Newly Qualified Primary School Teacher...still can't get job...help?

[Doowrah]

Hi

I am a single mum and in June 2009 became an NQT, have applied for loads of jobs, had 4/5 interviews, but still haven't got a job? I am doing supply on a very part-time basis but it's not enough. There are too many applicants for each job and the universities are still churning out hundreds of trainees every year. I need to do my NQT year to be fully qualified and there is a time limit to achieve this. In Scotland the NQT year is a 'given' part of the course. I've invested money and re-trained myself and I am still claiming benefits which I hate. I am looking for other jobs but it now appears I am over-qualified. I am really starting to feel I can't win whatever I do.

There are too many applicants for each job and the universities are still churning out hundreds of trainees every year.

How interesting that you say it is the same in London, I am in Somerset and had thought my rural location may be partly to blame. I agree it should be looked into because lots of people are investing money in a qualification that may not provide the seemingly guaranteed job at the end of it.

I was honestly thinking of writing somewhere about it - buy to whom?

Hmmm have thought the same myself...and I don't really know. I am going to see my local MP, although what good it will do I don't know! You would have thought it was somebody's job to ensure too many people weren't being trained and to provide PGCE'rs with the opportunity to achieve their NQT year so all previous training doesn't go to waste. Maybe the bod in charge of Education at the Government, local LEA or Teachers Unions????? It is scandalous really and a total waste of talent.

Hi Doowrah
I'm in the North East and passed PGCE in Primary last summer. I'm just disgusted that, after all that hard work, I can't get a job to start induction. At the moment I'm doing some supply work but there's not a lot of that either. Also, with 2 primary aged children I can only really take pre-booked supply so that I can arrange childcare - that means even less work.
It is scandalous and a total waste. I thought it might just be my area but it looks like it's nationwide. I wonder who we could write to? I know the NUT did a march last year about lack of induction places but I guess nothing was taken further.

I read somewhere that the govermnet is looking into changing structure of teacher training, but haven't heard more about it.

Hi alegre and Kayah

I understand your disgust and feel for you it is an appalling situation to be in especially as the media and everybody-else are so quick to pillory and judge you for not working and yet when you are desperate to work the jobs and opportunities just are
not there despite your best efforts.

I have even considered writing an article about it and/or trying to get some media attention on the issue. I am a bit scared tho- have never done anything like that before but I am so angry at the situation I am in.

I think there is only a time limit on your nqt yr once you have started it? I know supply work does after a set period...

This is shocking if there's a set time to complete NTQ status. . I do hope this is wrong.

I was fairly sure you have 5yrs to complete NQT then you have to retrain, I might be wrong!

You can only do supply on a short term basis without induction for 18 months.

You can apply for an extension to this from your local LEA I am in the process of doing this now.

Think that the 5 year limit to induction was removed a little while ago. However, it seems ridiculous that, if you do supply work, there is a time limit of around 16 months on supply (without induction) and then you have to ask for an extension from each LA you work in. This doesn't make sense to me, especially given the current situation where so many NQTs are unable to get an induction post.

Where I am, I'm on the borders of 3 LAs so, if I haven't started induction 16 months after starting supply, I'll have to apply to 3 individual LAs in order to continue doing daily supply and give myself the option of more work. Just seems like a beaurocratic nightmare and a silly waste time.

In 2009 there was a petition requesting an end to the 16 month limit but that doesn't seem to have got anywhere.

Whoops - didn't preview before posting, should read 'bureaucratic'!

Thought you'd been on the sherry! Only joking!

The whole system sucks...

So i finished my PGCE July 2009 and then started doing supply teaching after the october half term in 2009. I have applied and been successful with my extension so that i can still do supply after the 16 months. I also got told that I need to try to start my induction as soon as possible, like I hadn't been trying over the last 16 months. I have worked in 2 different schools and have taught a full term in both but bith schools were unable to support me with my induction due to financial reasons. I had an interview today and was told that although i didn't get the job a school would be very lucky to have me and not to get disheartened. There was nothing that she could tell me I could improve on which leads me to think that it is my NQT induction that is proving to much of a hassle for people to give me a job.