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Secondary education

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What makes for a good lesson ?

18 replies

Username109876 · 26/02/2020 15:41

I have posted before about 2 weeks ago. I am a cover supervisor employed by my school, who is doing the job of a teacher minus parents evenings.

One of the teachers just left one day and didn't come back, i've been covering both her classes and her form for nearly a month now.

Another teacher in the dept is leaving, and her job was just advertised, the interview was today. I got as far as a lesson but was told I had not got to interview stage.

I'm disappointed because I thought my lesson was really good. I am already teaching that class, they can be chatty but they were as good as gold today. Completely on-task and just excellent. We got everything done.
I felt my lesson was paced, differentiated and with a clear objective. It referred back to a previous lesson and I played a game, used AFL, lots of praise, had a sense of humour, and the behaviour policy.

One of the other teachers told me they had barely got through anything and that behaviour wasn't good, but was kept on.

If they thought someone else had a better lesson then that's fair enough, i'm just struggling to know what they are looking for.

Today a man came in and announced that another Cover Teacher would be taking the form i've covering long-term, so that they have some continuity, even though i've been with them for 3 weeks now. They have said they like form with me and I have a good relationship with them.

The dept have said to the SLT that they really like working with me, i'm really helpful and doing a great job.
I'm just disappointed that i'm ok to be a teacher on the cheap and do the planning, marking and delivering, but not good enough to be employed as a teacher.

I hope it doesn't come across as entitled because I know that the job was not 'mine' so to speak.

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Username109876 · 26/02/2020 15:42

Also did my NQT 3 years ago so i'm not massively out of the loop. All 3 other candidates were trainee teachers.

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bumblingalonghappily · 26/02/2020 15:44

I hope it isn't the case, but perhaps it's possible that the school wants to hire trainees as they're cheaper? It really sounds like you know your stuff and that the lesson was genuinely good. Sorry they're messing you around like this.

Hercwasonaroll · 26/02/2020 15:44

Are they keeping you as cover?

Quite frankly they are probably taking the piss. Keeping you as cheap cover and employing someone as a teacher.

Are you a shortage subject teacher? Why have you not got a job teaching your subject if you've done your NQT year?

RedRed9 · 26/02/2020 15:44

Ask to see the observation form.

As an aside: In a school where one teacher left and another is leaving in just that department are you sure it’s a school you want to work out?

Username109876 · 26/02/2020 15:48

Sorry what I meant was that I am an NQT, I did my training 3 years ago so I would be the same 'price' as them to hire.

I'm being kept as cover. Not a word has been said to me about how long I will be covering this teacher for, if she's even ever coming back (I presume not). The kids ask me if i'm their new teacher or if she's coming back and I honestly can't even give them an answer.

I'm a languages teacher. I'll be getting the feedback tomorrow, but I really felt like the lesson 'ticked the boxes'. They learned something and that's the main thing and they were challenged.

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Username109876 · 26/02/2020 15:49

There is one teacher going on a year's maternity. She was off for a month sick and I also covered her the whole month. So I have 2 months' experience working in this dept already.

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Username109876 · 26/02/2020 15:57

All this for £1120 per month. It's my fault for letting people take the piss. Sorry just off on one now 😂

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Hercwasonaroll · 26/02/2020 16:20

Ahh OK.

MFL is a shortage subject in some areas but it depends. Do you think they have kept you and employed someone else so that they have 2 teachers?

I'd be asking about using some of your time there towards your NQT if you think you'll be there much longer. Then apply for other jobs.

Username109876 · 26/02/2020 16:23

Maybe, but they are paying me as a Cover Supervisor rather than a teacher which is not on.
I think I will do that. I need to be told if this teacher is coming back, how long I will be covering for etc. Because it's just not fair.

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Hercwasonaroll · 26/02/2020 16:28

Sounds like the best solution for them was employ someone and keep you.

Speak to the school about getting some time toward your NQT. How long is your contract there? Then just apply for MFL jobs.

Username109876 · 26/02/2020 16:42

Yeah, probably just thinking that they can keep me for cheap cover, but I don't know why they even gave me an interview to begin with.
I don't want to sound like i'm boasting but I honestly thought my lesson was brilliant, I guess it wasn't though.
I'm going to ask them tomorrow about the NQT option.

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Hercwasonaroll · 26/02/2020 16:52

They probably gave you the interview to not upset you. I'd ask them for feedback on your lesson too.

SansaSnark · 26/02/2020 17:41

This sounds like a really tricky situation - do bear in mind that the teacher who was kept on might not have been telling the full truth about her interview lesson, or she may have been given a class who were known to be tricky.

I'd definitely ask for feedback on your lesson, unfortunately there was probably something they wanted to see but didn't.

userabcname · 26/02/2020 17:51

Were the other candidates native speakers?

Username109876 · 26/02/2020 17:53

None of us were native speakers, however none of the candidates were older/expérienced, all 20s. So they wanted someone on the cheap.

I'll just have to get over it I guess, I will be given feedback tomorrow.

Just feel taken advantage of at the moment, but I don't want to be a job hopper.

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Username109876 · 26/02/2020 17:59

None of us were given the most difficult classes, none perfect but all reasonable.
However one candidate was given a GCSE class with 6 students which I feel is quite unfair, compared to us with 30+

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cricketballs3 · 26/02/2020 21:51

I felt my lesson was paced, differentiated and with a clear objective. It referred back to a previous lesson and I played a game, used AFL, lots of praise, had a sense of humour, and the behaviour policy.

Did you though play it safe in terms of the learning or did you push them? Did all the students show learning in line with their targets or were some below, did you push past their targets?

As a teacher with prior knowledge/data you will be observed to a higher standard than your fellow candidates without this background given you have that information to inform your planning.

However one candidate was given a GCSE class with 6 students which I feel is quite unfair, compared to us with 30+

A GCSE class of 6 is actually far more difficult than a KS3 group of 30

Username109876 · 27/02/2020 16:08

I was told that I was not as creative as the other candidates and that I raised my voice at one point due to low-level disruption when I should have spoken calmly.
Fair enough I guess, at least I know.
They said that they really liked me, people had spoken highly of me and I was doing really well, and that they want me to progress and have sent me on a behaviour course.
It's a shame because their behaviour was brilliant apart from 1,2 instances of low-level disruption. I didn't exactly scream at them. Ah well, it is what it is.

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