TEACHING jobs in ENGLAND and Agencies!

DeeDee89 · 26-07-2013 5:27pm #1

Hey guys- has anyone any advice on agencies in Ireland for teaching jobs in England?

I went with Engage and found them very pressurizing and really felt backed into a corner with them which I was not happy about-

I also have friends that went with them and were left to fend for themselves when they got to England- Does anyone have any advice on good companies to go with? A few of my friends that are science teachers are going with KS Education and apparently they only have permanent jobs so aren't really an agency- Any thoughts???

mel84 · 26-07-2013 5:39pm

HI DeeDee84

I found Engage Education to be the same they were ringing me at half 7 in the morning pressuring me to go to England for a week!!!! Absolutely ridiculous. I have a few friends that went and were put interviewing with schools in the completely opposite end of the country than where they wanted to be!

In the end, they accepted jobs but have NO intention of going and they were basically pressured into taking jobs and weren't even allowed think about it. Not good at all. And I found them to be really unprofessional as well. All 'talking the talk' and nothing to back it up! :S There are honest agencies around but I would only take a permanent job where you get paid for your holidays !

brónaim cád?? · 27-07-2013 12:00pm

I went with Engage and couldn't think more highly of them and the majority of the staff. I found them supportive and clarified any concerns that I had. They also helped me with other issues apart from finding a job. They even sorted out all accommodation issues so I didn't even have to find a house. I spoken to lots of other teachers that have had the same experience as me.

piperh · 27-07-2013 3:17pm

I can't help with agencies that are based here but i worked for a few over there if any good to you. If you want to pm me i can give you there contact details.

mel84 · 29-07-2013 10:53am

brónaim cád?? wrote: »

I went with Engage and couldn't think more highly of them and the majority of the staff. I found them supportive and clarified any concerns that I had. They also helped me with other issues apart from finding a job. They even sorted out all accommodation issues so I didn't even have to find a house. I spoken to lots of other teachers that have had the same experience as me.

Hey there! But have you worked in the UK through them yet!!!??? :eek::D

muinteor eolaiocht · 12-08-2013 1:29pm

Hi there,

When I moved to the UK first I went with UTeach who were quite good, found me accommodation, did CRB checks (vetting) etc. However, the school wasn't right for me. I then went on to Academics who were exceptional, gave me interview tips, helped me with settling into the UK system etc but they don't help with accommodation to the best of my knowledge. Good luck with the job hunt. My top tip is don't settle - check out the Ofsted reports for any school that's put your way and there is a lot of teaching work there in London and otherwise. A good website to check out for jobs is tes.co.uk and it's also full of resources too. Good luck!

rebel girl 15 · 12-08-2013 2:39pm

I found Engage okay, left a job I hated and they immediately got me other work, which was great. Have another job through them, free CRB check as well, which is handy.

Will be having a look at KS, I'm looking for something permanent really, but I've got huge experience now.

Ofsted can be misleading sometimes, a lot of the time its based on the data the school provide, I was in an outstanding primary school a few times, and it felt far from outstanding!!

Heydeldel · 28-08-2013 7:01pm

I'm meeting with Engage soon so I'll post about how I find them. I worked with Uteach before and decided to try a different agency this time around.

Pjfogar · 16-09-2013 4:29pm

Engage are gangsters. At least uteach give you your proper daily rate. Engage giving 120 a day and charge the school 180. Gangsters

Heydeldel · 16-09-2013 6:55pm

No way, I had no idea that's what they charged a school! So what is the proper daily rate?

Dave0301 · 19-09-2013 5:19pm

Pjfogar wrote: »

Engage are gangsters. At least uteach give you your proper daily rate. Engage giving 120 a day and charge the school 180. Gangsters

Where did you hear that?

In fairness, if the school is willing to pay that, they are either really stuck, or can well afford it (not to mention if it is the state sector, it is publicly funded).

