teaching in the UK..hows everyone getting on?

Afroshack

so a month into my first year in the UK, it's tough but worthwhile

how is anyone else finding it?

dart1980

I am looking to get a job teaching in the UK in january, did you use an agency or just apply directly to schools?

Afroshack

dart1980 wrote: »

I am looking to get a job teaching in the UK in january, did you use an agency or just apply directly to schools?

I went with Uteach and they organised all the paperwork and stuff for me.

brónaim cád??

Paper work is never ending and I don't seem to have time to do anything. I hope it dies down soon.

Heydeldel

Just curious to know if you are following set schemes of work and how detailed they are?

Has anyone come home for a weekend yet? Do you have time/ money to fly home the odd weekend?

Green_Zero

The scheme of work in my school is extremely detailed across all departments. It seems to be the situation in all schools (primary and secondary) over here.

If you wanted to go home the occasional weekend it would be affordable if you book in advance.

Personally, I like to just chill out at the weekends and I plan to go home for the whole of most half terms.

Afroshack

Heydeldel wrote: »

Just curious to know if you are following set schemes of work and how detailed they are?

Has anyone come home for a weekend yet? Do you have time/ money to fly home the odd weekend?

Yeah we have schemes too, very detailed right down to the detail of the lesson. It was handy for the first two weeks, but I would prefer a bit more autonomy.

I made it home once, and I live 20 minutes from Heathrow which is great. It's the money that stops me, as 150 a pop for return flights and then taxi money adds up.

Heydeldel

The detail of the planning is very different to here alright. I found that I would have liked more autonomy too. It's reassuring at the start but I could imagine getting bored with someone else's plan. Can you deviate much from it?

Yeah, booking in advance is the key with flights. I just like to know I could come back to my Boyf and dog maybe once/twice a month.

How is the school day structured? Work till 3pm? Meetings?

Afroshack

Heydeldel wrote: »

The detail of the planning is very different to here alright. I found that I would have liked more autonomy too. It's reassuring at the start but I could imagine getting bored with someone else's plan. Can you deviate much from it?

Yeah, booking in advance is the key with flights. I just like to know I could come back to my Boyf and dog maybe once/twice a month.

How is the school day structured? Work till 3pm? Meetings?

You can deviate for SEN and stuff, but you have to have taught a particular thing in every lesson, so if one SOW consists of 12 lessons, you have to have taught a particular thing on a particular day, with a fixed assessment on one particular day, and homework allocated on another. Very little autonomy altogether.

I know how you feel, my bf is back in Dublin (as is my dog) I miss weird things, like chicken fillet rolls and king crisps too. I have to be in school from 8am (meetings three mornings a week) class starts at 8.30 and ends at three. Three after school meetings a week (an hour each) and tons of planning. My day is always 7.15 - 6pm until I get kicked out, then I bring stuff home to correct. Fairly tiring.

Heydeldel

But if the scheme of work is so detailed, why all the planning?

How many classes do you have a day? Are the lessons long? I had 75mins lessons when I was in Kent.

Where abouts are you? I'm hoping to get near London but by the sounds of it i'll have no time to enjoy it!

Afroshack

Heydeldel wrote: »

But if the scheme of work is so detailed, why all the planning?

How many classes do you have a day? Are the lessons long? I had 75mins lessons when I was in Kent.

Where abouts are you? I'm hoping to get near London but by the sounds of it i'll have no time to enjoy it!

Because I have never taught GCSE before this, so I need to know my marking schemes and questions really thoroughly. Go through all the lesson slides, make sure I have all the required resources ready, see if there's anything I can add to it (I have top sets who get bored easily so I have to make everything quite challenging and exciting all the time) or come up with new resources, then marking the previous day's work, assessments, homework, following up on behaviour issues, writing lesson plans (we get observed in my school, a LOT) and making revision notes and homework sheets. The kids are assessed every 2 weeks for their target grades, so we have to prepare loads for that. Not to mention the photocopying, laminating, etc.

Who said teachers have it easy?! :P (I'm in London btw)

I have 5 lessons some days, 6 others. Each is 50 minutes long.

