How do people know their child's teacher is an NQT?

[Emochild]

Repeatedly on threads so a thread about many threads people say that their child's teacher is an NQT

How on earth do they know?

I have no clue if my children have had an NQT, I just know that some teachers are younger than others -doesn't necessarily mean that an older teacher isn't an NQT!

So, how do they know and why does it matter?

A teacher may have had 3 or 4 years teaching experience and still come across new challenges

It's not the reality it's poor leadership without concern for staff wellbeing but if teachers meekly accept poor treatment then leaders get away with this type if behaviour

It is the reality that education is run with no concern for teachers welfare what so ever, which is often poor leadership, but to be fair, there is often little or nothing school leaders can do anyway. The choices are live with it, or leave teaching. Tens of thousands have chosen the second, and continue to choose the second. Hence the desperate drives to get more NQTs in as fast as possible. Most will leave with a couple of years. Government policy appears to be prioritising sourcing the supply of fresh meat. Welfare for teachers already in the profession is non existent, and their life expectancy minimal. if you think attempting to stand up for your rights is going to change anything other than shorten your own life expectancy in teaching, then you are teaching on a different planet.

There's a lot of shit that goes down in schools, but even at the most appalling places I've worked, NQT timetables have to have the correct loading. I'm quite surprised this is seen as an option. When you sign the NQTs up on the system you have to declare (and so do they) that the timetable loading is correct.

No the choice is live with unfairness (be that meekly lying down and letting a poor head walk all over you or accepting and leaving) or challenging and refusing to be treated badly.

I'm already many years in the profession and my head cares about the welfare of all staff

NQT we had last year was fab. So enthusiastic.

PPA time is a legal requirement. I don't know any teachers/schoos where the head would remove it - and since the teachers would not be able to do their job, it would be counterproductive to say the least! Union rep would be straight in to discuss. It's why we pay our money.

Where I am a governor, nearly all the teachers have made it beyond 5 years - we are a great place to teach! Some leave to have babies but they come back. I see no diminution in their enthusiasm and we have several job shares. We have had one NQT in the last 3 years and she is excellent too, but you would not kno who she was. We really do care about retaining our teachers and the ones that leave tend to go for promotion, not out of teaching at all. I am very confident that we care about the welfare of teachers.

Over the years I have noticed that not everyone in the teaching professions is suited to the job and yes, it is demanding. That observation would be the same in other professions. The only big problem that arises is getting the right staff for the school. After our new Head arrived, about 5 years ago, and before I was a governor, there were big staff changes and some teachers were unhappy about the direction of the school under her leadership. However, as it was precariously close to RI, there needed to be changes. I think we now have staff that work hard but know they can talk to the Head and that their family circumstances will be accommodated if at all possible. The staff is unified in wanting to do their best for the children and it really shows in the ethos of the school.

Lots of people change career and some teachers will decide it is not for them. It would be wrong to think there is an easy life outside the classroom though. Few get that either!

It would be wrong to think there is an easy life outside the classroom though but a hell of a lot easier than teaching

I've worked outside of teaching and it may have been easier (not convinced) but not half as rewarding. I do realise I work in a happy school and have always had good head teachers who deflect the worst if the "rubbish" so teachers can get on with their job and teach.

We were told when we were introduced to her - "this is Miss X, she completed her training here last, and we're delighted she's now joining the teaching staff."

My DD has an NQT this year in Y3. All of the parents know this as she was the student teacher in their class in Y2!

bojorojo
Yes, likewise. We have five teachers who have been there for more than 25 years, four who have been there for ten or more. Five that are experienced teachers who have joined us. Several who were retained after their NQT year. A few we had to let go because there NQT year was covering a maternity or a year teaching elsewhere but returning. It was unfortunate we couldn't keep two because they were marvellous. However we keep in touch and they pop in or invite staff to weddings :) We have had lots of our female young teachers go on to have families and come back after their maternity year and we have watched their children grow as they continue to teach. They often come back to teach two or three days a week and are matched up with another so we retain them by being flexible. It works well for the teachers and the children.
We don't announce to parents that the new teacher is an NQT but some know because they are Governors. The parents are just informed who their child's new teacher is.

NQTs have a whole day of non contact time. They are given support from an experienced teacher who mentors them throughout the year.

We have had some excellent young NQTs and are sorry to see them go. We have seen students leave the profession but I can't remember any teachers that we have had leaving in the twenty plus years I have been there.

" I can only speak for myself but my child has a NQT this year. I know because she only works 4 days as has to attend training/study days one day a week. "

that is not an NQT is an unqualifed person doing on the job training.

Ds1 had an nqt last year, it was 'announced' she was an nqt in the newsletter and in the 'meet the teachers' evening they had, she was bloody brilliant and sent the sweetest little gift home at the end of a term - a class picture of them all with her with a note on the back thanking them for being her first 'real' class and what a great experience she'd had learning with them
She's a 'proper' teacher now and is staying so ds2 will have her next year and I'm thrilled

A teacher having 10% out may not just be because they are an NQT, they could have additional duties or be part time.

In the council I work in NQT's have a full day out of class for further training/meetings. Parents are informed at start of year who is teaching the class and are told if it is a NQT. They have full reponsability for the class, setting homework etc. Usually their mentor takes the class for the day out they get.
NQT's have completed their degree and this is their probationary year, they are mentored by a teacher in their school during this year and they have to meet targets and pass to be able to get full registration. Once they get this registration they can then apply for any teaching jobs.
In Scotland NQT's are guaranteed a probationary year posting (might not be in their immediate area) but not guaranteed a job after that point.

We had a fantastic NQT last year, the teacher did have one day out for other mentoring etc, but the children had another teacher who would cover the day and they would do a set topic and some PE. NQT was knowledgeable, confident and handled the class well. I had no concerns, and in fact thought that the NQT was a brilliant teacher.