Teacher shortage crisis to get even worse

[noblegiraffe]

The current data for teacher training applications for September 2022 has just come out and it is not only down 24% on last year, when more people decided to train as teachers in an uncertain economy, it is also 8% down on the same time in 2019 well before covid. The government have missed recruitment targets for years so there's already a critical shortage, particularly in subjects like maths, physics and computer science, and especially in the disadvantaged areas of the country that the government is supposed to be 'levelling up'.

The government had banked on lots of people wanting to train as teachers in a recession and cut the training bursaries massively. This has clearly had an impact and we are now facing an emergency unless something happens that turns this around.

Tested positive for covid tonight.. again!!!! Half our 6th form have it so was inevitable but defo makes me question long term whether I want to stay in a school

It makes me sad that so many of us feel this way. Staff at my school have never been so down. Micromanaged, over observed, over worked and hated by a percentage of the population.

Sorry to hear that, Rainbow, has it fucked up your half term?

This article says that teachers are one of the worst affected professions by covid now. 3.9% isolating on 29th Jan compared to 3.6% of healthcare workers. We’ve been really screwed over there. And of course the more staff off with covid, the more work those remaining have to do.

www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/teachers-among-worst-hit-self-isolation

@Pieceofpurplesky

It makes me sad that so many of us feel this way. Staff at my school have never been so down. Micromanaged, over observed, over worked and hated by a percentage of the population.

I agree. I've lost all my oomph. Every day is a slog and my list of things to do never gets shorter even though I work about 11/12 hours a day.

Yes, I'm working 12 hour days and in still struggling to keep up. I got a vile email off a parent last night and it just broke me. I didn't spend this much time having abuse thrown at me when I worked in retail.

Wow noble. I followed a fair few of your threads throught the pandemic . I remember all the govt "teachers are no more at risk" propaganda.... 😞

Not a teachers but have friends who teach in the private and state sectors. All burned out and looking to leave. Youngest's teacher has said they recon a lot of the class need SEN support, but the school can’t afford to pay for the assessments, and even if parents fork out, it just means more pressure and expense for the school in providing what the assessment says is required whilst receiving zero extra funding to help pay for it, which means cutting what's provided for everyone else. There is one teacher for their year group, who alternates between the forms. In between they have TAs holding the fort. With staff sickness factored in, I recon they get about 25% of classes with an actual teacher. The TAs are burning out too, and several have left. Those parents that can are effectively still home schooling in the evening and at weekends, to make up for the lack of teaching in school. It’s not the teachers’ fault, they are fantastic and work insanely hard, but the school can’t get enough teachers to fill the empty positions. This is primary, so I dread to think what it’s like at secondary.

@noblegiraffe

Yes sadly we were meant to be going away! And means my kids will also have a shitty half term as I can’t imagine anyone wanting to take them out!!

We also have ofsted due any day now and got an email suggesting we can stay at school preparing til 10pm and school will now be opening from 6am….!!!! They’ll bring as a choc croissant and dinner to our classrooms!

@Arbitrage - I disagree. You need to take into account the conditions under which the different groups are working.

I had a hospital appointment yesterday. I was only allowed in 5 mins before the appointemnt, could take no one in with me, had to answers questions about possible covid symptoms or covid in my household, had to wear a mask throughout (as did all of the nurses and the dr), and I had my temperature taken.

In schools hundered of maskless students come in every day and sit in a very small, unventilated room with no social distancing. They leave after an hour to be replaced with more of the same. They can come in if someone in their household has covid. Some are sent in with symptoms and they don't have to 'pass' a symptoms check before they are allowed in. There are parents evenings, open evenings and training where lots of other people come on site - again, no social distancing, no temps taken, no questions asked about covid contacts.

In addition teachers were never given priority for the vaccine. Therefore many teachers will have only recently - in the last couple of months - have been given the booster, so at the moment have the most protection from that.

Sorry, posted too soon. I think the sickness rate amongst school staff would be even higher , given the conditions they wor in, has so many not had the vaccines and boosters.

I left teaching after less than 5 years - the workload and stress was actually insane. Maybe I'd go back as a TA one day but as a teacher? Never.

