National Teaching Service scrapped because no one wants to do it

[noblegiraffe]

Yet another government scheme binned. This one was to recruit teachers to be parachuted into failing schools in the North West.

www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/exclusive-dfe-abandons-national-teaching-service

I think one of the biggest issues with this was the idea that experienced teachers, presumably with family commitments etc. would jump at the chance to move to say... Blackpool or Barrow in Furness. Which, if you're used to Buckinghamshire or Kent seems laughable. Not just because there are a myriad of social and economical issues to deal with... it's a bloody long way from "home".

I live in the NW, I wouldn't want to move to Buckinghamshire or Kent for the same reason.

See, this is where I believe that schemes like Teach First could be helpful. But the idea that experienced teachers would do it is just daft.

Troops to Teachers was also a flop.

The government perhaps needs to realise that expensive branded schemes aren't the answer, but maybe making teaching a bit less shit more attractive is.

Yes noble adding the cost of schemes into making existing teachers more likely to stay in teaching seems to be something nobody considers.

It always amazes that they felt £10,000 would be suitable repayment for:

1. Relocating your immediate family and leaving behind extended family
2. Selling your home
3. Leaving established friends and social networks behind
4. Moving to work in a failing school with challenging disengaged students
5. Only being guaranteed employment for 3 years
6. Leaving a position in a school in which you were highly successful
7. Going to live in a cultural, social and economic backwater

In return you can gain experience in a position you are probably already qualified to apply for and a piece of paper of very little value.

There are some outstanding teachers who actively seek out difficult schools... but most burn out or recognise that such environments are not for them. Rather than try to parachute in gifted teachers they really should look at the reasons why they do not want to work there in the first place or why they leave so quickly.