Heydeldel

Ah, I get it now. I just thought you meant planning as in schemes etc. But, yeah I can understand the workload. Whoa, sounds tiring!

It is great experience though right?

Afroshack

Heydeldel wrote: »

Ah, I get it now. I just thought you meant planning as in schemes etc. But, yeah I can understand the workload. Whoa, sounds tiring!

It is great experience though right?

Ehhhhh...

Just kidding, no it really is. I can already feel it's made me a better teacher (although a more tired one) How did you find it? Are you back home now?

Heydeldel

I was only there for a couple of weeks in June/July 2012. I didn't like where I was and decided not to go back for September. I was very isolated where I was, so I'm hoping this time around I'll be less lonely.

I'm having a phone interview with a school in the morning. Eeek. I like the look and ethos of the school, the students seem to achieve well.

Do you live near your school? I'm a bit concerned about getting to and from work without a car.

Afroshack

Heydeldel wrote: »

I was only there for a couple of weeks in June/July 2012. I didn't like where I was and decided not to go back for September. I was very isolated where I was, so I'm hoping this time around I'll be less lonely.

I'm having a phone interview with a school in the morning. Eeek. I like the look and ethos of the school, the students seem to achieve well.

Do you live near your school? I'm a bit concerned about getting to and from work without a car.

ah thats a shame, but it would've been a lonely year if you didn't like it. i actually live on the grounds in a wee house rented to teachers, live with an irish lad! 30 second walk in the morning, but i also feel like i never ''leave''

best of luck tomorrow!!

Heydeldel

Thanks! Prepping for it now. Yikes!

Heydeldel

Did anyone here go with an agency?

I'm dealing with Engage, so far so good. I did have to harass them into paying for a flight to London Monday. I'm interviewing for a maternity leave position, with the option of them keeping me on. Am I mad to go for this and instead of getting a permanent contract? I just don't want to be tied to a school I don't like, and this seems like a great school.

Will I be really skint if I'm not paid for hols and mid -terms? Sorry about all the questions, my head is fried trying to weight up the pros and cons.

Afroshack

Heydeldel wrote: »

Did anyone here go with an agency?

I'm dealing with Engage, so far so good. I did have to harass them into paying for a flight to London Monday. I'm interviewing for a maternity leave position, with the option of them keeping me on. Am I mad to go for this and instead of getting a permanent contract? I just don't want to be tied to a school I don't like, and this seems like a great school.

Will I be really skint if I'm not paid for hols and mid -terms? Sorry about all the questions, my head is fried trying to weight up the pros and cons.

If you are happy with the school then I'd go for it. The most important thing is that you're happy there. I wouldn't worry about not being paid for holidays - you'll be getting substitution pay which is about 110-120 pounds per day, so you could easily save a bit of that once you're sensible with money.

Heydeldel

I'm coming to join you Londoners! Got offered a job in Bromley. Excited but nervous!

Looking at the schemes of work - woah, they love to hammer home levels etc at the kids. Talk about sucking the fun out of things...

But anyway, I'll gain great experience and have something to put on the CV.

I start after the mid -term.

Afroshack

Heydeldel wrote: »

I'm coming to join you Londoners! Got offered a job in Bromley. Excited but nervous!

Looking at the schemes of work - woah, they love to hammer home levels etc at the kids. Talk about sucking the fun out of things...

But anyway, I'll gain great experience and have something to put on the CV.

I start after the mid -term.

Congrats! Let me know if you have any questions.

lulufinn90

I'm teaching in West Kent. The school I'm in is ranked good with outstanding features. I went with Kent-teach. They work for all schools across Kent. They held a recruitment day in Dublin last April. The person who interviewed me was the principal of the school I ended up working in. The job is O.K. The hours are long and there is a lot of bureaucracy which takes time to get used to.

The most challenging part of being in the area where I am is that there are very few Irish people here as the majority is in East Kent. I have found it very difficult to settle in the area. It is difficult to socialize and meet people.

If anybody is living in Tunbridge Wells or nearby give me a shout. I need a night out!

