Stay or go?

[ItsTheGloaming]

I recently passed my PGCE. I have an NQT position starting in September. This school have asked me to start early as an unqualified teacher, I'll be paid over the summer. I've been at the school two weeks and...... No one has checked to see what I'm teaching, no one has visited me in my classroom, no one from SLT has spoken to me, my Hod is off on long term sick and not due back till September, I haven't signed a contract yet for either the NQT or unqualified position, nor have I had my bank details taken, no one has told me any of the policies etc. behaviour at the school is absolutely appalling - think kids running around corridors in and out of classrooms, swearing and shouting at staffetc. When you call for on call to come and remove pupils from your classroom they don't turn up, sanctions are not followed through and the kids know they won't be . Staff morale is zero. Staff are leaving in droves. My classes have had a variety of supply teachers since Feb half term, often pupils will have supply teachers for 4 out of 5 lessons.
I don't know what to do, jump ship quickly and try and find another position or stay?

I should add that there are some great kids there who deserve a good teacher and the opportunity to be able to do well. I forgot to add the school is currently graded as inadequate.

So it would just be until the end of this half term? I'd say take it, especially as you'll then be paid over the summer. Yes it sounds like behaviour is tough but as no SLT seem to be on your back you could plan some lovely lessons and really make a difference for those kids before the summer.

Although definitely chase up the SBM. Is it a local authority school or an academy? An academy with no sign of contracts, policies etc sounds like bad news.

I have been there two weeks as an unqualified teacher and I'm due to start my NQT year there in September.
I agree with not having Slt on my back, no one has actually asked what I'm teaching (I'm teaching yr 7,8,9,10,12) or told me what to teach..... I'm worried about whether it's a good idea to do my NQT year there. I'm not even sure what is involved in an NQT year....... 😕

Sorry, its an academy.

I might be wrong but I thought schools that were inadequate were not allowed to take on NQTs ????

I didn't think that they could either but their last Ofsted report said that they can.

Difficult one. Due to your inexperience, I would be inclined to try to find a new post asap - for September even if necessary. Strictly speaking you can't leave until Xmas now, BUT they are not upholding their side of the contract (you do have a verbal contract, which is binding) i.e. they are not mentoring you, as they should since you are an NQT.

At this point in your career, you need to be at a school where you can really learn from other good experienced practitioners, and that's not going to happen in your current school.

It sounds totally shit and not the place you want to be doing your NQT year. You’ve been there two weeks and you don’t even know how they’re going to pay you for those two weeks?

You need to start making a nuisance of yourself in order to get what you need. Go to admin and badger about pay. Go to any other permanent teacher in the department and ask about schemes of work. Look on the system for the behaviour management policy. Ask who will be your NQT mentor and pester them for support.

I don’t know what to advise about the job situation. Generally it’s frowned upon to ditch a school when you’ve agreed to work there and drop them in it. But it sounds like they’re used to that and won’t be in a position to make life difficult for you about it.

I absolutely don't want to drop them in it but also I need to do what is best for me. They certainly are used to staff leaving.... A new supply teacher left in tears on Wednesday - on her first day. I was slightly later than normal on Friday (7.30 rather than 7.15) and everyone on my floor assumed I had left!

I would jump now and try to get a job for September. You'll only end up leaving at the end of your NQT year anyway.

If you do go, I think you should write to OFSTED about this. I bet they aren't seeing a fraction of what's really going on.

I bet Ofsted don't either!
Thanks for your advice, it's confirmed what I suspected anyway.

If you haven't signed a contract go. There are still jobs out for September.

Bit confused as to why they are paying you as unqualified when you have passed your PGCE?

Seriously- it sounds totally chaotic- NQT year is hard enough without working in a bear pit! It doesn't sound like it will get any better and you will be on your knees by week 3.

I really would start looking for something else especially if you haven't signed a contract.

I totally agree with @BrigitsBigKnickers. You are now qualified! You should not be paid on the unqualified scale. I'm cross that they would do this! It also sounds like a very difficult environment. I'd be looking for something else if I were you. As many have said, there will still be vacancies for September.

God, this thread shows how little I know... I just accepted it when they said they were employing me as unqualified as I hadn't taken my NQT year!
Today I had an actual fight in my room, two yr 9s came looking for one of my YR 10s and started laying into him. I had to clear the room and get one of the kids to go to the next door classroom and get the male teacher to come and try and intervene.
It's such a shame because it's the sort of school that I know that I would be able to make such a difference to the pupils but it needs Slt to be behind the teachers all the way and there is just no support from them.

They do NOT sound ready to be taking NQTs. They need to only be employing hardened old battleaxes- which is exactly the point of the exemption from employing NQTs.

They've probably waved a plausible looking school improvement plan during a monitoring visit and had the exemption lifted.

I would jump now and feel lucky you've had these couple of weeks to see the light.

I'm looking for a new position.........surprisingly few around at the moment!

Are you looking for state or private?

At the moment, anywhere.....! (humanities subject, Midlands ish)

I would get out, OP. You're a newly qualified teacher and you need years of experience in a good school before you're thrown into a bad one. As I said above, though, I would definitely report them to OFSTED.

Have you joined Facebook groups for your subject? On my subject /exam board group there are lots of posts advertised.
I would make an appointment with whoever would be in charge of training / NQT's to voice your concerns. At least then you've tried to go down the correct route.
They should be supporting you, this type of management is appalling!

No advice to add but you sound great! After 2 weeks of this school you are still there and feeling positive about the kids. It sounds as if you are going into the right profession and as if a lot of kids will be really lucky to have you.

Hope that you work something out. It doesn't sound as if you are going to get any valuable mentoring there, unless your department has a new super HoD starting in Sept, so my inclination, along with others is to say that you might be better off elsewhere, but if you do have to stay, make sure they look after you. Yy to all that Nobllegiraffe said

Could your PGCE tutor from uni help find a job at all?