120 a day from Engage for teaching? So £600 a week, or roughly £2400 pounds a month is not too shabby at all.

Heydeldel · 19-09-2013 8:00pm

It's a pretty sweet wage in fairness!

gubbie · 22-09-2013 11:32am

Dave0301 wrote: »

Where did you hear that?

In fairness, if the school is willing to pay that, they are either really stuck, or can well afford it (not to mention if it is the state sector, it is publicly funded).

120 a day from Engage for teaching? So £600 a week, or roughly £2400 pounds a month is not too shabby at all.

It's about £500 a week after tax. And you don't get holiday pay

rebel girl 15 · 22-09-2013 11:33am

Holiday pay is built into that!

Dave0301 · 22-09-2013 11:37am

If you are getting paid £500 a week, and are finding it hard to have a good standard of living and save money, there is something very wrong with your spending habits!!

Heydeldel · 22-09-2013 12:23pm

OK, so rent might be expensive, but I found food etc much cheaper in the UK than Ireland. £500 is pretty decent. It's a lot more than some people live on.

Mynamehere · 24-09-2013 9:20am

500a week is very good for the uk. Yes rent is expensive but i agree with the last poster saying groceries are cheaper. I get a lot of my stuff from the 99p store and buy my veg from the markets. Always great deals in morrisons and Sainburys for meet.

If your working for an agency you should opt to get paid though an umbrella company. Your train/bus travel,lunches and flights back to ireland are reinburst which ia great.

You can ask your umbrella company to hold onto your 12% holiday pay during term time and ask them to pay it when you are on your mid term/xmas holdays etc.

mel84 · 25-09-2013 1:57am

Pjfogar wrote: »

Engage are gangsters. At least uteach give you your proper daily rate. Engage giving 120 a day and charge the school 180. Gangsters

Hey I tend to agree with u mate and their daily rates are ****. I ended up getting £140 per day and they were going to pay me £115. And they promise that u will get permanent with a school but then make u work the whole year on a daily rate. Complete rip off. My advice to anyone going to the UK is get a job where you are perm with a school- at least u are paid for your holidays. Kseducation do mainly permanent.

mel84 · 25-09-2013 1:59am

Mynamehere wrote: »

500a week is very good for the uk. Yes rent is expensive but i agree with the last poster saying groceries are cheaper. I get a lot of my stuff from the 99p store and buy my veg from the markets. Always great deals in morrisons and Sainburys for meet.

If your working for an agency you should opt to get paid though an umbrella company. Your train/bus travel,lunches and flights back to ireland are reinburst which ia great.

You can ask your umbrella company to hold onto your 12% holiday pay during term time and ask them to pay it when you are on your mid term/xmas holdays etc.

Hey there!!' £500 is rubbish money when you don't get paid for your mid terms or summer holidays and have to save when it's so expensive in the UK anyway. !

mel84 · 25-09-2013 2:00am

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

I found Engage okay, left a job I hated and they immediately got me other work, which was great. Have another job through them, free CRB check as well, which is handy.

Will be having a look at KS, I'm looking for something permanent really, but I've got huge experience now.

Ofsted can be misleading sometimes, a lot of the time its based on the data the school provide, I was in an outstanding primary school a few times, and it felt far from outstanding!!

Hey rebel girl were you in touch with kseducation at all?

Mynamehere · 25-09-2013 9:10am

mel84 wrote: »

Hey there!!' £500 is rubbish money when you don't get paid for your mid terms or summer holidays and have to save when it's so expensive in the UK anyway. !

500 pounds after tax, NI and after your holiday pay is taken out is ok. Taking into account your travel, lunches and flights back and forth to Ireland are reinburst. Ask your umbrella company to hold onto your holiday pay and ask them to pay it to you on the week after your mid terms etc.

saythatagain · 02-11-2013 9:42pm

Just signed up with Uteach yesterday, thinking of making the move in January. Got a reply from them about going over to England and doing 5 days training course in December in two of their schools in Surrey.
Anybody signed up to go?

