It’s an indictment of the times that I would not now encourage anyone to take up teaching in our schools. And that’s after a lifetime spent teaching from infants and juniors to post graduate students.
And it’s not just me. Teachers are leaving in droves, Heads are finding impossible to recruit and are resorting to having classes covered by TAs, doubling up, splitting groups, increasing class sizes and even having to have a four day week.
Why? It’s not just one reason. But, firstly: dreadful salaries after four years of study and massive student loans to repay. And little prospect of promotion as budgets are cut year on year.
Secondly, pupil behaviour. Aggravated by lockdown, but children with addition needs are all lumped in together in mainstream classes. So, a child with anxiety, a child with ADHD, a child with a severe learning disability, a child with hearing loss and two or three with significant behavioural difficulties are all together in a class of 32 and upwards. And often there is no money for support as LAs who are themselves strapped for cash do their best to delay assessment.
Thirdly, huge numbers of schools are dangerous places to work, with asbestos not being removed, ceilings falling in, disgusting toilets and little or no playground space.
Fourthly, and in some ways, most importantly, the erosion of professional autonomy as a consequence of a succession of Education Ministers imposing their whims on the curriculum and the imposition of an Ofsted regime which is beyond unfit for purpose.
Fifthly, the impossible workload, which means that teachers work on average fifty to sixty hours a week. And that includes the weeks when children are on holiday but teachers aren’t.
Sixthly, parental entitlement from a sizeable minority of parents who challenge everything and take out their frustrations on the class or subject teacher.
As you know my DiL is a HT and her stress levels are through the roof. She is taking anti-depressants and copes with a multitude of social problems with her families as well as running the school. Ensuring that there is a ‘body’ in front of every class is a nightmare every day, let alone finding a good, experienced teacher.
Is it any wonder our education system is a mess? It didn’t used to be like this.
And it’s not just me. Teachers are leaving in droves, Heads are finding impossible to recruit and are resorting to having classes covered by TAs, doubling up, splitting groups, increasing class sizes and even having to have a four day week.
Why? It’s not just one reason. But, firstly: dreadful salaries after four years of study and massive student loans to repay. And little prospect of promotion as budgets are cut year on year.
Secondly, pupil behaviour. Aggravated by lockdown, but children with addition needs are all lumped in together in mainstream classes. So, a child with anxiety, a child with ADHD, a child with a severe learning disability, a child with hearing loss and two or three with significant behavioural difficulties are all together in a class of 32 and upwards. And often there is no money for support as LAs who are themselves strapped for cash do their best to delay assessment.
Thirdly, huge numbers of schools are dangerous places to work, with asbestos not being removed, ceilings falling in, disgusting toilets and little or no playground space.
Fourthly, and in some ways, most importantly, the erosion of professional autonomy as a consequence of a succession of Education Ministers imposing their whims on the curriculum and the imposition of an Ofsted regime which is beyond unfit for purpose.
Fifthly, the impossible workload, which means that teachers work on average fifty to sixty hours a week. And that includes the weeks when children are on holiday but teachers aren’t.
Sixthly, parental entitlement from a sizeable minority of parents who challenge everything and take out their frustrations on the class or subject teacher.
As you know my DiL is a HT and her stress levels are through the roof. She is taking anti-depressants and copes with a multitude of social problems with her families as well as running the school. Ensuring that there is a ‘body’ in front of every class is a nightmare every day, let alone finding a good, experienced teacher.
Is it any wonder our education system is a mess? It didn’t used to be like this.
Comment