Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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.

Original poster

If you are a teacher - what can/should SMT do to motivate you?

71 replies

WishIwasanastronaut · 29/05/2015 21:18

Just that really. Motivation at my school is at an all time low.
10% of the staff seem to do 90% of the work.
Being stricter on the teachers who take the piss is obviously one way of tackling the issue but I'm more interested in how to reward those that go above and beyond the daily grid.
Any ideas?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 29/05/2015 21:22

Wow, I read 'being stricter on teachers who take the piss' and my morale just plummeted and I don't even work for you.

What do you mean by taking the piss?

TheTroubleWithAngels · 29/05/2015 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mistymeanour · 29/05/2015 21:24

Praise them, tell them how much you appreciate all their hard work. Give increments when the budget allows to reflect the extra work they do. Show an interest in how they see their career advancing - forward info on relevant training courses that could help them. Everyone loves a bit of recognition.

Original poster
WishIwasanastronaut · 29/05/2015 21:32

Noblegiraffe - yes, not very well put I admit. I am talking about those that do not plan engaging lessons, rather get kids to copy from photocopied sheets; those who are often off sick but aren't really sick; those who are not punctual; leave their lesson for long periods of time; use iPads/iPhones for work unrelated things in the classroom; those who do not upload their paperwork/share their planning etc.

I feel like the good guys don't get justly rewarded.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 29/05/2015 21:38

What paperwork is supposed to be uploaded?

Original poster
WishIwasanastronaut · 29/05/2015 21:45

christ noblegiraffe - are you one of my colleagues? Wink Just some very short, basic planning docs and some exam reports onto the shared area... Not terribly onerous - no one should really be teaching without them, it's really the bare minimum.
Will you answer my question now?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 29/05/2015 21:48

What's an exam report?
If you have schemes of work, why do you need basic planning to be uploaded? Who actually looks at it? Why? Could that time be spent doing something more productive like marking?

FabulousFudge · 29/05/2015 21:54

Saying thank you and well done
Being available to listen and advise
Communication - verbal and email
Regard for right to a reasonable work/life balance

Original poster
WishIwasanastronaut · 29/05/2015 21:54

Honestly, some people get others to do their registers and sneak off early.
Some do little or no marking and do not provide constructive feedback. We are working on making those people more accountable.

But my question is, what about those at the other end of the scale? Those who organise and accompany trips in the evenings and during school holidays? Those who are active members of working groups? Those who often cover/plan lessons for absent colleagues? Those who give up breaks and lunchtimes to help kids out of kindness? Those who are often given the difficult classes because they can cope with them?
What's in in for them?

OP posts:
DosDuchas · 29/05/2015 21:56

why have SLT being so weak?
why is this behaviour seen as ok. You lot need to start issuing some warnings and sacking some folks!

DosDuchas · 29/05/2015 21:56

you need to get rid of the dead wood.
THEN worry about morale

Original poster
WishIwasanastronaut · 29/05/2015 21:58

I know DosDuchas! You are spot on!

I am hopeful the ball is rolling with that one.

But what about the ones who go above and beyond?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 29/05/2015 22:01

Have you asked your staff why they are demotivated and morale is shit?

TheTroubleWithAngels · 29/05/2015 22:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DosDuchas · 29/05/2015 22:06

the other staff will be pleased when the skivers go

tell them they are great. Give them responsibility. stop micro managing them TRUST THEM

Original poster
WishIwasanastronaut · 29/05/2015 22:07

Honestly, no. That would be a start. Maybe a survey... People might be inclined to be more honest anonymously.

But I am still looking for ideas to reward the exceptional teachers. Some really are amazing.

OP posts:
Original poster
WishIwasanastronaut · 29/05/2015 22:11

I am not currently SMT. I have been asked to come up with some ideas of recognising outstanding individuals though. It's bloody hard (and I am also quite anti performance related pay).

OP posts:
Iggi999 · 29/05/2015 22:13

Not going on trips etc doesn't mean your no exceptional. Some people have no childcare to facilitate the long hours your promote. In fact maybe that's what the reward should be - lead by example and don't expect your staff to put in hours and hours of unpaid overtime.
Still interested to know how you know people who are off sick are actually well. If 90% of staff are not pulling their weight that suggests a very demotivated workforce - a change in senior leadership might well help.

Icedfinger · 29/05/2015 22:15

Acknowledge people by name for what they as individuals do. Thank them for it publicly.

Look at the calendar- do you need full plans in the same week as reports are due in? Do governors need to do learning walks in SATs week?

Be present at difficult times, have an open door, ask how they are. Accept honest answers.

Don't expect staff to do anything you wouldn't do- demonstrate this. Don't forget what it's like to teach a full week.

Iggi999 · 29/05/2015 22:15

A day or two of cover to enable them to work on whatever they are currently doing in their own time would be well received I think.

NinjaPanda34 · 29/05/2015 22:24

I'm with icedfinger. Have an open door. Don't expect people to be psychic. Have a cake-Friday where you bring in the cakes. Get your SMT to cover classes the week reports etc are due in instead of filling frees with cover classes. Know people's names(!)... I could go on...

noblegiraffe · 29/05/2015 22:26

For a start I'd get rid of the requirement to upload planning to a shared area. Your crappy teachers aren't doing it anyway and your good teachers will plan anyway without someone wasting their time looking over their shoulder. Let them get on with their jobs.

If a member of staff takes a trip, thank them by name in staff briefing and write them a thank you letter that they can put in their performance management file. But taking trips shouldn't be an expectation, as mentioned a lot of people have childcare commitments.

meerschweinchen · 29/05/2015 22:30

Tbh I'd be demotivated if I had to upload every lesson plan. I scribble copious notes in my planner, have a clear idea in my head and all my resources on the computer. Obviously, I can and do produce proper lesson plans when observed, but I'd hate to have to do it for every lesson. Micromanaging in the extreme and a complete waste of time, in my opinion.

What would motivate me is the same as the students: praise, recognition, taking an interest in me as a person....

DosDuchas · 29/05/2015 22:37

i havent done a lesson plan in twenty years, apart from obbos and ofsted

honeysucklejasmine · 29/05/2015 22:43

Lordy, I would hate to have to submit plans for every lesson! Who reads them, and why do they think they know my class and my subject better than me? Hmm

Allow your teachers freedom to teach. Otherwise they tend not to want to be teachers anymore and leave.