Primary School teacher vacancies

[Lmagic]

Can anyone tell me it gets easier!!

My husband graduated last July with a First class Degree in Primary Teaching. We were both over the moon but for some reason he can't seem to get a job. He's had 5 interviews last year and 3 this year and he doesn't get offered the job at the end. The feedback he gets is like they pick hairs and it's nothing substantial, more like they're struggling to find a good enough reason.

Everyone said initially when he graduated "he'll get snapped up in no time","they're crying out for teachers" and "not many male teachers anymore in primary schools".

We really didn't think it would be this hard to get a teaching job. It's like a rat race.

It's sometimes a bit like Russian Roulette. I have known vacancies to be already filled (but schools have to advertise by law but they have an idea of who they want), I have known schools to have up to 50 applicants, I have known schools not be able to recruit, because they have had minimal applicants, and jump at the chance to appoint the first decent applicant, all depending on the area, the reputation of the school etc etc.

Some schools want an ECT, some want experience, some are dictated by money and what they can afford. Headteachers I know find recruitment difficult, mostly because schools are under so much pressure, that they have to get the right person. It can be a bit of a lottery. In my experience, it's usually who you know, rather than what you know - such is life. By that I mean that supply teachers who are known to the school and / or contacts of the Headteacher have been "invited" to apply. He could do supply for a while, and get known in a few schools? Many new teachers start with supply and end up being offered a job in a school that they have supplied in. It can be tough getting started in teaching but yes it does get easier, when you build up contacts and can reference experiences.

Many new teachers report finding it difficult to get a job to start with. Ironically, there is lots of supply work about, so he should go down that route and also get in contact with supply agencies for September, as they will likely have full time positions for September. With all of that said, I would also advise him to have a Headteacher look over his personal statement and application.

Yes he's been doing supply teaching since September last year, it's good in that he's getting a lot of experience doing it. The downside is you don't get paid when it's school holidays which isn't so good.

Thank you for your reply it makes a lot of sense. The Deputy Head in the school my husband is a supply at has said he will look at his Personal Statement so we will be doing that this week. I agree with so much of what you've said. So helpful 😊👍

No offense meant but is it possible he's coming across as a bit over confident?

What is the actual feedback he's been given?

Just because he's male, it doesn't mean he's more likely to get the job. Is it possible this is coming across in his interviews?

Heads are looking for good teachers to put in front of classes, who will commit to the school and pull their weight.

Many of the male primary school teachers I know seem to think they are something special and destined for a quick journey to leadership. Probably not the case bit worth thinking about.

It took me so long to get a ‘proper’ job, I had so many interviews. I ended up doing a maternity cover, which ended up becoming permanent. Then after that, I’ve got every job I’ve applied for.

i am secondary music, which back when I started (a good 12 years ago!) was a ‘shortage’ so it was really demoralising to go to so many job interviews and not get the job. Especially with some of the schools being unreasonably far away. I remember the feedback being so rubbish and essentially they always liked someone else more than me.

i would say just keep going for interviews until he is the right fit.

i also found, that someone told me I should write to the schools specification each time. The times I did that I got no interview, and the times I just wrote my decent personal statement with a slight change for the first and last paragraphs I got the interview. i réalise someone might on here give the opposite advice…!

he will get there eventually. If he does enough supply, a school will realise and keep him…

although he will want primary, secondary schools are literally crying out for any subjects and every warm body available!!!

Where in the country? Is there any chance you could relocate? I know so many schools in the south and south east that would jump at the chance to employ him!

@toomuchicecream - we're contemplating moving house in the future if he doesn't get a position here. We're in East Yorkshire currently.

@Smeegall
Thank you for your response, was good to read and I like the advice & tips you've given 👍

@rosesinmygarden

Thank you for your comments.

I will come back to you with regard to the feedback as I need to ask hubby about them.

He's not over confident in himself and doesn't think he's better and above others by any means. He just wants a job.

He's very frustrated at the moment with the job situation and fed up of constantly doing applications but it's the only way. He will get there, just gonna take a bit more time.

