Just qualified as a teacher and cant get a job

Mind_the_Gap

wantsajob wrote: »

Is that really possible physically? Most schools now more closely resemble prisons, and with the irrational !!!!!philia fear at its max everywhere - I'd be unsure of doing this.

Schools are indeed more security conscious than ever before. There should however be no problem if you have an appointment with the person in charge of supply. You'll have to arrive at the main entrance (where someone will let you in and show you to Reception), you'll be given a lanyard/security badge and the person you want to see will come and meet you.

When you ring to make this appointment, some may say 'Just send us your CV in the post' but others (often in school where they have problems recruiting supply staff) like to meet you to get some sense of whether you are a wet lettuce, or have a bit about you.

Mind_the_Gap

Gleeful wrote: »

Not necessarily. I have taught a subject to Year 9 that I did not even have a GCSE in. Although that may actually be illegal, it still goes on.

It's not illegal - in fact there are plenty of people teaching in private schools who do not have a degree in anything, let alone the subject(s) they are teaching.

Teachers must be flexible, of course - I have landed more than one job in my time because I did a joint French-English Lit degree and could offer French and Spanish as well as my main love, English. I actually trained for Middle Years (9-13) but have spent most of my career in secondary (11-18) as well as doing adult education classes. If schools cannot recruit a Maths or Chemistry graduate, they may well have to settle for someone who has A level Maths (hopefully at grade A or ..or in the end, someone who just 'likes Maths' - but it's hardly ideal. (My children were taught English by a woman who was actually trained to teach Home Economics and it was hopeless. She had no idea what English teaching was about or how it had changed since she was at school).

If you do teach outside your specialism, insist on some CPD - spend your non-contact lessons observing the HOD, read up on that subject on teachit - or your life will be hell.

On the other hand...

Infidel

bristol_pilot wrote: »

For heaven's sake, learn to drive! Prospects in just about any career are limited if you can't drive - employers simply don't believe you will turn up on time. Driving lessons could be the best investment you ever make. (Then do supply work until something permanent comes up).

True, but the problem is that driving lessons are so expensive.

I once suggested that the job centre should provide help in this area for those that need it. Their response was to suggest that people would then quit work to 'get free or subsidised driving lessons', which I found a bit absurd.

nqt2010

You have my sympathies. I qualified as a Science teacher in june LAST year and didn't secure a job. I joined 4 supply agencies and in the whole year only got a total of 7 weeks work! I was living on literally no money and a couple of months ago took the decision to apply for jobs outside of teaching.

I actually secured a job totally unrelated to teaching and later also got a last minute teaching interview at the end of term. The school was in the next city and I went along not expecting anything. Well I got the job! It does however mean that I have got a 40 mile commute each way but luckily I have a car although I am dreading the petrol costs and the time I'm going to waste travelling!

I started searching for teaching jobs in Jan of my PGCE so it took me 18 months and a total of 8 interviews to finally get a job (I'm a 'shortage' subject too). To be honest a lot of schools were put off by the fact I had bee n a supply teacher, nevermind the fact I had very little work.

So it looks like being willing to travel/relocate will improve your chances, but I know this is very difficult. If you decide to go on supply, I would advise you to make sure you have other money to survive on as the work is not guaranteed, particularly as cover supervisors are being used instead of supply teachers. My honest advice would be to gain work outside of education but keep applying for teaching jobs. Good luck!

mountainofdebt

what about eteach.co.uk?

SUESMITH_2

you really need to be able to drive.

we had an nqt join our dept to do an maternity cover and that's how she did her nqt year so it's maybe worth looking for one of those? at least then you will have got qts and can then do as much supply as you want without being restricted.

as regard being an assistant teacher, well i've never heard of that. we have different levels of TA, the hlta ones have responsibility for classes including teaching the lessons.

dont give up!

Savvy_Sue

SUESMITH wrote: »

as regard being an assistant teacher, well i've never heard of that. we have different levels of TA, the hlta ones have responsibility for classes including teaching the lessons.

I wasn't aware of the distinction until I heard two relatives (both teachers!) discussing it. I think 'Assistant Teachers' are more common in secondary schools, btw. It all seemed a bit bizarre to me!

Aelius

The reality is that the Universities are producing more teachers than there are jobs for. A friend who graduated with me as an English teacher, but she had a job offer in April. Now, she was tutoring several kids for their Highers while writing her dissertation.

Have you registered with an agency for supply work? Thought about tutoring?