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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

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Original poster

Website recommendations

44 replies

truegold · 22/03/2015 12:32

My daughter has just accepted her first post as an English teacher , independent secondary school. She has no experience, I was wondering if anyone can recommend any useful websites or books that would be good reference points for her . I have told her about this site, all info and any helpful tips or any guidance would be greatly appreciated, thank you

OP posts:

EvilTwins · 22/03/2015 13:02

When you say she has no experience, is she qualified? Did she do teaching practice?

Original poster

truegold · 22/03/2015 14:30

Yes she's qualified and the only experience she has is at a primary school

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rollonthesummer · 22/03/2015 14:46

Wow- that's a big jump! I presume her degree is in English so a lot of the texts are familiar to her?

Are there schemes of work already in place?

Haggisfish · 22/03/2015 14:52

Www.tes.co.uk

EvilTwins · 22/03/2015 15:21

Sorry, I'm confused. Has she qualified as a secondary school teacher? Has she done a PGCE or obtained QTS?

The school that has given her the job should be giving her plenty of support with teaching materials etc. She should not be left to sink or swim.

Haggisfish · 22/03/2015 15:35

I suspect she has qualified in her English degree but not done a teaching qualification? Indies don't require teachers to have done teAcher training-they like top degrees from top unis.

UnderEstherMate · 22/03/2015 15:43

The English and Media Centre often have good resources (although lots you have to pay for) www.englishandmedia.co.uk/

The Poetry Society poetrysociety.org.uk/

The Globe education www.shakespearesglobe.com/m/education

That's all I can think of off the top of my head! (Aside from TES which I'm sure she already knows about).

EvilTwins · 22/03/2015 16:17

I am going to be flamed for this but I don't think it's appropriate for someone with no teaching qualification and no experience to be taking up a teaching post. It's no bloody wonder the profession is in so much trouble. I know this is nothing knew, but seriously, someone who's mum is asking strangers for advice about good websites has no business in a classroom.

EvilTwins · 22/03/2015 16:17

Nothing new

Original poster

truegold · 22/03/2015 18:19

Thank you for your replies Haggisfish and UnderEstherMate those links will be very helpful and I will pass them on :)

Eviltwins, just to clarify, she has been headhunted by the school as she has a first class degree in English from a top university, along with 5 A levels at Aand 10 GCSE at A. Having had several interviews at the school and having taught trial lessons there she has been offered the job. She will be having training prior to starting and ongoing support and training whilst there. As I previously stated she has had classroom experience.

I was just trying to be a supportive parent and surprise her by suggesting a few ideas and tips. I personally have no knowledge of teaching but have always encouraged and supported my daughter throughout her life and thought I would show her how proud and interested in her career I was by mentioning somewhere she could refer to, outside of school , if she wanted to at a time when no one will be available eg if she had a query at 11 o clock at night and wanted advice or if she needed a reference point.

I am sure she would not have been employed if she was unsuitable.

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EvilTwins · 22/03/2015 18:26

I hope things work out for her, but I'm afraid being clever does not automatically make one a good teacher and I think that the school is doing her a disservice offering her a job when she has no training. No doubt they are impressed with her, but it is not fair to thrown someone into a classroom with no experience. Read the news - pressure on teachers are immense. She needs to make sure she is properly supported. Parents do not accept "ah but Miss X is new/inexperienced" as an excuse if their DC do not do as well as they hoped. It is the school that is being irresponsible and I do think it's short sighted of someone to go into a profession with no training assuming that their cleverness will get them through.

iniac · 22/03/2015 18:33

Eviltwins -apart from the SENCO, there is no requirement for teachers in independent schools or academies to be qualified.

rollonthesummer · 22/03/2015 18:40

Does she not do the PGCE or NQT year then? Does she have any experience of educational theory?

You say she's had primary classroom experience-what do you mean?

