NQT year question about age groups and subjects

[Phineyj]

I teach a sixth form only subject. I am currently on maternity leave, returning in September. I got QTS shortly before going on leave so will be an NQT when I return. I had to teach a second, un-related subject at GCSE in order to meet the requirement to teach two different age ranges. The school is an Academy and I've been teaching there for four terms. I am keen to drop the second subject (no objection to teaching other subjects as school needs, just not that one).

Does anyone know i) can I complete my NQT year just teaching sixth form? and ii) is it likely school will allow me to complete NQT on an 80% timetable over a year? this seems to be acceptable according to the new regulations www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/deployingstaff/newstaff/b0066959/nqt-induction)

Also, I am assuming it would be a good idea NOT to push for NQT in less than a year as then I will lose the 90% timetable? Or 90% of 80% ifyswim.

Any tips would be great, thank you.

www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/deployingstaff/newstaff/b0066959/nqt-induction

You have to do 63 days for each term of NQT year. Will 80% give you that?

Don't know but thank you, I will check.

The best tip I could offer is that it is unlikely to matter what you want, TBH. The school are interested in covering their needs, not yours, unfortunately. So if they need someone to cover 3 periods a week of KS3 RE and your subject is Maths it won't really matter whether you want to do it or not - they will likely timetable you for it if you're free and they are stuck.

At our place we have a Maths teacher taking 3 periods of History (much to her horror) and a French teacher taking 4 periods of Geog. This has been common in every school I've ever worked in over 20 + years. You say you are keen to drop the second subject, but you may find that the school aren't willing to accommodate you in this.

Cor sowornout that is terrible but only really happens with RE at our place and those non subject projecty things. You're right, although fortunately for me I'm the only teacher of my main subject so there's a limit to what they can fill my timetable with.

Best of luck Phiney! You seem to be in a good position if you are the only subject teacher of your main 'thing'. I think the problem has arisen over the years with schools discovering that they have too many periods of one subject for the main teacher to cover, and don't want to employ a second part-timer. Far easier for SMT to save the cash and shove the junior member of several other depts into teaching a couple of periods a week of this subject! (I would hate it too, BTW).