trying to understand a colleague better - how does career development work for primary school teachers?

[Wellintothenewyear]

I've had a little tension recently with a nice colleague - I'm a "specialist instructor" in a primary - not a trained teacher though I do deliver NC work during PPA.
I wondered whether the way my colleague had acted in a particular situation (nothing horrible, just seeming to want to take over and take credit for an initiative) was to do with shoring up her position as the "coordinator" for our subject (I couldn't be the coordinator because it wouldn't work - I'm only there two days). I'd rather not say the subject name but you'll all find it easy to narrow it down because it's done in PPA time so it's obviously not one of the really core ones!

I had assumed that teachers' roles in a primary were all equal unless you were deputy head or head. But that's probably naive - is there a sort of hierarchy of roles? Is the coordinator thing important and does it make a different what subject it is?

If I understand a bit more I might be able to be a bit more sensitive next time (mind you - I was right :))

I'm not quite sure what you mean she's done, but I'll try to answer.

Regards the subject-probably, one of her PMR targets is related to this and she might have to submit evidence/a portfolio to demonstrate the impact she's had on the subject in the school. Eg- if it's PE, she might have implemented Activate or done dance festivals or gone for a PE accreditation.

If she can't demonstrate this, she won't hit her targets and won't progress up the pay scale. Your post makes it sound like you think all teachers earn the same except the head and deputy?

From your

Depends to some extent the size of the Primary, but some staff get paid extra (used to be called a 'Management Allowance' then got changed to be a 'TLR') for taking on extra responsibility - usually more than just one curriculum area, but it might be part of the role.
Even if not paid, people need stuff to put on their CV, when applying for next job - what they've done 'over and above' class teaching.

As well as what rollon said - more and more comes down to ticking boxes against targets set these days.

Ah ..... The penny drops. She needs her name on this..... Even though it's all my work and vision.

You've actually both helped a lot.

I recently came across a good manager who specialised in making her colleagues look good. I can do that too!

A "good manager" does not make her colleagues look good. Looking good is a stupid pointless waste of time for everyone. Looking is irrelevant. You need boxes and boxes ticked, and stacks and stacks of paperwork to show you have met your targets. It is irrelevant who's the paper work is, no one is ever going to read it or look at it at all.

You sound like you are being incredibly unrealistic, and have no understanding of how schools survive.

Who gives a stuff who's name is on what. All that matters is that ofsted can be pointed to the correct weight of paper in the correct filing cabinet so they don't fail the school.

"Your work and vision" ? No it isn't! You have no idea at all. You are in a team. Nothing is "your work and vision" You have been given space and time and resources and pay to provide for the school.

it would actually be illegal for you to take anything of it with you when you leave, even if it was written at home, on your computer, printed on your printer and photocopied at your personal expense. If you are employed by the school it belongs to the school.

(Well, we all do it, but technically you could be sued)

Sorry, I don't mean to sound harsh, but you just seem to have no idea of the bigger picture at all, or how all the cogs are supposed to fit together.

If you have a good idea, why not email all the staff with your resource or put it on the school server with a link so all can access? That way you get the recognition, but all can share, so win-win. I doesn't hurt you at all if a colleague uses it to progress since you are not in 'competition' with her. As the previous poster said, no-one ever reads those folders of evidence anyway, and even if they did, how would it hurt you?
In the best schools I have worked in people freely share ideas and resources. In the worst they jealously guard their stuff so everyone ends up doing vastly more work.

You paint a depressing picture Caronaim. I'm a self-employed provider and, having read what you just said, I'm going to keep it that way! I never hear "what about Ofsted?" at the school. I do hear a lot of "ok, let's back up - what about the children?". Seems like a better test.

Signora, you're right. It doesn't matter if a colleague uses it to progress. I think everyone knows it's my work so it's all fine.Thank you.We all like acknowledgment but I'll give her a free pass on this........

I am retained to (amongst other things) innovate. I suppose that if things I initiate work then, by definition, I should let others take over. After all it's no longer innovative at that point.