@OnceuponaRainbow18

We also have ofsted due any day now and got an email suggesting we can stay at school preparing til 10pm and school will now be opening from 6am….!!!! They’ll bring as a choc croissant and dinner to our classrooms!

What on earth?

@Sherrystrull I once worked in a school where the teachers stayed until 1am to prepare for ofsted.

I've once worked all weekend to prepare. It's so wrong.

I'm also a missing applicant. I teach online on a 1-2-1 basis. I enjoy teaching and get good results. I have the relevant degree and with my teaching experience I'd get a place on a PGCE. I can teach MFL so would get a good bursary to do so.

But DH is a teacher. HOD. And all the money in the world wouldn't convince me to do it too. I teach Chinese students who have demanding parents but who respect me as a professional and it makes a big difference. DH is well supported by his SLT but he's pulled in all ways and with not enough hours in the day. They have ofsted due and is being asked to prioritise admin tasks over the Y11 students who have exams coming up.

He recently advertised for 2 vacancies in Science, had 3 applicants, one pulled out before the interview and they only appointed one, a trainee, as the other was hopeless. So they are still a teacher down and still don't have enough experienced teachers for exam classes. The Y7 classes have been taught by non specialist teachers for the past few years who are incapable of planning a lesson, so this has to be done by a member of the department on top of their own planning.

Like PP, I also wonder whether the "if you don't like it, leave" brigade are rubbing their hands with glee or are still slagging off their DC's teachers.

I got pushed out after going back from mat leave. Horrendous bullying and harassment from the SLT culminating in a meeting where I was criticised for over an hour by three members of staff over everything from my behaviour management, to how often I sharpened the pencils and removed my tea cup from my desk. Nasty vindictive jobshare and TA complaining about me behind my back, constantly behind due to having to pick up my baby from nursery.... I'm never going back.

@OnceuponaRainbow18

We also have ofsted due any day now and got an email suggesting we can stay at school preparing til 10pm and school will now be opening from 6am….!!!! They’ll bring as a choc croissant and dinner to our classrooms!

We had the last half term minus the chocolate treat.

@TotoAnnihiliation

Well that’s totally taking the piss! Not even some choc for your 15 hour day.

The support staff have been told they can claim extra time

We are inadequate at the mo unfortunately

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@TotoAnnihiliation

Well that’s totally taking the piss! Not even some choc for your 15 hour day.

The support staff have been told they can claim extra time

We are inadequate at the mo unfortunately[/quote]
It was a hideous experience. As an ECT I had to be interviewed by OFSTED and it's the only time the HT took the time of day to talk to me properly. Along the lines of, we would like it if you could say x,y,z to the inspectors.

I don't think I'll ever go back to teaching, it's been horrible. The only job where if you have done something successful you are asked to rip it apart and reflect on the areas that you need to improve. So you never feel happy and you always feel like shit.

@TotoAnnihiliation

I’m sorry you had that terrible experience, it’s enough to put most people of!

Yes we’ve already been warned not to air any grievances to ofsted by our head…

@Arbitrage

This is why 25% extra time in exams is far more common in the private sector than in the public sector. From what I saw in the private sector, all the focus was on diagnosing the dyslexia. That was also true for the parents: first and foremost, they wanted THEIR kids to have the 25% extra time!

Access arrangements are more common in the private sector quite simply because parents can afford to access a diagnosis and because private schools will facilitate the normal way of working needed for access arrangements. If you have money and suspect your child has ASD or ADHD, you can pay for a private diagnosis and your child will be entitled to certain access arrangements - if you are reliant on the NHS, you are likely to wait 2+ years. If your child has a mental health crisis and you can afford to pay to see a psychiatrist, you will get a diagnosis and your child will be entitled to certain access arrangements. Access to CAHMS is almost non existent at present. What needs to be addressed is not access arrangements in private schools, but the inequality in access to services in the State sector which means that many children in the State sector do not get the access arrangements which they would be entitled to. Sadly, many state schools are actually obstructive regarding access arrangements

Dear @arbitage

You are part of the problem. You'd better have a good solution.

Regards

Mrs BitterTits