What is special about teaching in Islington?

[Dominique07]

Hi, I'm just finishing off my PGCE and we've had a lecture about teaching in Newham. Evidently it is very 'inclusive.' However, I really think geographically I'm more inclined to be jobhunting in Islington, AND I understand January (now) is the time to apply to the borough teaching pool.

I like the atmosphere in Islington as a resident, but I haven't actually had teaching experience there. (My last placement was in Hackney.) I imagine there are a wide range of schools and I'm interested to know what the schools are like, and what the borough is looking for.

If anyone is working in Islington, or has experience of Islington schools, I would be really interested to get a 'feel' for the area.

(I'm specialising in primary, and would appreciate any tips that would help me write my personal statement)

Hi,
I taught (primary) in newham for about 8 years, found it very pleasant. The children were easy to manage, which I cant always say is the case in Islington. It really depends on the school /age group... I worked in several primary schools in Islington - I'd rather not name them. I found it mostly difficult, with the exception of one...

Sorry this is probably not very helpful, but that's just my experience. Behaviour management was hard for me in Islington, easier in Newham. LOVED living in Islington, did not esp like newham - felt so far away from my friends...

good luck

Hmmm... Thanks. This is what I wondered, if I enjoy living in Islington but actually might enjoy working in Newham. I like the sound of their ethos, but I'd need to see it in action to see what it entails. Despite inclusion being a pretty hot topic at initial teacher training I actually haven't had a lot of experience of particularly inclusive schools, there was a wide range of abilities in my classes but no severe SEN chn. Would this be very difficult for an NQT in terms of planning? Or is there so much adult support in the classroom that this is not the case?

Congrats on finishing (nearly) your PGCE, I found it the most exhausting year of my life.
I taught for 10 years in inner London (though not in Newham or Islington), finishing up as an AST specialising in behaviour. Teaching in inner London you will have many challenges to deal with including behaviour management, high number of EAL, high mobility etc my advice would be to go for the best school that you can - regardless of borough. If the leadership and teaching is very good in a school you will have good support and good teachers to continue to learn from, and this will really help you in your NQT year. I think when you look around a school you can tell if the teachers are motivated, happy and really doing their best for the kids, with that + the ofsted report you can get a good idea. A two (or more) form entry school might also suit you as then you will have other teachers to plan with.
Finally, before you get your first class of kids I really recommend a book called 'You Know the Fair Rule' by Bill Rogers - full of great ideas and very readable.
Hope that helps.

Thanks! I will try to put all of that advice to use. I actually have that book (although haven't had time to do more than glance at it, it does seem very practical) so many thanks, I will definitely read it over the summer holidays and pick up some tips.

Dominique why not stick with Hackney? It's closer than Newham and there are some lovely primaries.

Mmmm.

I would rather have root canal surgery than teach in any non private/non selective school in London, or indeed any big city.

I became a teacher because I love my subject and wanted to 'teach' it, not because I have pretensions to being a community support officer/crowd controller/social worker/multi linguist/'learning' manager.

When I speak, they listen. When I command, they do. In assembly you should be able to hear a pin drop; hardly a description of any schools in Islington or Hackney, I'd imagine.

How ridiculous and ill informed Willbreakmybones. I have been in many schools in Hackney and Islington where the behaviour is exemplary. Your snobbery and incorrect ideas about inner city education are infuriating. Please do not listen to this poster OP. Teaching is challenging and teaching in inner cities can be particulary so. It is not for everyone as seen from the previous poster but don't let rhetoric like that put you off. People like that rarely have the experience and skills to cut it and so become hooked on the excuse of "loving their subject" (takes much more than to actually teach it well though). I have never taught anywhere else and love it. Islington is under CEA though and they can be painful at times. They are run for profit and I think it shows. They have done some good work though.

