Stay or jump ship...

Studentblogger

I have just finished the PDE and I am pondering whether to stay in Ireland or go across the water and be, more or less, guaranteed a full-time permanent teaching position. I know there is no hope of me walking into a job in Ireland with 22 hours - I am in no way expecting that.

However, as an NQT starting off his career, I wonder what the chances are of even getting a few hours in Ireland from September on.

Any advice at all would be helpful.

seavill

Depends on your subjects, location, willing to travel, willing to be on call, willing to wait for hours as in sub and hope something eventually comes up

Naoko

What is/are your subject/s?

Studentblogger

English and History. I don't know whether that's good or bad?!

seavill

Where are you based

Are you tied down with family or able to move

Are you willing to move

Are you willing to move anywhere in the country for work.

Anecdotally common subjects

Naoko

Most people here will probably tell you it's bad as those subjects are over-subscribed; BUT, as they often go hand-in-hand and English is a core subject you could be lucky. There are usually a good few maternity leaves advertised around the country for that subject combination too if you're willing to move to a different county for the seven months.

Studentblogger

Willing to move anywhere in the country - within reason i.e. how could I move to Cork for 2 hours of English? Ha!

But yes, willing to relocate.

Naoko

It's unlikely a maternity leave contract will only be for two hours.

Afroshack

Studentblogger wrote: »

I have just finished the PDE and I am pondering whether to stay in Ireland or go across the water and be, more or less, guaranteed a full-time permanent teaching position. I know there is no hope of me walking into a job in Ireland with 22 hours - I am in no way expecting that.

However, as an NQT starting off his career, I wonder what the chances are of even getting a few hours in Ireland from September on.

Any advice at all would be helpful.

PM me if you have any questions on teaching in the UK - English jobs are a go-go

gaiscioch

You could get fantastic experience in England. You could learn how things could be done well, and how they should not be done. You would probably come back with strong opinions about the education system.

When I was at the stage where you are I did my research and the English system sounded like unadulterated exploitation given the opportunities university graduates can usually get if they look hard enough. I read that a massive 50% (some sources say 40%) of all teachers who enter that system leave it within two years. The form-filling and general bureaucracy sounded spiritually crushing, the antithesis of the spiritual and inspirational job I had always envisaged teaching to be. The pay was obscenely low (I would have lost all allowances for qualifications and started on a lower basic salary), accommodation costs in London exorbitant despite the allowance, you had to stay on the school premises for the entire working day even if your classes were long over, and your holidays for all these were miserly (I think about 10 fewer weeks). Culturally, it seems like a horrible system where teaching is not really viewed as a lifelong career as the conditions are so degrading. At a superficial level anyway, it seems there are far more mental health issues among teachers there.

I declined the innumerable offers of jobs from English private companies (that schools pay private recruitment firms millions while underpaying teachers is a warning of the Thatcherite culture in itself). I took my chances and did subbing in Ireland. I was lucky to get some hours but ultimately I took up another job outside teaching (although related to it) while applying for teaching jobs in my local area. I was called for an interview, was able to attend at short notice and I've been there on full hours ever since. There's a reason - actually, loads of them - why there are so many teaching jobs available in England.

If you really see your future in Ireland I'd hold out for even some hours here. If you're OK with being paid much less and having ineffably inferior working conditions (although probably better school facilities if you're doing Science or the like) then England should be good experience but not much else.