It could be just that he's been unlucky. Sometimes the school already has someone in mind, or (for no fault of your own) your face simply doesn't fit.

Despite the feedback seeming to be nitpicking, it's worth taking it all on board. It's positive that his supply head teacher wants to help too - he must have made a good impression with them.

Fingers crossed he finds the right school soon. Has he considered tutoring as well? This would boost his income and full some gaps in the holidays.

@rosesinmygarden

Thank you for your response.

With regard to tutoring do you mean online tutoring or advertising that he could tutor at our home say over the 6 wks holiday?

We have talked about online tutoring but some you have to have 2 years experience of teaching. Do you know of any good ones at all?

It could be that the falling birth rate and ever lower school funding doesn’t help. I know it’s no comfort but it could be that it’s just so competitive at the moment.

Some schools give feedback because they feel they have to. I’m not saying it’s all rubbish but it could be, at times, something they say on the spot. It might help your husband not to take it personally…

Another thing I would say is if he has found a school he likes working in on Supply to avoid placements there for a while. Transfer fees to agencies can be very off-putting for schools. Then, if a permanent post comes up he will be free of agency fees to the school.

Best of luck. It can be very demoralising I know.

I tutor all year round and offer online and tuition at my home. I don't use agencies personally. I fill my spaces mostly by word of mouth.

It's low stress compared to teaching in a school and can be very well paid.

@rosesinmygarden

That sounds amazing and ideal. Well done you for making this work 😊 How do you know how much to charge?

I wouldn't even know where to begin for husband as in getting parents to come to him for tuition and where to advertise. Is there much need for it for KS1 or is it more KS2 for help with SATS that you do?

I've pretty much replaced my teaching income (I have been teaching 25 years). It really can work. I do also do some writing work and very occasionally do supply but my tuition income pays the basic bills.

I started with one student, referred by a teacher friend and it grew from there. Its taken me 8 years to get to this point. I was pretty much full by year 3 though and I advertise very little.

I tutor primary. Sats, 11 plus and homework help. There is massive demand especially for 11 plus tutors with a track record.

@rosesinmygarden

Wow, I am so impressed and it's good to read that you've been successful in what you do 👍 I will chat to hubby tonight when I get home from work.

@dendron123

Thank you for your response the other day, for some reason I missed it. Some good advice there so thank you 👍

Teaching is popular in the parts of the country where wages and housing are cheaper - £30k goes a long way in east Yorkshire but not far at all in surrey, berks or bucks.

Did your husband check what the local market was like for teachers? In some areas its oversaturated.

Can you consider moving to an area where teachers are in short supply?

Platforms such as Outschool allow an easy toe-dip into tutoring too.

He's getting the interviews, so I would suggest that is where the problem lies.How is he doing in his supply work? I think they would be his best bet.

@skybloo
No we didn't look elsewhere other than where we live in East Yorkshire for husband to teach.

I imagine teachers down the South of England would be on a much bigger wage although in line with the cost of living for that area but the affordability for housing would be massive compared to here.

We have said we might have to think of moving at this rate.

@BestZebbie
What exactly is Outschool? Is it to start to teach online? I've not heard of it before.

@ageratum

Yes I agree that when the interviews happen something just doesn't go 100% even though he thinks they have gone as well as they could. The feedback he gets can be frustrating as it's always trivial.

He enjoys supply teaching and has been doing it a good while now, coming up to say 8 months or so but financially we need him to be in full time employment or a few part time jobs. We need a job(s) to pay during the whole year and not just stop when it's school holiday time.

@ageratum1

Yes I agree that when the interviews happen something just doesn't go 100% even though he thinks they have gone as well as they could. The feedback he gets can be frustrating as it's always trivial.

He enjoys supply teaching and has been doing it a good while now, coming up to say 8 months or so but financially we need him to be in full time employment or a few part time jobs. We need a job(s) to pay during the whole year and not just stop when it's school holiday time.

Outschool is a online platform for purchasing Zoom lessons for children - I think primarily aimed at US home educators but very much used worldwide. https://outschool.com/

@BestZebbie

Thank you for the recommendation 👍😊