy teaching it- that makes me flexible and able to offer more than one subject

I think that it is awful that they don't let you teach A level. I was allowed to do this in my NQT year. In fact I did this when I was working on the unqualified regester.

If you go on supply at least the burden of planning , marking will be lifted a bit even if you still don't get A level.

Hope that things improve

Hi there. You sound really fed up and it is so hard to be fed up in teaching as you can't 'hide'. You have to make the work happen!

Was this your first post? Did you do a PGCE in Welsh?

I amin a slightly different position in that I am primary trained and work in a middle school (aged 9-13) and teach years 5, 6 and 7 - but mainly year 6 'core' subjects. None of the subjects I teach are my degree subject (and never will be as it was psychology!). I guess it is a little different with secondary though.

I totally understand you feeling frustrated with not being able to do the A level english yet a less experienced teacher can as they have the degree. Is the management team aware of you issues with this? Perhaps it is worth having a professional discussion with someone....??

A few other things - 5 years in one place is a long time (says she who has been in one place for 8 years) but it may be out of the frying pan into the fire. Supply teachers in our very nice middle class school even get a hard time. Also, you won't get holiday pay, sick pay or maternity pay.....

Another thing worth bearing in mind is whether you plan to have anymore children in the near future. Is it worth sticking it out at your current school for that reason? If you move education authorities and get pregnant before a certain time, it can affect your maternity entitlements.

I went down the pastoral route of promotion - and am now considering resigning that post after my maternity leave and going part time. The career for me can wait.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Ok how about looking at it from a different angle? Unfortunately, despite having taught it for five years and despite having taught GCSE you are NOT an English specialist - A level is much much more demanding in terms of teacher's subject knowledge and sorry but I think the school is right to give it to a specialist. HOWEVER if you like the school, like the kids etc and are happy otherwise, why not try for a pastoral role in the school - maybe even volunteer to help Head of 6th form out for a while on a voluntary basis to get some experience, which would then be very relevant when a Head of Year post came up in the school? Just a suggestion! I'm speaking as somebody who DID jump ship from a school when I was a bit "peeved" but found what I jumped TO much much worse! Good luck with whatever you decide.