| Hello all... Am somewhat new to the forum... I'm a Masters student planning on doing my first year(s) in England... I graduate in June and hope to move over in August, or sooner, if need be... I've read a lot and have heard a lot about the first year being difficult... Not just in England, but all around... However, it seems there is a definite negative ring to the first year of teaching in England... All the paperwork, meetings, lesson planning, marking, etc, etc... I suppose I'm naive and figure if England is where I want to be next year, then I'll trudge through it... Or maybe it's stubborness... Hmm... Anyways, just wanting some advice on finding a job, first year teaching over there, living (I studied abroad and have been back multiple times... am hoping to teach/live in Reading) and all that... I've registered with another organization (Global Education) and have also mailed out CVs/Apps to schools in the Reading area... When do they start hiring? Or are they has fickle in England from hiring 6 months in advance to two days before term starts? |
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Hiring times vary . . . it's quite different here in terms of people not having to take contracts for the full year (we have one person who came for two terms, another who came for a year and a half), and even if they do, they're able to give 6 weeks notice and leave part of the way through a year . . . So of course that means that there are openings year round. You could be hired in the traditional way (in the next month or two, for September), or could find an opening just before school starts, or even pick up something in October when people start quitting and heading back to wherever they came from. At my school, there have been openings in most departments throughout the year, and there will likely continue to be.
Best advice is read, read, read. My blog is there for the reading -- the whole purpose was for future teachers to be able to learn from my experiences. Go back to JUne 2006, when it begins, and get all the important stuff about preparing to go, then on to September when school began . . . and through the present.
boundforengland.blogspot.com/
GOod luck! |
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so i looked through your blogs as well as the links to other blogs of the ones who didn't fair so well... doesn't really give much hope to new teachers, does it?
i'm assuming you are at a mixed gender state school? where at exactly?? i spent a week at a girls school in Reading this past january... my masters thesis is comparing the secondary english classroom in england and the united states, so the reading bit you've told me about, i've been doing my fair share.. the girls school i visited seemed somewhat similar to mine.. i had never been to a single gender school before.. however, i loved that the girls were only distracted by the girls and not tommy who's it in the seat behind...
do you know any first year teachers that made it through christmas? i suppose my one advantage (as long as i get a job in the area) is that i have made contacts in reading and lived there in 2005 for three months.. i know the area fairly well and have several friends, which could quite possibly my saving grace next year...
however, i must say, the links on your blog were very helpful... i've been trying to do as much research about NHS, ISS, and all acronyms of the like..
cheers,
jess |
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I would not say it's 'unhopeful' regarding new teachers, and since you asked if I know anyone who made it to Christmas, obviously I'm still here! And in a not-so-great school which failed OFSTED and is in Special Measures. But it's do-able . . .
Yes, I'm at a mixed-gender state school of 1200 kids (years 9-11 and a 6th form), about 30 minutes out of London.
If you really want to work your tail off, you can make it here. Have to work hard, never give up, and self-reflect constantly, always trying to figure out how to fix things, make them work, etc. It takes a lot of work, but if someone doesn't want to give 110%, they can't make it. You will work far harder than you ever imagined, and of course in an entirely new system. But it's do-able!
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Hi,
There are two OTTs left at my school. The music teacher from Canada is leaving in April, but that's because he's engaged to be married. I've been offered and have accepted a permanent position. The critical period is the one between Sept and Christmas break. So many OTTs leave at Christmas that they expect it so they actively make your life hell...that way you'll leave and they wont have to go through the agony of saying goodbye to yet another person they'd come to like and trust. I'm sure they aren't aware this is what they are doing, but that's it in a nutshell. My relationship with my students is GREAT now that I've made it this far. Being able to say with confidence that I'll be here next year as well has also helped. One piece of advice: Be firm, fair, and consistent from the begining. Establish classroom routines which YOU are comfortable with and which you can maintain long term. They're really big on "Bellringers" here and these give you a chance to get register (attendance) while the kids are settling into your subject. There are NO teacher stores here so maybe invest in some of the starter books before you come. Also, they sell SATs and GCSE test practice books here which make for some nice bellringers.
Good luck to you. |
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