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Original poster

If you have a student in your classroom (not mentoring) were you given additional time to help them plan etc?

36 replies

TrotEsio · 12/03/2019 06:44

I have a first year student in my class (I'm not her mentor).

She has several tasks to do and some upcoming lesson planning that will require a lot of input from me.

I'm wondering whether it would be reasonable to expect time away from the classroom to assist her?

I'm an NQT in a single mixed form entry in a school with a new curriculum (non LEA) so I'm doing all planning independently from scratch and can't really afford to give up my own planning time.

I appreciate if she's teaching it'll be less for me to plan but the area she needs to plan for I have already done the MTP and mapped out learning and it would take me twice as long to explain to her what needs to be done than actually do in myself.

We also have x2 staff meetings a week and I run an after school club on another day, so not a lot of time after school.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 12/03/2019 06:46

It’s not standard to have time off for mentoring. It’s ususlly something you do for the joy (!) and the cv points.

PurpleDaisies · 12/03/2019 06:47

JUst spotted you’re not her mentor. Talk to her mentor about what you can reasonably provide and go from there.

askingalways · 12/03/2019 06:50

In an ideal world yes, but in reality no.

Maybe you need to consider letting go of the reigns a bit - if you have a MTP then you need to let the student plan from that.
Be strict about the time you allocate to them to try and save your sanity a little e.g. tell them when you'll answer their emails so they're not getting in touch at 11pm the day before they're due to teach.

Sorry you've been put in this rubbish situation in your NQT year.

user1483387154 · 12/03/2019 06:56

Highly unlikely. Never known it to be done before

Original poster
TrotEsio · 12/03/2019 06:59

Thank you for your responses.

When I was training last year, both my mentors were classroom based and had allocated 'mentor time' so I assumed it was common practice in school to have time out if you're a mentor.

OP posts:
Aragog · 12/03/2019 07:24

The teachers with students at my school all get an additional hour of 'mentor time' on top of ppa. That's for anyone who has a student in their class for a substantial amount of time.

askingalways · 12/03/2019 07:25

Yes, if you are a mentor you have the extra responsibility of observing, assessing, giving feedback and submitting reports which in some schools comes with extra times.

In schools that I've worked in the idea of having a student would be considered giving you an extra pair of hands thus making your life easier! I know this is totally not the case but SLT can be very clever at getting people to accidentally take on extra responsibility.

cantkeepawayforever · 12/03/2019 07:34

Mentor - yes.
Clas teacher - no.

Which is daft, because the day to day input of the class teacher for a student is hugely time consuming. However, the argument I was given is that the student is doing some of my teaching, so I can use that for my own planning time....and in return I then spend time working with the student...

This year, we have actually made the decision not to take any PGCE students, for the first time ever, because of the huge additional burden they were placing on the school at a time when we were already under huge strain.

noblegiraffe · 12/03/2019 08:00

Why are you being given a PGCE student in your class if you’re an NQT? That shouldn’t happen.

Original poster
TrotEsio · 12/03/2019 11:37

She's a first year BA student @noblegiraffe not a PGCE.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 12/03/2019 11:52

That doesn’t make any difference, NQTs shouldn’t be supervising trainees - it’s not allowed in my school!

Speak to your NQT mentor about the additional burden of workload and your concerns, which are entirely reasonable.

askingalways · 12/03/2019 13:50

I agree with @noblegiraffe - I wouldn't allow it with my NQTs as it is an unnecessary additional burden on an already stressful workload.

It's not really appropriate for the student either in all honesty.

thebookeatinggirl · 12/03/2019 17:17

I've never been given extra planning time for having a student in my class. Years ago I used to get an additional one off payment, part of the money the school were given to support the student, but that never ever happens now. It has always been seen as part of my duties as a UPS teacher. Or it's seen as a tick in the box thing for someone about to apply for UPS. An NQT would never have a student in my school. You have enough to do sorting out your own practice, let alone supporting a student. That's no help though, I'm afraid.
What does your NQT mentor say?