I have to agree with Evil Twins. There was a young teacher at my very grammar (very high achieving pupils-generally excellent behaviour) who had no teaching qualification, just an excellent degree. He was eaten alive by teenagers as he didn't have a clue about classroom management. He would frequently burst into tears during lessons and would just walk out sometimes and roam the corridors to calm himself down. He had left by Easter-totally broken.

Proper training is so important.

rollonthesummer · 22/03/2015 18:42

Eviltwins -apart from the SENCO, there is no requirement for teachers in independent schools or academies to be qualified.

We aren't disagreeing about the truth in this, just suggesting it may be a crap idea.

UnderEstherMate · 22/03/2015 18:52

Is your daughter doing School Direct training? If so, then the school are perfectly okay to give her this job.

As other posters have mentioned, you don't need formal qualifications to work in an independent school anyway.

Original poster

truegold · 22/03/2015 19:12

UnderEstherMate Yes she is doing training through the school including shadowing and observation over the coming weeks and building to a full training and support programme. She has been given a slightly lighter timetable in order to ensure there is plenty of time for her to undertake the school's training as well as being given a mentor in the department etc. to help with her progress.

I was just trying to help from a mum's point of view and be involved. Obviously I have no experience of teaching but thought if I could send her some links etc. I could help out that way and show my enthusiasm and support for her by asking other people in the profession who have experience and specific knowledge of the field.

As this seems to be a bit of a contentious issue I'll leave it to the school and her! Thank you to those who gave me some really helpful information!

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kesstrel · 22/03/2015 19:22

Some very good teacher blogs, mostly English, one independent school history, one on behaviour (and other stuff). There is a lively blogging and tweeting community for teachers now, which these blogs are part of:

www.learningspy.co.uk/
www.huntingenglish.com/
readingallthebooks.com/
learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.co.uk/
heatherfblog.wordpress.com/
community.tes.co.uk/tom_bennett/b/weblog/default.aspx

kesstrel · 22/03/2015 19:23

Oh dear. Well, I hope the OP comes back!

Original poster

truegold · 22/03/2015 19:26

Thank you Kesstrel - those look great, I will pass them on! I'm sure she would be very interested to read those :)

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Haggisfish · 22/03/2015 19:33

Kesstrel it's great you want to be supportive-I am damned sure your dd will need it! I think it's important to be aware of these issues regarding teaching in independent schools cf to state schools-otherwise you or dd may naively get embroiled in discussions etc in real life. Personally, I often find brilliant students from uni in a subject, such as your dd, can struggle to be brilliant teachers, simply because they don't understand how some school children can find their subject difficult. However, some people find they are naturally very good at it. If your dd is gregarious and empathetic she will hopefully be fine. Good luck!

Original poster

truegold · 22/03/2015 19:42

Thank you Haggisfish, I agree it's important to be aware of them and I will certainly try and ensure dd is supported from this end and aware of the possible problems. She has loved the experience she had in a primary classroom and teaching trial lessons in the school she is joining and is (I think!) gregarious and empathetic so hopefully she will be fine as you say!

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Haggisfish · 22/03/2015 19:47

Actually the best advice I heard was simply to be interested in your students. Ask about them and their lives, be prepared to give a bit of yourself to them and give them your time.

Original poster

truegold · 22/03/2015 19:49

I will definitely pass that on Haggisfish - I think that's very good advice.

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noblegiraffe · 22/03/2015 19:56

She needs to buy The Craft of the Classroom by Michael Marland and anything by Tom Bennett.

Does she have any idea of what's about to hit her? Training to teach is incredibly intense.

Original poster

truegold · 22/03/2015 20:09

noblegiraffe - Thank you I will pass on those recommendations. She is aware of how much work it will be and how difficult and intensive the process is. Obviously knowing this is different to experiencing it but she is not going into the process completely green!
She is very eager and used to working in high pressure environments and is not pursuing the job on a whim. She has been seriously exploring and researching various avenues into teaching and contacting teachers for advice for two years now, and has had an interest in the vocation long before that so has a good idea of what is to come.

OP posts:

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