Afroshack · 03-11-2013 5:22pm

saythatagain wrote: »

Just signed up with Uteach yesterday, thinking of making the move in January. Got a reply from them about going over to England and doing 5 days training course in December in two of their schools in Surrey.
Anybody signed up to go?

I came over to Surrey with uteach in july!!! whereabouts in surrey do you know?

saythatagain · 03-11-2013 8:22pm

The training is being done in Epsom & Ewell High School and Salesian.
But interviews will be for others I think. How did/do you find Uteach and teaching in the UK?

Afroshack · 03-11-2013 9:16pm

saythatagain wrote: »

The training is being done in Epsom & Ewell High School and Salesian.
But interviews will be for others I think. How did/do you find Uteach and teaching in the UK?

Uteach were fine, a bit persistent with the calls and emails but they were helpful for certain. Teaching in the UK is pretty hectic, I can see why so many teachers burn out here. It's starting to get easier now I've been here two months though, but be prepared for a lot of paperwork and box-ticking and progress reports. Salesian is a really well-respected school, you got lucky there!

saythatagain · 03-11-2013 10:08pm

Afroshack wrote: »

Uteach were fine, a bit persistent with the calls and emails but they were helpful for certain. Teaching in the UK is pretty hectic, I can see why so many teachers burn out here. It's starting to get easier now I've been here two months though, but be prepared for a lot of paperwork and box-ticking and progress reports. Salesian is a really well-respected school, you got lucky there!

I don't think there's a job there unfortunately. Thanks for your advice, just don't want to end up in a kip and be more overwhelmed than I already will be

Siobhan_d13 · 04-11-2013 7:31am

Just had a read through the thread here - I'm currently in Australia, Melbourne to be specific... Hundreds of teaching jobs out there but thousands of teachers applying. It's very competitive. Gave up full time admin work to do supply work, which worked out pretty well, but I'm starting to get annoyed by the lack of contracts that would be available to me and my lack of experience. I've applied for over 20 public jobs in the last 6 months. Seriously considering coming back home and then maybe going to England. Sounds like you're at least given the chance to improve your experience and CV! Obviously I can't expect anyone to make the decision for me... but would any of you mind?!

lulufinn90 · 04-11-2013 10:23pm

I would recommend kent-teach. The agency is run by Kent Co Council and they are recruiting for permanent positions mainly. They hold recruitment days in Dublin after Xmas. They will then fly you over where you do some interviews in schools and then pick from your offers.

I got a job in a relatively OK school. I'm permanent and on a monthly salary which is not too bad. also the experience that you get is hugely beneficial and will stand to you if you go back to Ireland after a year or two.

Also Kent Co Council have a formal induction process for NQTs which is recognised by the teaching council back in Ireland.

The only issue is the social side. I'm in west Kent which is a bit lonely as there are few Irish out and about. If you want an OK social life I recommend you live east of Maidstone

Louthdrog · 06-11-2013 4:35pm

saythatagain wrote: »

The training is being done in Epsom & Ewell High School and Salesian.
But interviews will be for others I think. How did/do you find Uteach and teaching in the UK?

I actually was on the pilot training course for this back in June and loved it.
Its run by the head teachers from those two schools. You spend a week observing and teaching lessons, being tutored by two teachers in Salesian who are really brilliant. By the end of the week, I was 5 times the teacher I was at the start.
On the Friday, we taught two lessons. Head teachers from 12 different schools come in and walk in and out of your lessons. (Salesian and epsoma and Ewell are part of a schools alliance with a lot of other schools in south west London). Its almost like an audition and is very nerve wrecking, but it does mean every lesson you ever teach again will be a walk in the park in comparison.
At the end they pick who they like and offer them jobs. Everyone on the course (There was 6 of us) got offered multiple jobs (There were 7 headteachers hiring for my subject, I got 7 offers.)
Uteach arent great, weve had problems with them, but if you want to come to England, then this course is great! It really bridges the gap to teaching in england and will have you teaching some great lessons. The headteachers and teachers involved are excellent though. You will be very well looked after.
The one suggestion we made to them was to lose uteach and go with the course alone so I am dissapointed they have decided to go through uteach again but for the benefits of the course, I would put up with uteach.
You most likely wont get a job in Salesian, they werent hiring from our course, they are just the training base. Epsom and Ewell did hire a teacher. But the schools that are involved are great! The six of us from the original course all live together/ close by here in London and nobody got a bad school.
If you get a list of schools at any stage, pop me a message on here and I could highlight some school I would reccomend maybe.