Original poster
TrotEsio · 12/03/2019 18:55

My mentor placed her in the class with me.

I'll be losing my TA to the Y2 SATS so the student is there to 'cover' the TA.

OP posts:
Pieceofpurplesky · 12/03/2019 19:25

I agree with Noble an NQT should not have a trainee in their class. As for time - as a class teacher or subject mentor in my school there is no extra time. Only the school mentor gets time.

PurpleDaisies · 12/03/2019 19:27

I'll be losing my TA to the Y2 SATS so the student is there to 'cover' the TA.

That’s really not appropriate. The student is there to learn, not be a TA.

noblegiraffe · 12/03/2019 20:22

Eh? They’re taking away the TA of an NQT and replacing her with a student (and a beginning one at that) to supervise? What the hell is wrong with your school?

Some experienced teacher should be losing their TA and gaining a student, not the person least able to cope.

Rosieposy4 · 12/03/2019 20:38

NQTs shouldn’t have students, no way will you get extra time to support her though.
She needs placing elsewhere

Original poster
TrotEsio · 12/03/2019 20:41

I agree @PurpleDaisies.

Apart from EYs, mine is the only class with a TA so I assume that's why she's been placed in my class.

It seems it's not common practice for CTs to be given additional time, so I won't mention it to my mentor.

OP posts:
cantkeepawayforever · 12/03/2019 20:50

Are your NQT mentor and the student's mentor the same person, or a different one?

If they are different, you should probably ask your NQT mentor whether it is appropriate for you to have a student, and how they - your NQT mentor - can support you, as obviously you are not yet experienced enough to be coaching a trainee.

I would also suggest talking to the student's mentor, basically saying that, as you are an NQT, please could your mentor spend the time needed with the student to support them with their tasks and their planning. You could ask for this time to be mutual - ie that all 3 of you sit down together so that you can 'observe' and 'learn how to support a student effectively' and 'come up with solutions that both cover the absence of the TA while ensuring that the student gets the experienes that they need' - if you don't just want to say 'no'.

Just checking - you are getting your NQT time as well as normal PPA time as non contact already?

cantkeepawayforever · 12/03/2019 20:53

(I am anticipating, btw, that the student's mentor won't WANT to spend time with the student and is expecting you to do all of that. Your aim is to make then realise that this is unreasonable to expect an NQT to do it, and ensure that as much as possible of the burden is passed on to them.)

Original poster
TrotEsio · 12/03/2019 20:59

The student and I have the same mentor.

The mentor has been actively meeting the student every week and I am not taking on any of his mentor duties.

However, the student has a long list of 'areas to discuss with your class teacher' that I need to go through with her each week, as well as discussing each area of the curriculum.

Over the next couple of weeks I'll be expected to help her plan using the ridiculously long uni planning template.

Yes, I have allocated NQT time in addition to PPA.

OP posts:
cantkeepawayforever · 12/03/2019 21:07

I think, in your case, I would ask for extra time for the planning. It may not be the norm BUT you shouldn't have a student at all so you should ask for the extra time / additional support because of your own inexperience.

Jayblue · 13/03/2019 06:16

I'm training in secondary so it may be a bit different but I'm not supposed to be placed in a class with an NQT and ideally not with an NQT + 1.

The trainee should definitely not be being used to replace a TA, that is very unfair on her.

Is her university tutor aware of the situation and happy with it?

FWIW my class teachers who aren't my mentor don't spend that much time planning with me, although they usually check my plan before letting me lose with their class.

This doesn't sound like an ideal situation for her or you so I would be aiming to get it changed if you can.

Original poster
TrotEsio · 13/03/2019 20:44

Thank you all.

As the student has only been with me 2 weeks, I'm going to see what the workload is like once I'm expected to support her more before I decide whether to say something re extra time.

I don't know if her uni tutor is aware @Jayblue, it will be interesting to see if they have anything to say about it when they come in to observe her.

As a student, I would not have been too happy being placed with an NQT.

OP posts:
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