Experienced teachers booted out to save money, replaced with NQTs

[noblegiraffe]

So as school budgets become increasingly inadequate, the new wheeze seems to be to make your experienced teachers’ lives so uncomfortable so that they quit and you can replace them with a much cheaper NQT.

“A survey by Teacher Tapp of 3,568 school staff found that 10 per cent were “confident” that teachers on the upper pay scale at their school had been encouraged to leave or had been made redundant to clear space for cheaper staff.”

Replacing experienced teachers with cheap support staff was also a measure recommended to a school by the DfE’s cost-cutting taskforce.

In what other profession would experience be so undervalued? Encourage your experienced heart surgeon to leave so she can be replaced by someone fresh out of medical school? People would soon spot the flaws in that plan, but when it’s teaching? ‘Oh but NQTs have so much enthusiasm’

As plans go, it also ignores the dwindling supply of NQTs. Teaching needs to hold onto its experienced teachers not get them to quit, because there aren’t enough teachers to go around as it is.

schoolsweek.co.uk/forced-out-the-experienced-teachers-losing-their-livelihoods-as-schools-cut-costs/

It’s not that experience is undervalued. They simply can not afford experienced teachers. Removing pay scales would be one way to address the issue but it would begitively impact teachers. Raising taxes is another option but not sustainable long run. Means resting state education so that those who can afford to pay do pay then redistributing that money cebtrally so that all schools benefit is the best solution but the British are too entitled to accept that.

Means resting state education so that those who can afford to pay do pay then redistributing that money cebtrally so that all schools benefit is the best solution but the British are too entitled to accept that

What an extraordinary suggestion! Would only those with children in state schools pay? What about those with children in private schools?
I am all for wealthier people contributing more. The most effiicent system of ensuring that this happens is the income tax system.

Bubbles, it seems we agree! Secondary schools are in a mess, true, but if they are not funded properly, then they simply can’t afford to retain experienced teachers (7+ years). No point in banging on about part time or job shares if the money isn’t there to pay them.

Experience is definitely not valued. When you’ve seen the ‘new’ initiative come in with a fanfare and quietly dropped a few times over the inexperienced rqt SLT don’t want you there to remind them that it didn’t make much difference last time and probably won’t this time either.

Raising taxes is another option but not sustainable long run

Rubbish. Having higher taxation to pay for decent education and other public services is what is done in many, many other wealthy countries. Tax in the UK is comparatively very low. Although even the US, with ridiculously low taxation levels, manages to pay its teachers at a better rate.

Happened to me. Didn't want to go into management so expensive classroom teacher. While pretending to support me with a personal issue that had nothing to do with work, head ripped me to pieces professionally with unrealistic demands and moving the goalposts every five minutes. Made to feel I would be dismissed if I didn't resign.

I miss the children but very little else about the job so actually I guess she did me a favour!

Twillow: you have just proved my point. It’s poor management.

Job shares can reduce costs because the other half of the job share might be a cheaper teacher but you get the experienced teacher to stay. This is used successfully in a number of schools I know and personal friends have done this. So “banging on” about it is worthwhile because you might learn something! No one has to be full time. Often reducing hours is what teachers want. SLT need to be flexible and retain their best teachers. Many are able to do this. Women returning to work and people over 50 ish are often keen to do this if their mortgage is paid off.

@CarrieBlue that is so true!

I am an NQT, I got rejected from 3 jobs that went to more experienced teachers before I got mine. And I got my current job because I worked my arse off to make sure I got it, not because I was the cheapest.

There is absolutely no money in education- none at all. Not a single penny spare. Unless you work in a school, you cannot comprehend the financial problem that is currently existing within the education system- we should be more concerned about that, before our children end up with no education at all

Also, it really just depends on the school. As I said, I got rejected from 3 jobs as there were more experienced candidates, when I went for the interview for all of these jobs, the headteachers were all passionate about having the best teachers possible, and didn't care if that meant spending more money.

Some schools, deliberately hire the cheapest option as long as they can teach. I don't agree with it, it should go to the best candidate, but unfortunately this is the mess that our schools are now in thanks to the total lack of funding in recent years

So “banging on” about it is worthwhile because you might learn something! No one has to be full time.

I’m part time, so I’m not sure what you’re expecting me to learn. I can tell you what a school values less than a UPS teacher and it’s a part time one.

If you can expect a head teacher to be in post by the age of 30, then the notion of experience diminishes.

Time was when experienced classroom teachers (10-15 years) were valued, would mentor inexperienced colleagues and would model excellent classroom practice. No longer.

And I don’t care what anyone says, experienced teachers are encouraged out and if there are interviews between those with experience and inexperienced teachers, the younger, inexperienced ones are more likely to get the job. Heads will say that they choose the best candidate, but I’m not convinced. Having been involved in interviews as a governor recently, to a limited degree, I’m not sure it’s always a question of choosing the most suitable candidate.

I suppose heads may say that they can train a younger teacher more easily in the ways of the school. Hmmmmm. Short term thinking, but inevitable given the financial climate in schools.

I teach in an independent school but have a significant number of students funded by local authorities, I can easily have 3 TA/LSAs in a class of 12, all publicly funded.

If your school cannot provide this support, the senco needs to man up. There is a lot of money sloshing around.

I can tell you what a school values less than a UPS teacher and it’s a part time one.

So true, unfortunately. I had to go back to the main scale to be able to work part-time.