Low Pay?

[NC121]

I've accepted a HLTA position in a high school working with SEN children.

I will be responsible for maths and literacy for 3 groups of children as well as other additional subjects. I will be responsible for planning, teaching, marking and assessing these pupils as well as parent's evenings etc.

I will be teaching a full timetable so 45 lessons over two weeks.

My take home salary will be £16k a year (22k FTE). Is it just me or does this seem off? I will be essentially be working as a teacher with a very low pay.

Opinions please?

I think they’ll get away with whatever they can. You need to write to them asap and tell them that it will not be possible for you to undertake that job description for less than £25k

Take home 25k that is^^

The job was advertised as £22-26k but I didnt realise it was pro rota 🙄

It's about the same pay as an unqualified teacher (starting pay £17k) to be in charge of a whole class all week. It is poor.

That makes sense. I have QTS and PGCE so thought I would be paid a bit more. It does seem shockingly low to be responsible for 3 groups of children, especially SEN groups.

You are being taken for a ride and it's terrible for the profession.

It's not your fault, but this just shouldn't be allowed.

It's the standard. If you're a qualified teacher then why not just teach? Double the money.

Oh and by it's the standard I mean that's the norm. But it's TOTALLY wrong. So undervalued.

HLTAs should be working under the supervision of a teacher who would have responsibility for the classes.

It does sound like you are being hired as a teacher but not being paid as one. Have you signed a contract?

Thats exactly what I'll be doing and no I've not signed a contract yet. It's currently being written up by HR.

Normally verbal acceptance for a teaching role would be advisedly stuck to but a TA job that was misadvertised? Did they not mention pro rats on the job advert? I’d back out, unless looking at it as a foot in the door. Tbh there’s going to be lots of intervention work going for a person with QTS.

I'd look for a job in a Special School. You will do a very similar job, but on better pay and with more support (like your own TAs for example!).

Definitely say no to this, you are worth so much more. I can't believe school would be even try this, it's really sly and underhand.

I took a HLTA job after doing my PGCE and taught full time in Primary covering nursery to Y6. I didn't however do SEND reviews, pupil progress meetings, coordinate a subject across the school- it was literally the 'fun' bits of teaching. It wasn't well paid but was less stressful than teaching. I then went on to do my NQT at the same school, but for me, it was a valuable experience where I learned a lot about teaching.