Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Original poster

Saw son's job advertised and he does not know

45 replies

ellie1234 · 06/03/2017 11:33

My son has had a tough time recently and just got a small part time job teaching music as ppa cover in a primary school. He was asked for interview after an agency saw his on line profile.
He has never taught a class before so I was shocked he was offered the job with hardly any preparation.

He has had a few rocky lessons with discipline but he is now feeling confident and really enjoying it. He puts his heart and soul into the lesson plans and is wondering wether teaching might be the career for him.
Imagine my horror when I saw his job being advertised yesterday. He knows nothing about it. I don't know if this is legal? It possibly is? If it is legal it is still very unprofessional. He has had no warnings he is not performing well and I know if he sees the job advert he will wonder what is going on. Has the school and agency not thought of the consequences?

OP posts:
EasterRobin · 06/03/2017 12:52

It might not be the same. Temporary cover would usually be replaced by someone permanent.

Is the advertised job permanent or temporary?
Is it as member of agency staff? Or are they finding someone to work for the school directly?

Either way, it's awesome he's landed this temporary job and has now got some experience that will help him out with getting the next (hopefully more permanent) one.

TBH he probably doesn't have enough experience to get a permanent job there yet.

Rubies12345 · 06/03/2017 13:08

I think he needs to speak to his head of department.

Are they advertising because they want someone permanent, because they want an actual teacher or because of his performance?

If it's the latter maybe it can be sorted out.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 06/03/2017 13:20

It may well be that they are happy for your DS to take the post on a temporary basis but still want someone more experienced for the permanent post.

The permanent post may have more aspects to it - they may be looking for someone who can teach a wider range of instruments for example, or to a higher exam level.

Even if the school have decided not to offer DS the position long term, he will still have had some valuable teaching experience for his CV and - if he has enjoyed it as you say - he might even have found himself a new career from it. I think DS is right to be philosophical about it all.

Original poster
ellie1234 · 06/03/2017 13:24

To those who say I am over invested and wierd maybe that is true, but please do not judge me unless you want to know my whole sorry life story. There has been some really helpful advice here about different contracts and how to move forward. Thank you for that

OP posts:
MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 06/03/2017 13:26

Gosh could you imagine how excruciatingly embarrassing it will be for him if the agency or school find out this chap's mother has been interfering? Sad

Katz · 06/03/2017 13:26

I think many agencies charge a finders fee if an agency teacher is then taken on by the School permanently. The agency makes money out of supplying a teacher and if the school then cuts out the middle man (i.e the agency) by employing them directly it cost them a contract and money so ask for compensation for supply the teacher in the first place. Way round it is to openly advertise the post and see if the person applies.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 06/03/2017 13:27

I think unless your life story involves him still being tethered to you by him umbilical cord you need to let him get on with living his adult life.

unfortunateevents · 06/03/2017 13:42

It's understandable that you want to support your son in this situation, but you can best do this by advising him how to approach the issue. Phoning the agency and enquiring about the job is overstepping the mark! I don't really see what your life story has to do with how he should tackle this.

EasterRobin · 06/03/2017 13:42

There's some harsh responses here to the OP. I'm assuming her son's just starting out in his career (so 21-23 ish) and crossing into the "proper working adult" territory. You may all have been very clued up and streetwise at that age, but I still needed a bit of direction back then. Without having met her son, it seems fair to think that she's in the best place to decide what's useful and supportive for his working goals.

BretonRose · 06/03/2017 13:42

Think Katz has hit the nail on the head tbh.

BackforGood · 06/03/2017 13:45

There's no difference legally between the first 90 days and the rest of the two year period. Equally easy to sack either way

.........but if he's temporary cover from an agency, he doesn't need to be 'sacked'. He's just covering until they can get the permanent person in place. The school will more than likely be paying the agency on a week by week basis.

lljkk · 06/03/2017 13:47

I do not see why your son cannot apply for this job.
Most jobs have to advertised, I thought, equality legislation & avoid crony appointments, etc.

brasty · 06/03/2017 13:48

EasterRobin Advice yes. But have you noticed the son hasn't actually talked to OP about this. The normal thing to do is notice the job advert, mention it to son, and then if he wants advice give it. Not to phone up pretending you want the job, and figure out what he should do next, without actually talking to him., That is not healthy behaviour.

NerrSnerr · 06/03/2017 13:54

'Without having met her son, it seems fair to think that she's in the best place to decide what's useful and supportive for his working goals'

I don't agree with this at all, however old he is and what his abilities are it is still his job. Talking to him and giving him advice is great, but interfering to the level of calling up the agency before she's even spoken to him is overstepping the mark. He needs to decide what's best for him to decide what's useful and supportive for his working goals, not his mum.

brasty · 06/03/2017 14:10

And if someone can be a teacher, they are capable of managing their own work life. Obviously with advice and support like all of us. But he can ask for that.

dementiawidow · 06/03/2017 14:25

Teaching music as PPA cover is still a proper music teaching job (treating music PPA cover as just a filler that anyone can do is a big issue in music education). It generally requires a degree in music and a PGCE. If he had these qualifications I don't see how he could never have taught a class before? I suspect he is not qualified for the job they are advertising, and this is why he has not been approached. But no reason he shouldn't ask.

aginghippy · 06/03/2017 14:33

I did talk to him about it and he is far more mature than me about it!

That's all we need to know, really. He is probably handling it well, even if the OP is not.

Bloomed · 06/03/2017 14:37

Does he have the qualifications for the advertised job OP?

flowery · 06/03/2017 14:40

If he meets all the criteria listed for the advertised role (which I doubt, if he has no relevant qualifications or previous teaching experience), he should speak to his line manager and say he is keen to stay permanently and will be applying.

If he doesn't, then there's his answer. Yes ideally it would have been nice for them to mention it to him, but as he is temporary unqualified agency cover, it may not have even occurred to them that he might think it's 'his' job, or that he could fill the role permanently.

TreeTop7 · 06/03/2017 23:24

It is great that he's ended up doing something he likes. In his position I'd be going for a PGCE course, and teaching music privately for spending money at the same time.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page