Why is it so hard to get a job in a secondary school?

[BlackSun1989]

So my husband is doing his pgce to teach secondary history and he's had 6 interviews so far, no job. Well the 6th one was today and they said they'll let him know on Monday. I'm just getting really depressed about it. Is this normal? I've supported him through 6 years of doing a Phd and now his pgce and I was so looking forward to him working and not having to worry about money anymore but now I'm just getting depressed with each rejection. I worry I'll still have to be the main breadwinner and we won't have money to keep my toddler in nursery and I'm 14 weeks pregnant. I really thought it would be easy for him with a PhD and having worked in parliament to maybe teach politics and history. Where is this teacher shortage the government keep going on about?

Can he offer a second subject?

History is one of the few where trainee targets are exceeded & there's more teachers than jobs.

Did he research this at all before doing his pgce? Especially somewhere like Devon where demand is high for the jobs that are available.

Yes he's 31. Could offer RE I think.

He would have already known that there isn't a shortage of history teachers.

It depends on the time of year too. After the next resignation date in May, there are only ECTs available for jobs so competition changes.
I had 10 interviews in my pgce year before getting a job - I got feedback from each one and adjusted my style in response. But I did, and have been teaching 15 years now

If he’s getting interviews then there’s something at interview he needs to work on

That's interesting, because we've found exactly the same.

I’m a teacher from Devon and ended up moving three hours away for my first job as I had no success as an NQT. I did supply and the teachers I worked with had mainly got their jobs through supply then being offered a permanent job so I would get him doing that if possible - plus it’s decent money and brilliant classroom management experience.

Tell him to also send his CV to any independent schools within reasonable travel distance - I’m now in that sector and they’ll definitely be more interested in the prior experience and PHD.

Presumably he is still on his PGCE and on placement in school.
He will therefore have a mentor and a subject lead and a course lead. I would suggest he speaks to the teacher with the most experience who is still teaching and ask them to observe one of his lessons. I would also suggest that he makes this one of the classes that he finds most challenging in terms of behaviour as this was the issue specifically mentioned in interview feedback. Be honest with the observing teacher about why you are doing this and that he is looking for feedback on BM following interview feedback.
After May will be only ECTs and some people don’t get appointed until June.
It is Devon so target Plymouth. Good luck!

Yes it's not that late in the day I am sure he will find something- make sure he has an excellent answer for why that school in particular and that the lesson part is as good as it can me - his tutor at his training provider might be able to help - if he has to go for supply for a bit that is also likely yo be easy to find and be very good for practicing behaviour management

Early Career Teachers are, unfortunately, much less attractive now because the demands on schools to comply with the requirements of their induction are huge. Where a school has a choice, a candidate who is through induction but still quite low down the pay scale will have an advantage. That said, in shortage areas, ECTs will be hired (and in shortage subjects in shortage areas, hired even if they aren’t very good)

Not sure if it is still available, but there used to be some kind of bursary for STEM subject knowledge enhancement. If he could add maths or science as subjects he could offer as a second string, he might fare better.

This would obviously be age discrimination. However, it may happen, especially if the HoD is young and feels insecure about managing an older man.
I've certainly sat on interview panels in similar circumstances where HoDs have said a candidate just doesn't feel like a good fit.

However, an older candidate can also bring gravitas to a role.

OP, I do think its worth looking at the private sector. Behaviour will be less of an issue there and a PhD will be valued more highly.

@RaininSummer

This!

Would he consider adding Economics? You can do a subject course from scratch with Tutor2u. Schools are often desperate to recruit for Economics!

I thought of training to teach History but quickly realised Economics was in much more demand (I have a joint honours degree). I have also taught RS and Geography and even a bit of Classical Civ when I was training.

The other issue with History is SLT often teach it. I think it's seen as something you can dip in and out of without too much damage (schools are not evaluated on their History teaching...)

Schools are not evaluated on their History teaching?! Eh?
I'm sure that you know about teaching and learning and ofsted and how standards apply across the school!

Of course, but it's Maths and English and progress with disadvantaged DC that really counts.

And there isn't a shortage of History teachers anyway.

PhD can work against you, many heads I have known and worked for don't like having staff with better qualifications that they have got. I know its daft and its childish, but it happens, a lot!!

Also there are expectation issues, if he is using Dr as a title then parents may wrongly assume he is a very experienced teacher, when in fact he is just a rookie and will be imperfect as we all were at the start.

