Are you an NQT and can't get a job?

[Doowrah]

Hi I am in this position at the moment and am rit fed up so have contacted my MP to make her aware of our predicament. If you are in the same boat let me know, my MP is Tessa Munt and she too would like to know your story to see what can be done to stop this ridiculous situation from happening. Many thanks!!!

They're doing their best to prevent it happening. Slashing teacher training places.

What's your subject? Age group?

My main advice is be prepared to be flexible in what you will accept and you have to be prepared to MOVE for a job.

Bear in mind once you have a couple of years experience under your belt you will be in a far stronger position.

There has been no reduction in training places at my local universities and I know an awful lot of people who have spent thousands retraining themselves only to be left in the position of not being able to do their NQT placement for a variety of reasons.

I am as flexible as I can be given I am the single-parent to a nine-year old and I have the couple of years experience you mention.

I am a Primary School Teacher qualified to teach 5-11 yrs

I posted my problems on another thread but bascially after doing supply for 16 months and completing 2 terms of full time work in 2 different schools and none of it going towards my NQT induction due to the school's financial restraints I'm fed up. It seems from an interview and feedback that i had today that schools are just not willing to go through the hassle to support an NQT in this economic climate. I have done everything that previos interviewers have told me to do in their feedback. Today I was told a school would be lucky to have you and there is nothing that you could improve on but unfortunately we're not offering you the position.

I just don't know what to do apart from keep applying and supply work. Although I read on a thread on the tes that doing supply for over 16 months doesn't look very good, ut what choice do i have?

sorry to rant on but i'm beginning to feel that i'm the only NQT struggling to get a foot on the ladder.

No laura you are by no means alone. I qualified in April 2009 but despite doing plenty of supply work where I get positive feedback all the time and applying for loads of jobs, I have had about five interviews and they have said the same to me as they have you it's a nightmare and I too am frustrated that I cannot get a foot on the ladder and time is passing on...I don't know what to do any more as whatever I do it doesn't work out I am a positive and optimistic person by nature but this is really testing me...no choice but to keep on keeping on I guess but please email Tessa Munt and let her know your situation. I will try and find her email for you, I really feel more should be done to help NQTs.

I have just been speaking to someone on a tes forum who has been doing supply for 3 years it is not looking good, but like you I'm still applying and trying. However I did begin to waver over the summer holidays and I tought about giving it abreak and get a full time job doing admin like I had done before I went to Uni. and maybe in a while the employment market would have sorted itself out. Then I gave myself a shake and thought about it realisticly that the only way to be considered for a post is to be still in the game not working in an office.

tough doesn't seem to even begin to describe the difficuly of securing a job. I think the hardest thing is when relative ask if you've got a real job yet. They don't know how much it hurts to hear that and how hard it is. any positive thinking my agency have just put me forward for a long term supply post so lets see what comes of that.

oh did you know that school are legally obliged to put you through your NQT induction if they agree to take you on for a term. this is a piece of the law i didn't know but will not be forgetting it.

Oh I didn't know that thanks! Good luck with the long-term supply post and I too have been tempted by other employment but as you say the only way is to hang on in there and hope the Universe gives us a break at some point! I know its hard with family they don't understand how hard it is and can often add to the pressure you are already putting yourself under. I am trusting in the age old notion that the only constant in life is that things change...

This has been an ongoing problem for years. I gained Primary age QTS in 2002 and have only ever worked maternity contracts. Everyone comes back and the only time they didn't and the school were ready to make me permanent, they were informed that they had to merge classes and lose teachers due to numbers. Every post has got me a glowing reference and those now familiar words 'if only we were recruiting' .

Merging infant and juniors, closing rural schools and now no part-time posts to be had across 4 LEAs, I can't see the situation improving soon.

Blimey! What a nightmare! Go into education everyone said you'll never be out of work!