DH can't get a teaching job

[Fedupofsupply]

DH has been qualified for 2 years now as a primary teacher. He's done supply ever since qualifying, none of the work has been suitable towards his NQT as he's always been with different schools and classes. Never anything longterm.

He gets enough work most of the time and many of the schools request him back as they like him and trust him to do a good job. Always gets good feed back.

He's applied for countless jobs over the last 2 years. Had quite a few interviews but never successful. Usual reasons are someone else was more qualified, his lesson wasn't perfect enough, lack of experience showed in the interview for things like assessment. He's an NQT so of course others will be more qualified and he doesn't get to do things like assessment as a supply teacher. After the last interview he had he was so deflated.

I'm at my wits end with it, we need the stability of a permanent income and plus he is stagnating being stuck as a supply teacher when he's still an NQT. Every time we talk about it, it becomes an arguement. He gets upset as feels like a failure

Any advice on how he can improve his interviews etc greatly appreciated. I think he's starting to feel like giving up. It would be such a shame as I genuinely think he is a good teacher

I know a family where the NQT Dad is teaching in Essex to get his first couple of years in, Mum and son are in Scotland. Dad comes home weekends and holidays.

Thank you for replies, I'm taking it all in.

Never thought when he started his training we'd have to be considering living apart

Relocating the whole family I can't just see as a viable option. My job is specialist and I had to train long and hard for it and it pays well. Think the compromise would have to be living apart if it comes to that.

Thinking about it some more, I think this year DH has become quite demotivated. We need to address that. Can't say I can blame him though, I'd be feeling pretty down about it too. I'm sure he probably does need to revise certain things that come up in interviews.

That gives me some hope at least rosy

Thank you for link Bless

Could he ask the agency to try and get him longer term supply posts? Mat cover good as some might not want to get back. I was having the same problem. Eventually my agency managed to get me two long term positions and the second one turned into a job. Teaching seems to be one of those professions where you need to be in the school and get your legs under the table before you are taken in. I did my NQT on long term supply. Good luck to him hope he finds something soon!

Is your job so specialist that you couldn't move for a few years? I ask because I put off moving because it would be difficult, it was the wrong time, someone is the family needed to stay, we had this commitment or that interest, but in the end, once the decision was made, everything fell into place. It's not saying you can't move back if you leave, but a CV of supply is not going to make the move easier. I was secondary and did exam marking, GCSE an A' Level tuition and published, but still could only get long term supply. Away from the rain, I've not had any problems at all. It is worth serious consideration.

Is your job so specialist that similar roles don't exist in the south east?

I would say go for PT jobs and he can do supply on the days he is off.

Something is not right. Primary school teachers are in demand. Male primary school teachers are usually snapped up.

Unfortunately, being on supply for any length of time is not a good thing if you are looking for a permanent job. It raises questions with schools about why you have not been successful when there is a teacher shortage.

I am not talking out of the back of my head. I was a Deputy Head in a secondary school until last year when I left to be a SAHM. DH is a Deputy Head and I am a Chair of Govs at a local primary school. Something is putting schools off your husband and I think it is the supply and what they think might be the reason for it.

If he is getting lots of interviews, it is not the supply, it is what happens during the interview, the lesson or his references. Does he have references from the schools he has worked in? He should. His university reference is out of date now and a supply agency reference is a waste of time. Does he have evidence of his extra-curricular activities involvement in the schools? That will help as it shows real willing. If he is in a school for a term or more, they should be prepared to support him with his NQT. The fact that he has not completed that after 2 years will not be helping him. Inexperienced teachers on supply often develop bad habits because they have never been properly supported so it would help if he could complete his NQT. Assessment is vital and so is quality of learning. He should practice the lesson he is going to deliver and have it observed and critiqued by the Head or Deputy where he is on supply.

Yes to part-time posts but also look for long term supply. Days in different schools or a couple of weeks here and there moving around don't i press schools looking to appoint - as there is no evidence of lng term progress of children, ability to form effective relationships with parents, contributions to a school etc.

I think one of the issues in the SW is that there is a high proportion of small schools with one form entry or less. These settings require teachers to be very autonomous (no planning partner etc) so they are more wary of taking on somebody untested. They don't have to because there are enough experienced teachers looking for and sitting tight in jobs for the reasons sock mentioned.

MOST of the teachers in my school have the experience and expertise to be SLT. This is totally at odds to my last school (a SE city with 4 form entry) where most of the teachers where in their first few years of teaching.

Are you prepared to say which part of the SW you are in?

One thing he can do is look at the questions he's struggled with due to lack of experience and try to address those issues on supply. The advantage of supply is that he'll be in lots of settings and you can turn that to your advantage in interview - but if he's struggling to talk about assessment he needs to be proactive. Ok, so the plus side of supply is you don't have to do things like reports, parents evenings, long term assessments etc but that's not to say he can't offer (and will probably not be turned down) - he should take the opportunity to sit in on moderation meetings and standardising, to assist year team partner teachers in devising SoW and things...anything so that he has a real portfolio of examples in his head to draw upon.

I'm a chair of governors and sit on interview panels.
He is losing out to candidates who have done 2 or 3 short to medium term sickness cover or maternity cover jobs.
They will have had actual lesson planning/ parent interactions/run clubs and will have more experiences to draw on on the interview.
If he is just applying for permanent jobs in a geographical area wher there are shortlists of 6 candidates then I'm not surprised he's unsucsessful, no disrespect meant it's just the other candidates almost certainly have a profile like that and do better in interview.

However I would say it's a positive he's getting shortlisted so his applications and references must be good.

My advice is to apply for some short term contracts for sickness or maternity cover. Or maybe ppa cover which might be less days but it gives him an opportunity to build a link with that school.
Then (I know this will be hard) but volunteer to do a lunchtime or after school club, help with assemblies plays, trips etc, go on as many cpd courses as possible, listen and learn from lesson obs, book scrutiny etc. Observe and model the behaviours of the other staff. Ask them for advice and guidance etc.

With a couple of these under his belt I'm positive he will be successful.

Another person suggesting a move to Scotland. I think we've got about 500 vacancies across the country!
Then there's the pretty awesome standard of living and a cheaper standard of living.
Could you indicate roughly what your specialism is in?

Could you indicate roughly what your specialism is in?

Yes-it feels like this is the stumbling block really. I doubt he'd struggle to find a post in much of the rest of the country! If you are seriously not willing to move, then can he SAH whilst you work full time? Otherwise he could live away during the week.

She did; he's sporty, musical and with good behaviour management.
OP, has he asked for feedback at every interview? Because he's also make and cheap, so an ideal package for primary.

To clarify I mean the OPs specialism, not the primary teacher. We've established there's loads of vacancies elsewhere - now to see if there's similar for the OP

Oops!

Can I ask - did he get a job or did you move? I have a friend in a very similar position, though in secondary. Same area though. Hope its worked out for you...

ZOMBIE