Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

McCrone cover

9 replies

Littlewhistle · 08/12/2017 17:34

Most of our McCrone time is covered by visiting specialist teachers of art, music and PE. Our council, in its wisdom, is considering getting rid of these teachers. Given that there are virtually no supply teachers out there, we are wondering how on earth McCrone time will be covered if this happens. To add to the problem, our P1-3 will be having the same length of day as the rest of the school after the summer - they currently finish half an hour earlier so no cover is needed for their classes,

Just wondering what happens in other authorities.

OP posts:
Happydespitethis · 08/12/2017 21:50

Namechange to be on the safe side. I'm in a big authority.

Visiting specialists were cut about 5 years ago, still get the odd PE coach in but haven't seen an Art specialist in ten years of teaching. Music is a lost art- covered by Charanga now Hmm

We're currently 3 teachers and 3 PSAs down (roll is approx 360). Our infants are full days apart from the first few weeks.

The DHT and PTs are covering McCrone atm but we've a girl going on maternity in Feb and I don't know what on earth will happen then Shock

I think next year is going to be even worse. A lot of the Irish seem to be going home (Brexit?).

Groovee · 09/12/2017 13:24

We have 2 teachers who cover 2 days doing various classes. Still have a PE specialist but the cluster high school PE teachers have been doing some classes.

Nursery is done by a PSA going in and supporting the EYP's.

Marmalady75 · 01/01/2018 22:31

Depends on your school setup. I used to work in a school where the HT or DHT took whole school (with a couple of PSWs) for an assembly an hour per week. I know another school where classes double up for PE and music - one teacher has time out while the other teaches both classes supported by a PSW.

k2p2k2tog · 02/01/2018 08:40

Our school appears to do this very well - but I'm not suite sure how...

We have a teacher who did a music degree before her PGCE, she job shares a class with another teacher so does 2 days in a regular teaching role and the other 3 days she teaches music. Not brass/strings formal tuition, that's separate. The whole class singing, percussion, primary school music. DS loves her as the previous music teacher was about 80 and the new one is much younger and lets them listen to Ed Sheeran.

There is also a PE teacher, she appears to be full time in school and as well as doing PE she does class cover for sickness/meetings and all the "healthy living" stuff about nutrition, cycling proficiency etc. She doesn't have a class of her own.

We don't have an Art teacher or a French specialist. We are a fairly big school though - a two class intake every P1 and around 55 to 60 in each P2 to P7 year group.

Happydespitethis · 02/01/2018 15:37

I know another school where classes double up for PE and music - one teacher has time out while the other teaches both classes supported by a PSW.

Unless the two classes are very small (and thus under 33/30/25 when they're combined) I don't think this is technically acceptable. I'd certainly not be happy about taking 50/60 children on my own for PE.

In related news, 739 posts were empty in August in Glasgow... it will almost certainly be higher now.

Marmalady75 · 02/01/2018 15:58

The school I’m talking about is 2 stream with full classes. The PE lessons were things like Scottish country dancing or outside playing rounders etc. Not saying it’s a good way to do it, just that it’s being done in schools where they can’t get a specialist or someone out of class to cover rcct. I think we have devalued teaching so much over the years with things like this instead of actually properly funding schools and education.

Happydespitethis · 02/01/2018 16:11

It's definitely not good... it surely can't be legal to have 66 kids and 1 teacher.

Original poster
Littlewhistle · 03/01/2018 15:18

Just before Xmas we doubled up so that the P4/5 teacher could go to her class party for the P5s. Her P4s went in with the other P4 class to watch a DVD, making around 44 children in total. A child went home and told his mother what had happened and she reported it to the council. We have been told never to have more than the legal number of children, regardless of what the activity is.

If we're not allowed to do this to watch a DVD, goodness knows how others are getting away with it fo PE

OP posts:
Happydespitethis · 03/01/2018 18:02

A child went home and told his mother what had happened and she reported it to the council.

That's terrible.

We would do this to let people away for nativities etc. That'll put a stop to it now.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread