One-form or two or more form entry for ECT/NQT

[bookworm4505]

Hi,
I'm currently a PGCE student beginning to look for job vacancies for my ECT year for September.
I'm wondering whether people would recommend applying for one-form entry jobs or jobs in bigger schools?
I know a big advantage of multi-form entries is that planning can be shared.
Does anyone have any experience or advice on the advantages/disadvantages of either option?
Thanks!

I wouldn't even think about 1 form entry. Nqt is hard enough without having to do it on your own

ECT here. I would agree. The year is hard enough as it is, I'd hate to be doing it without the support of a partner teacher, and not just for the planning.

Definitely avoid 1 form entry imho. I would say 2 or 3 form entry is the ideal. 4 form entry definitely too big ime.

I teach in a 1 form entry and there are advantages (e.g. far more autonomy to do what you want when with your class). However that might not be your priority in your first few years of teaching!

The jobs available might dictate where you apply though. If there are lots of bigger primaries where you are then you might be fine to limit yourself to multi form entries. Where I am we are one of the biggest schools in the area and there aren't even any 2 form entries until you get into the nearby town so you wouldn't have such a choice.

I’m an ECT and it’s so difficult and I’m in a two form entry, I wouldn’t even consider one form entry.

I think it very much depends on how you like to work. I’m going to put the other side here because I think one form entry might not always be harder.

Even in a two form entry, you will need to ‘tweak’ planning to meet the needs of your class, and when you are planning for a year group partner, it can take longer than just doing it yourself.

If you get on well with your partner, it is great to have support and a sounding board. But partners may be unwilling or unable to be as supportive as you might hope.

Look round any school you are applying to and ask how planning works, ask about their approach to feedback and marking, ask how subject leadership works. In a one form you’re more likely to have to pick up a subject in year 2 of your ECT. Not necessarily a bad thing - it all depends on the culture and ethos of the school. Good luck - it’s a brilliant job when you find the right school.

Single form entry is so much easier than two- or more-form entries!

I did the first half of my NQT yr in a 2-form entry and the second half of my NQT yr in a single form entry.

In a single form entry, you have more autonomy on what you're teaching and your planning might be shared/joint/adapted with your key stage partner so is not entirely on you.

In a 2-form entry, your books, teaching & learning needs to reflect the same as the other class(es) in the year group which is hard to manage if one class powers on ahead while you're battling fires with behaviour or vice versa.

I wish I'd done single form for the whole of my NQT yr. I worked in 3 other single forms after my NQT and although back in 2-form now, I do miss single form.

@partystress

I think it very much depends on how you like to work. I’m going to put the other side here because I think one form entry might not always be harder.

Even in a two form entry, you will need to ‘tweak’ planning to meet the needs of your class, and when you are planning for a year group partner, it can take longer than just doing it yourself.

If you get on well with your partner, it is great to have support and a sounding board. But partners may be unwilling or unable to be as supportive as you might hope.

Look round any school you are applying to and ask how planning works, ask about their approach to feedback and marking, ask how subject leadership works. In a one form you’re more likely to have to pick up a subject in year 2 of your ECT. Not necessarily a bad thing - it all depends on the culture and ethos of the school. Good luck - it’s a brilliant job when you find the right school.

Planning absolutely takes longer in multiform entry schools, you spend half your PPA discussing who is responsible for planning what and then making sure it is detailed enough for the other person to understand.

In a single form, it is so much quicker and as long as you are clear what you want to achieve, your plans can be as vague and quick as you need.

Thanks all! Really interesting to hear different perspectives on the pros/cons of each option.