Image of A- level teaching

[starchildmum]

What is the general perception on A- level teaching?

Would A-level teaching be considered more prestigious, desirable, or perhaps preferred by teachers in general?

I've been offered a part-time A-level-only teaching position, likely due to my experience. However, I get the sense that some members of the department might feel a bit envious or puzzled about why they weren't considered for this role, given that they've been with the school longer.

What are your thoughts on this situation?
Would you consider A-level teaching as more prestigious & perhaps the preferred by teachers ( more interesting topics, much smaller classes etc.) ?

It's really hard work, the marking is relentless and it's so annoying when they have chosen your subject for them to be disengaged as it's "too hard". Huge leap from GCSE to a level

In my team about 1/3 if the teachers enjoy and want to teach A level, the others do not at all.

Half my department want as much A Level teaching as possible, and the other half won't touch it with a barge pole. In my subject the marking is easier at A Level than GCSE (far fewer children in a class) but the preparation and subject expertise required is much greater, and the stakes are higher obviously so can be more stressful in some ways. Suits some teachers far more than others. Depends on who's in the department really.

This outcome is quite surprising! So 50:50

I would have expected A-level classes with smaller numbers of students to be more in demand, especially since my department typically has only a few students per class (3-4), compared to 20 students in most other classes. While A- level demands greater subject expertise and more individualised attention, it would mean less marking overall. The students also tend to be more mature.
I can only see the prestigious image of teaching such classes even if it means preparation required can be more demanding. I suppose the trade-off is a greater need for personalized lesson plans and deeper engagement with each student and some teachers might prefer an „easy- going“ planning.

Depends on SO MANY things.

A level in a "nice" school with classes under 10 is dreamy (especially maths!).

Big classes, essay subject, no thanks.

I'm ambivalent towards it. Enjoy it if it's on my TT but don't mind it not being on there.

I’ve had A level classes of 20 (max in my school). I also found that every hour of A level teaching took 3 hours min - one hour for detailed prep, hour teaching, at least an hour marking when averaged out. Plus massive pressure around results with students who weren’t always motivated. English Lit. I eventually asked to be taken out of the team.

It depends very much on your subject but no, I wouldn’t think people would necessarily be envious.

Are you a teacher now op? If so what's the feeling or attitude in your current job towards this? Jus it feels unusual to not have a sense on this if you're currently teaching is all.

I'm Maths/Further Maths. If you're secure in your subject knowledge, then A Level is much easier. Zero crowd control, smaller classes. You can leave them to get on with a task for 15 minutes. Similar volume of marking to KS3/GCSE, but much more interesting and meaningful.

I love it because lessons don't have to be planned so tightly, I don't need to print off loads of extra resources (I'm finding that increasingly the younger kids, especially the weaker ones, struggle to work out of a textbook, and need everything presented as a "write-on" workbook). Lessons are much more dynamic at A Level, with kids asking "what if...." and then we can explore that together.

I consider my A Level lessons to be time off compared to the younger classes! But teachers who are less confident in their subject knowledge, and who prefer to have tight control over the lesson, can be wary of sixth form.

So interesting! I see your p.o.v!

I like teaching A-level.
I like teaching year 7.

I wouldn’t want to do either of them all of the time.

I would imagine this is 'horses for courses' really-what one person loves, another may hate. It's not always small classes for A level either and there high levels of marking and exam pressure/expectation.

It's similar in primary-most reception teachers wouldn't want to touch a Y6 role with a barge pole and vice versa, it's not that one is better/more prestigious/easier, just different.

Hi potteringalong…

Here I can‘t share your view! I find the mixof y7 and y13 very difficult and it takes me time to readjust in every lesson!

Actually, I think planning for 3-4 students is harder than a class of, say, 10. At least in a subject that requires discussion and debate. I was chatting about this to a colleague only last week. I you don't have enthusiastic, reasonable students, lessons can really drag with only a tiny class. There would also be very little excuse for the students not getting very high grades!

As a PP has asked, aren't you a teacher already, and if so, don't you already have a sense of this yourself?

Exactly. I have the same split in my department. Some would stick solely to KS3 teaching if they could, and others would love to only teach A Level. As for 'prestige'... Well, teaching A Level (in any subject) is hardly akin to teaching postgraduate courses at Oxford! I've never heard anyone discuss teaching A Level as 'prestigious' so I'm curious where the OP's view of this has come from...

I was asked last week about teaching A Level next year and I said no. It has been too long since Ive taught A-Level and it would feel like being an NQT again getting to know the spec. And I just dont have the time.

I do teach a year 12 class though, but not A-Level and agree with the pp who said this:
If you don't have enthusiastic, reasonable students, lessons can really drag with only a tiny class.
My year 12 class isnt small. 20. But my Gosh if the one student who has an answer for everything isn't in, I feel it!

I guess I wrong. I assumed it would be the prefered option for most teachers.thank you all for so much input.

I'm not a teacher but have vast experience of working in SFC sector. If I was a teacher I would want to work in a SFC, generally very good places to work, students are motivated and keen to learn. Very results driven and you can't hide if you aren't a good teacher with great subject knowledge.

In my county schools are 11-16, a-level teaching at college, teachers at 6th form college get paid less than school teachers, are on different contracts. I’d expect less behaviour management, but probably more workload, classes tend to be quite big, up to 25 I think.