urgent....does anybody work as a cover supervisor in secondary school or teacher can advise?

[zippitippitoes]

...what are the pros and cons of being a cover supervisor?

I am considering all sorts of jobs at the moment and there is a good option for a cover supervisor in a local school..I've only just seen it and the closing date is 9.00am tomorrow!

I wondered how difficult it is and how you are seen by teachers and students?

Stressful or not?

Frustrating or rewarding|?

Erm...it depends on the school.

I've worked in some pretty rough and ready state schools and the kids take some handling even when you're a fully fledged teacher who they know. You would probably have less authority in their eyes if they realised you weren't a qualified teacher.

In my experience, kids usually see cover lessons as a chance to play up. Also if you get landed with classes that have a teacher who's regularly absent they get really p'd off and just give up on the subject, and then it's nearly impossible to get them to do anything.

And you'll probably feel really stranded and disempowered because if some kid plays up, you won't be able to guarantee you even know they're telling you their real name, making it harder to ensure they get punished later.

Also, not all teachers are very good at leaving cover work. Some don't do it at all (v stressful as you will end up making something up on the spur of the moment about a subject you might not know much about). Some leave REALLY BORING stuff (like copying out of textbooks) that the kids won't do. Or some do pointless stuff (like designing posters) that the kids know is pointless and won't do. Or watching a video, which seems easy until you discover that most school videos don't work, and when you have finally got it working, the kids just chat through it anyway.

I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole!

Thanks that is sort of what my brain is telling me and I'm ignoring it!

I am actually a qualified teacher but only taught for a year and that was in 1982!

Hmmmm....if you're a qualified teacher then that does mean it might be ok...but really, it's just a load of STRESS.

I really can't think of any pros except you get paid for just turning up and taking what the day throws at you and don't have to do any marking or planning. but by god the school get their money's worth out of you. each lesson is likely to be a right battleground.

I'd carry on looking if I were you!

zipi, the person you need to talk to is Roisin. She does this job atm.

I would echo some of what has been said. As a teacher I find cover lessons stressful.....the kids expect to doss about and act the fool, you often don't understand the subject, quality of cover work can be poor. If the school is good and has a good dicipline policy then this will lessen the stress IYSWIM.

I would also find it frustrating to have to deliver someone elses work IYSWIM

applots if mamaduck is also doing the job!

applots martian? soz - at a loss. confused. u wot?

I am a teacher so occasionally get stung for cover. But don't do it regularly. Occasionally generate cover (like all those annoying ante-natal checks I had to go to!) and people really hate those - drama cover and PE cover are absolutely the most hated of all cover lessons because it's practical and if you leave written work the kids get really resentful because they're used to practical, but if you set practical the cover teacher usually complains because they can't cope with kids moving around and working in groups.

sorry, I said 'The person you need to talk to is Roisin' and then thought, 'Oh hell, mamaduck might be one too and think I am being rude!'

I'm a science teacher and know what you mean about the problems generating cover lessons. The kids are pissed off because they know that there can't be a practical or a demo.

Thank you i found a useful website about remodelling which had case studies of cover supervisors and have read the school ofsted report..still not sure, it really depends on how the training is provided and how well integrated the role is in the school.

You will just be another adult to students but without the authority so therefore, if you tell someone off for messing about or even just giving instructions about work, you'll probably get told where to go depending on the reputation of the school. I pretty much agree with mammaduck on this one.

I gave up teaching after 3 years because of the frustration and the stress that went with it, I wouldn't rule out sixth form though.

i wouldnt do it, ive been supporting inlessons with cover teachers and they are a nightmare. i get headache from the noise leveland the poor cover teachers get totally frustrated with kids that dont wana work,act up and sit where there not supposed to because the cover teacher doesnt know the seating plan (a pain when youve got disruptive kids that have been seperated)

I am doing a strong visualisation of year 9 bitchy girls and boys with hair over their faces and feet on desks..if they have deigned to come into the classroom on time..I think it might be working..

I've just popped in briefly, and haven't much time.
As MB says I work as a CS. I don't find it very rewarding, and sometimes hate it but I have no P&P to do, always leave on time (3.30), have excellent support from SMT and other staff, good relationships, and get paid 52 wks of the year.
I've only done it for year, and hope next year will not be so difficult.
If you're a trained teacher with good behaviour/classroom management skills, it will be a lot easier.
Some of our staff were sceptical of the role, but now we are very well regarded; and many staff will request in advance that we cover their planned absences, rather than a supply teacher!
If you have any specific queries, do post them. I will probably be on here again later this evening, but am off from c.9pm for a week!
HTH

In terms of authority - it depends on the school. In our school I have 100% the authority of any other members of staff, and use it. This is the advantage of us (who know the school), over using "supply" to do cover. I can, and do, give detentions; and I always feedback to the member of staff on the behaviour of the class (good and bad), and how much work they got through.

Once, early on, a child said to me "you can't do that, you're not a proper teacher". At my request a member of SMT came and gave the entire class a lecture that I had as much authority as he did; and that child was put in the isolation unit for half a day for her insolence. The kids soon got the message: and if you have that sort of back-up then you should have fewer problems than regular supply teachers.

But there are still lots of specific difficulties inherent to doing 'cover' lessons all the time, rather than real ones.

I do recollect my spirits sinking on discovering that i had to cover lessons when I did do my short teaching stint..but i think that was as much to do with losing the time to have a coffee or more likely mark or do last minute preparation.

I'd have to relearn better behaviour management than come on you've all got work to do.

Did you do two weeks induction before you started or were you thrown sraight in and do you cover for lessons like PE and drama?

I came with no training and no experience I had about 6 weeks induction/observation/training/learning the ropes.
Now cover between 15-20 hrs per week (out of possible 25), plus form periods. I also have other responsibilities in my departments.

I do cover practical drama, art, and music - quite like it actually. But I don't do practical Science or PE. (We do have a CS based in PE who does practical PE; at interview I said I would do anything except practical PE).
We are based in departments (though we do cover all over the school), so we do get to know those subjects better.

CS is a new role, and different schools are handling it in very different ways.

Glad you got decent training and back-up from SMT, Roisin.

I've worked in plenty of schools where that doesn't happen though - for anyone, staff or support staff. It's also a really hard thing to detect when you're just in a school for interview - how decent are the SMT at supporting the staff. Cos if they're rubbish (and many are) then you are up the proverbial without a paddle.

p.s. have just realised MB meant "apolls" not "applots". sorry, am being slow.

Thank you for your help everyone..

I decided that I wouldn't apply for this one, more will come up later and there are some other jobs I'm applying for. Will be starting more threads!

I haven't dismissed the idea but didn't want to rush into it.

Is smt school management team?

senior management team