Agree with bamboostalks, Willbreakmybones is talking codswallop. Dcs at Islington primary and the discipline is exemplarary. Way better than in our house for starters. The teaching is so innovative and exciting, and the atmosphere is one of calm enthusiasm. Tis fab.
What I do think may be particularly true of Islington is that it is very multicultural - not only ethnically, but also economically. You have some phenomenally wealthy educated types, alongside indigenous islington white population and a huge range of different ethnicities, with no one group dominating. I think this is a real bonus but I know that it can make life difficult for the head. Our school has above average level of free school meals, but also I'd say that about a quarter of the parents in y1 are oxbridge graduates so it's v mixed.

There may well be some kids on free school meals whose parents are oxbridge graduates for all I know... obv not mutually exclusive.

Willbreak, you should visit a few. Honestly you're living in a v.strangely misguided world to believe that.

on second thoughts please don't Willbreak, as you sound v.far from the sort of teacher the kids in Hackney schools deserve. That level of prejudice and ignorance says so much about you, so feel free to stay v.far away.

With pleasure.

Back to the smug confines of my shire existence with a grammar on our doorstep that I taught in for years; having done my PGCE at Manchester and worked in some damn awful inner city schools. Never again, life's too short.

Good - why not throw yourself a peasant or two on the fire while you're at it

.."we'll keep the red flag flying here", etc.

From a state school teacher evangelising about Hackney schools...how unusual.

BTW I don't give a stuff about how much money someone has but if they don't value education for its own sake then, sure, shove em on our fire and let em roast.

Am not a teacher Willbreak, merely a parent of a child in a very well run, calm happy, inspiring Hackney primary school.

'When I talk, they listen, when I command, they do... you can hear whatever in assembly...'

God! Is this primary school too? My kids go to a state school in London and I would do whatever it takes to move them from a place where silence and obedience to authority is so highly regarded by any teacher... Much prefer kids feel they can still behave like kids. Actually I decided against a very well-regarded school in my catchment area because when I visited it, I could not hear a noise and the walls were full of instructions. Felt like a military camp. Guess is the kind of place you'd love willbreakmybones (by the way also state school in London with outstanding academic performance)

I am not a primary school teacher but I imagine there are other virtues that may interest the OP to understand difference between teaching in one place or another, not only 'how easy and tame' the kids are.

Sydney - bless you for saying I speak a lot of truth - my children and dh think I speak rubbish most of the time. Do you like your dd's school? I have to say I really love our one for its mix, I feel it's been a real education for me and really makes us feel part of the community. Don't know if that's v patronising of me to like the fact that I meet people I wouldn't normally do so but I feel really blessed and honestly wouldn't swap it for one of those very sought after middle class schools even I could.

I love the teachers such as Willbreak who believe children 'get in the way' of them teaching. Hilarious.

You can hear a pin drop in an empty room, too you know- probably the best conditions for the kind of 'teaching' you have in mind

twinmumplus1inthetum, can I hijack a minute and ask you how you went about becoming an AST in behaviour? And what your role is like? I am thinking of my next step right now, and it's one thing I am considering

Oh, and OP- please consider Camden. They are an absolutely fantastic borough to work for, and really look after their teachers; as a consequence, they retain some excellent teachers.

Maternity leave is longer, too.

Don't work for Hammersmith and Fulham though- terrible maternity package- as I found out when I left Camden for them and had a little 'surprise'...

Hijack

OP, I have just seen a job I really want in Newham of all places- can you tell me anything about the presentation you had?

Oh erm, they strongly recommended including your practical experience of how you practised inclusion in the classroom... you need to answer the 'spec' which can be found on the Newham NQT teaching pool page and also they suggested as I said giving real examples of what you have done... it doesn't have to be anything dramatic, just to show how you usually handle a class full, being aware that all the children are individuals.

Thank you everyone, it is really great to hear all of your experiences and benefit from your wisdom. I have started writing my personal statement. It is such a daunting task, because they must receive so many statements, and if they reject mine I suppose that means responding to job adverts as and when I see them.

So interesting tethersend: how long is maternity leave at Camden? Surely all teachers will get 9 months? That sounds like a truely tempting bonus that I may not have otherwise found out!