wombleer · 13-11-2013 12:06am

hello folks,

I've been working in England for nearly 4 years and the only way in the door is through agencies. they are gangsters and you do sign your life away at the start but generally the school will offer to sign you up after a year with them. the only issue is that agencies will plonk you in any school saying that it is a great place to work. if they do just check out the reviews for the school. i've seen people in and out in less than a couple of months and agencies just keep finding replacements. There is no holiday pay or sick pay and christmas can be a long period of time regardless of how much the offer you. especially if you forget to hand in your timesheet. so with travel costs and other expenditures money needs to be managed. they do pay some expenses so and in receipts to claim back some money.

if you are thinking of moving to england make sure you get the following done:
1. translate your certificates into english
2.copies of your results transcripts
3.join the teaching council of ireland

this will help you register with the teaching council in england and get QTS (qualified teacher status) or at least onto the NQT (newly qualified teacher) register in england, which will help you move away from agencies an allow you to apply to schools directly. generally you just have to show evidence of improvement using the structure. If you have done your probation period you may not need to do this and can apply for QTS straight away. this also affects your pay. maximum you can earn without QTS is up to £26,000. agencies will offer a little more than this but with QTS you go onto the main salary scale.

if you have any other questions just pm me

take it easy

irish_chick · 25-11-2013 3:18pm

Hey louthdrog. Thanks for all your info. I have recruitment day with uteach this week with possibility of going over to uk for a weeks training in december. Nervous and excited. Can u give me anymore tips or advice? What happens at the day recruitment? Hoping that i get into the weeks training in december and get offered a job in january.are there many schools outside the london area.was hoping to stay away from london itself and hopefully be more on the surrey side nearer to hampshire.anymore info would be great thanks.

Louthdrog · 26-11-2013 2:06pm

irish_chick wrote: »

Hey louthdrog. Thanks for all your info. I have recruitment day with uteach this week with possibility of going over to uk for a weeks training in december. Nervous and excited. Can u give me anymore tips or advice? What happens at the day recruitment? Hoping that i get into the weeks training in december and get offered a job in january.are there many schools outside the london area.was hoping to stay away from london itself and hopefully be more on the surrey side nearer to hampshire.anymore info would be great thanks.

I dont know what happens on the recruitment day. I was a last minute addition to the course. I applied to agency very very late and places opened up on the course so had to do my interview for it over the phone.

All the schools are in Surrey (well they were for us). The closest to centre anyone got from it was Wimbledon. Generally the schools are lovely.

For the interview day, just show a willingness to learn. Admit that you are not up to scratch for the english system yet and thats why you want to do the course. Show some sort of knowledge of active learning and AFL. Show that you are 100% commited to moving too. The guys running the course were screwed over the last time round with people pulling out. There was 6 of us on the course when there was supposed to be 12, and I wasnt one of the original 12. If you show any hesitation they are likely to say no!

becklyncho · 03-12-2013 3:16pm

Hey Guys if u work thru KS on a daily rate their rate for NQTs starts at £130 ! Other agencies really are ripping Irish NQTs off!!!!!!!!

