Teacher in 6 months, Head teacher in 4 years

bryanb

ninky wrote: »

otherwise why would they waste six months training.

In the present financial climate 6 months training allowances could be a factor.

ninky_2

bryanb wrote: »

In the present financial climate 6 months training allowances could be a factor.

how much is the allowance for teacher training? is it much higher than going on benefits?

bryanb

ninky wrote: »

how much is the allowance for teacher training? is it much higher than going on benefits?

No idea, but it has greater cachet. Not means tested either.

baileysbattlebus

Kenny4315 wrote: »

The quality of teaching in state schools is an absolute joke. My kids are in primary 5 & 6, the emphasis now seems to be that the parents do the teaching while schools deal with airy fairy stuff.

I'd sort the school system out with more discpline, and more focus on proper education. For a start I'd bring back caning, and sort out these cheek little BAR STEWARDS that are wasting everyones time and efforts.

Next, start focusing on traditional subjects such as maths and english. I'd also make O levels and A levels more difficult as they are now far too easy. One of my ex's was a math's professor and did A level maths a year after me. She taught degree students several years later when doing her PHd, and said that virtually all the difficult stuff had been removed.

The schools system is just another case of meeting number targets, in the instance of schools results its by making it easier to pass, while overall the standards are dropping.

My wife went to a how to teach your kids maths at the school the other night. Most of the parents were unimpressed by the emphasis on them to teach rather than the teachers. I reviewed the literature and it was a total load of airy fairy nonsense, it went from a to z, to get from a to b, a pointless waste of time, just do it the traditional way instead of all this bullsh8t.

I agree with the maths, when my children were doing GCSE's, over 10 years ago, a friend who is a maths teacher loaned me some maths papers for my son to practice with.

There were 3 levels of paper, low, intermediate and high. I found them all easy - the first 2 levels were like mental arithmetic - my son was absolutely shocked that I could do most of the questions in my head. The highest level paper was tougher - but not difficult.

I am assuming the levels are still about the same as they were then.

Austin_Allegro

It puzzles me why anyone with experience of banking would want to get involved in the red tape, box ticking, politically correct pseudo-socialist waffle and lack of discipline that seems to be the norm in modern (state) school teaching.

Surely all these laid off bankers will just move abroad where they can live the lifestyle they are accustomed to on less money, rather than living in a bedsit in Britain on £16k a year being abused by f e c kless children? A friend in the City tells me a lot of his colleagues have moved to Buenos Aires and spend their time playing polo...

ninky_2

bryanb wrote: »

In the present financial climate 6 months training allowances could be a factor.

From what I can see the current grant for PGCE is means tested and is less than 3k. Hardly cachet for a one time banker.

Other financial assistance is a loan (ie DEBT). Again doesn't sound a huge draw.

But I'm willing to be corrected if anyone knows better.

http://www.gold.ac.uk/pgce/costs/

nomoneytoday

kabayiri wrote: »

"Computer says No" :rolleyes: -- erm, yeah, I guess that is a high standard.

Or how about, pivot tables, charts, excel vlookups, macros, mail merges, presentations and web design?

All of which are expected as standard

silvercar

A friend who has been out of work for 6 months is looking into this. What was putting him off was having to train for a year with no income and a family and mortgage to support. With no savings, he would be eligible for about £10,000 in grants/ loans. Additionally, he would get free school meals for his children, free prescriptions etc and his rates reduces by 25%. After qualification he could get a job on about 30k and get a bonus of £4,000 after being in the job a year.

If his wife got a job (also looking) she would be eligible to WTC worth a few thousand.

He calculated initially that he couldn't afford to take a year off working to do this, especially as his previous salary (and hence lifestyle) was much higher than a teachers. Now that he has been out of work for a few months and prospects aren't looking good, the idea of 6 month training is looking more attractive.

Davesnave

ninky wrote: »

whilst those who have come to teaching solely after being in the education system shouldn't have to prove themselves?

Thank you for putting words into my mouth that were never there!

Of course not. Teachers now have their performance assessed continually and, hopefully, those both from inside and outside the profession will have a track record of good teaching, including pastoral care, before being advanced to the top posts.

The point I was making was that it is insufficient, at least at primary level, for the Head to be just a good administrator. To understand children & their education, manage & motivate staff, whilst at the same time controlling the budget and planning future development takes a rare combination of skills. I have known a few Heads do well in all areas, but most fail to some extent, possibly because they are fallible human beings.

Kenny4315

baileysbattlebus wrote: »

I agree with the maths, when my children were doing GCSE's, over 10 years ago, a friend who is a maths teacher loaned me some maths papers for my son to practice with.

There were 3 levels of paper, low, intermediate and high. I found them all easy - the first 2 levels were like mental arithmetic - my son was absolutely shocked that I could do most of the questions in my head. The highest level paper was tougher - but not difficult.

I am assuming the levels are still about the same as they were then.

I think you'll find that A level math's is now a total joke, even 10 years ago it was tougher than now, turning up seems to get you at least a pass. As can be seen by the year on year increasing pass percentage.

As with all exams a certain amount need to pass in each level but making it easy doesn't make students better it makes them worse. It is now difficult to establish a real grade A student, when I did my A levels getting an A at math's meant you were FFing well good at maths and also did tons of work, and was only obtained by a very very few.