Heydeldel

lulufinn90 wrote: »

I'm teaching in West Kent. The school I'm in is ranked good with outstanding features. I went with Kent-teach. They work for all schools across Kent. They held a recruitment day in Dublin last April. The person who interviewed me was the principal of the school I ended up working in. The job is O.K. The hours are long and there is a lot of bureaucracy which takes time to get used to.

The most challenging part of being in the area where I am is that there are very few Irish people here as the majority is in East Kent. I have found it very difficult to settle in the area. It is difficult to socialize and meet people.

If anybody is living in Tunbridge Wells or nearby give me a shout. I need a night out!

I taught in Kent briefly a while back and decided not to return there due to being a bit isolated.

It does take time to get to know people.

I'll be in around Bromley/Orpington/Beckenham soon - it's a bit closer to London as I have friends there so I'm hoping it'll make the move easier.

I'd gadly meet up with you in Orpington some Saturday/ Sunday. I know what it's like to be lonely over there!

Are there any groups you can join? Like a Yoga class, Zumba, drama group etc? Sports groups?

wombleer

hello,

I've been working in England for 4 years now and unless you have masses of experience the only way in is through agencies. I started in Buckingham with Engage and after a year the school signed me up, and now im working in Oxford

If you plan on staying longer look into getting your QTS for england as it will boost your pay. Even if you get a permanent contract with a school you can leave after a year once you hand in appropriate notice.

it is different in terms of workload and prepping as it seems everything is done for you, but then you get observed constantly and have masses of paperwork that you have to complete. form groups to manage and more meetings than a banker to attend. its tough. plus an agency will plonk you in any school to start you off so they can start getting paid.
you can claim expenses but just make sure to hand in your timesheet or else you'll have to wait to be paid .

it is good experience but be prepared to work ridiculous hours sometimes.

any questions let me know.

brónaim cád??

I hate living and I hate working in London. It's completely different to the rest of the UK. It's really hard to meet anyone here and I just want to go back to Ireland.

lulufinn90

I was visiting a friend in London today who is feeling exactly the same as you. She is in a difficult school and it is impacting on her health. just remember that agencies are only for getting your foot into the system. If you are unhappy with your school don't settle for it because there are definitely better ones out there. also don't be afraid to look outside London and research the areas with a high population of Irish people living and see if there is work in them areas.

brónaim cád??

I'm doing my NQT year so I'll finish the year. I have a nice class which is helpful. I'm out of here come end of July though, can't wait. I'm thinking of going back to college to do a postgrad at home.

Afroshack

brónaim cád?? wrote: »

I'm doing my NQT year so I'll finish the year. I have a nice class which is helpful. I'm out of here come end of July though, can't wait. I'm thinking of going back to college to do a postgrad at home.

**hugs**

Heydeldel

brónaim cád?? wrote: »

I hate living and I hate working in London. It's completely different to the rest of the UK. It's really hard to meet anyone here and I just want to go back to Ireland.

I found my first week here really tough, had weird pangs of homesickness which made me feel so childish.

Try do fun things at the weekends and have something to look forward to at the end of the week. Have you been home to Ireland at all since? Christmas is only a few weeks away!

brónaim cád??

I haven't lived in Ireland since '09 so I'm not homesick, I'm used to not living there. Yeah I went home at halloween. How do you do fun things at the weekend when you don't know anybody outside of work? Do you like it here?

Heydeldel

Well I socialize with my flatmates and am lucky to have a couple of old school friends around London.

I do see how hard it can be to make friends though. Can your friends from home come visit?

I like living close to London and being able to do cultural things at the weekends. I do find school tough - lots of get my head around and the days feel very long. I'm trying to prep for the week at the mo but I'm finding it hard to motivate myself.

wombleer

we are looking for a science teacher at the moment. I havent got QTS yet but applied through the system and they took me on my experience. It's worth shopping around if you are unhappy in London.

It is hard to meet people here, but I joined a few pick-up footy games I found advertised on gumtree and have met some likeminded others from all over the world, or even set up your own event to meet some people.

There are plenty of GAA clubs here too if you are looking for some nights out and a bit of socialising.

the hard part is finding the spare time to do it!!