A good friend and colleague took her PhD and Masters off her CV to secure her PGCE post, now since she has moved to our school she is using the Dr title - she did ask me if it was OK to use it as I'm head of department and just a BSc , I of course am delighted for her to do so and show how extremely well qualified my staff are! but some are very petty over such things!

DS trained as a Primary School teacher. He thought having a degree from Cambridge and an MA from LSE would get him a job. I told him the fact that he could referee football and play the piano in assembly would be his USP. What else can your DH offer to the school? I would also suggest that he pays for a mock interview and gets feedback on his performance. How did he do in teaching practice? Is there someone at his last school who could give him a mock interview? I once did a mock interview for a young girl who wanted to teach geography but couldn’t answer the question “why should anyone study geography?’ Finally, is he also looking at posts in private schools? I wish you both good luck.

It sounds to me given his age/qualifications he would be far more valued in the private sector than the state.

A good tip (I teach and am HOD in a private school) speculative letters, don't wait for advertised positions - I got my current position of 8 years by writing to the then head saying I would be interested in working for the school.

I was called in for a chat and offered a position, it turned out another teacher was a year away from retirement and they felt I sounded right and a crossover succession would be beneficial.

Private schools don't have to advertise jobs, I would say we hire at least 50% of new staff from speculative approaches either way - so he should get his name out there, his letter may land at an opportune moment.

I agree entirely with @Property Manager's post. Contact independent schools (the doctorate does have value there especially if an Oxbridge one). Be proactive. Network.

Schools are rubbish at recruitment. Make it easy for them!

I know all of this and am aware of how p8 scores get calculated.
To dismiss History as irrelevant to schools, isn't quite accurate, though!

As others have said, he is obviously good on paper which is why he keeps getting interviews. This is great as it can be a hurdle for many...well done.
It seems from what you are saying that it's the lesson that could be letting him down. Academics and experience are a draw for schools (hence the interviews), but will never make up for a poor lesson. I would also say that he needs to think about his 'presence' in the classroom. The academic vibe can fall into clever, bumbling professor mode which will set a million alarm bells ringing as behaviour management is an absolute must. I'm not saying this is how he is coming across, but it is something to consider. I would also say that history is not a shortage subject and you live in an area with low population density. This means that there are simply fewer children to teach! Added into this, I suspect there is less staff turnover in these areas of the country.
Looking ahead, after half term the deadline for resignations will have passed. This means that only people without current jobs will be able to start in September. He needs to apply for everything he can between now and the end of term as the competition will be less stiff. Encourage him to keep going and in the meantime I would say do anything that will give him exposure to managing teens. Volunteering with a sports club or something like that. This will develop that 'presence' that I mentioned which will help him in interview lessons.
Best wishes, and do let us know how he gets on!

I love History; I did a degree in it.

But my experience of teaching in various UK secondaries has led me to believe that the quality of the History teaching rarely makes it into the top 10 of things the Head has on his (generally; occasionally her) mind. To be fair nor does most of the subject stuff. My poor Head spends a really significant amount of time worrying about money and vaping and exclusions and knives...

Therefore having the option of someone totally inexperienced but with a PhD in it is sadly not going to be very exciting.

Although it might have swank value for an independent.

There's no shortage of History teachers I'm afraid. And teaching is really difficult, not everyone can just walk into a teaching job.

If he doesn't find anything by September, then he can do some supply to build his CV (and build his skill set - supply is an absolute baptism of fire! But the bonus is that you can make mistakes and move on quickly. And you get to see lots of different ways of approaching similar problems)

After May 31st there won't be so much competition for any jobs that do come up unexpectedly, as all current teachers have to give 3 months notice. He might get lucky with a maternity cover for a year for example.

I think Exeter uni were doing some booster/conversion courses for qualified teachers to "be able" to teach maths/computer science. I'm very skeptical about this, but it might be worth exploring.

Also, yes I agree that independent schools will be far more impressed by the PhD. I don't know whereabouts you are in Devon - you might need to consider Somerset if feasible.

He worked in secondary schools during that in this initiative to encourage disadvantaged pupils to apply to university

Now, this can be interesting to Heads. How much of that was actually engaging with the students? Did he need to address behaviour? Is he aware of the particular profile of disadvantaged students in the area? Has he completed courses addressing inclusion and diversity? Can he provide insight into how a kid from a largely agricultural area - or one plagued by County Lines and addiction can find a way out through education?

Thanks yes I heard this before. Hopefully it might be a bit easier for him then.