I would recommend them

rebel girl 15 · 03-12-2013 3:21pm

becklyncho wrote: »

Hey Guys if u work thru KS on a daily rate their rate for NQTs starts at £130 ! Other agencies really are ripping Irish NQTs off!!!!!!!!

I would recommend them

But how much do you end up with at the end of the day?? Gross may be more, but what is the net pay per day/week??

becklyncho · 03-12-2013 4:34pm

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

But how much do you end up with at the end of the day?? Gross may be more, but what is the net pay per day/week??

HEY Rebel Girl!

It depends on your expenses- ie. I am coming out with £650 gross and my expenses average out at £200 per week between my rent, travel, food etc. so I am only taxed on £450 per week!!!

So on average I come out with £555 per week net

:D:rolleyes:

Heydeldel · 03-12-2013 8:48pm

becklyncho wrote: »

HEY Rebel Girl!

It depends on your expenses- ie. I am coming out with £650 gross and my expenses average out at £200 per week between my rent, travel, food etc. so I am only taxed on £450 per week!!!

So on average I come out with £555 per week net :D:rolleyes:

Arrrg! I'm with Engage and seem to be skint all the time.

rebel girl 15 · 03-12-2013 8:52pm

Heydeldel wrote: »

Arrrg! I'm with Engage and seem to be skint all the time.

I'm with them as well, not doing too badly money wise though - are you claiming all your expenses?? I'm thinking of a change, but then again I'm happy enough in the school.

Heydeldel · 03-12-2013 9:00pm

I've been a bit lazt submitting expenses - my own fault. But from now on I'll claim whatever I can.

Patches22 · 05-12-2013 12:51pm

becklyncho wrote: »

Hey Guys if u work thru KS on a daily rate their rate for NQTs starts at £130 ! Other agencies really are ripping Irish NQTs off!!!!!!!!

I would recommend them

Hi becklyncho, just wondering if you'd mind giving me a bit of info on how u found KS?

becklyncho · 10-12-2013 11:52am

Patches22 wrote: »

Hi becklyncho, just wondering if you'd mind giving me a bit of info on how u found KS?

Hey Patches22

I am in a catholic school in Kent at the moment- im an NQT and on £130 per day! im going perm in January I think- well KS have basically given me a choice on whether I want to go perm- most of their jobs are perm apparently- so if I go perm I will be paid for my Summer and my mid term!!!!!

I find them really really supportive- even though I started a while ago, the consultant I have checks in with me every week for a chat- I feel like they genuinely care about me and any issues with accommodation I had at the start they sorted- a friend of mine forgot to give her bank details to the payroll company at the start when she moved over and she didn't get paid- and one of the managers DROVE to kent to lend her money! now if that doesn't show they actually care I don't know what does!!!!

I have heard of other teachers with other agencies (bigger agencies) and they are only on £110 in Kent! I really don't think any other agencies pay the amount that KS Education do!!! And the consultant I have said she will even find me another school next year if I want to move!

Depending on the school you are in, some schools have more paperwork than others, but I am really lucky with the support I am getting. I would recommend maeve if you even just want to have a NO PRESSURE chat about your options. I had dealt with 2 other agencies previously and felt like they were vultures (because my subject is science!!) seriously.

check out their fb. any other questions, ask away I am happy to help !!

:D:D:D

Heydeldel · 10-12-2013 8:21pm

Wow 130 is deadly! Are we being ripped off by Engage or what?

xXx-Ginny-xXx · 27-12-2013 7:48pm

KS Education are really, really good. They are incredibly supportive & do not pressure you into jobs!! You basically tell them what school you are after! I still get calls and emails from Engage, Uteach & Hourglass even though I have asked them to remove me from their client list. It is fierce annoying.:mad:

I've only just got a job but friends who went through them said that they keep in regular contact to see if you are happy and the likes!!

themurph36 · 22-08-2014 2:37pm

Hi All
Just posting this looking for advice really. Am a Primary School Teacher ,graduated in 2012 and have been subbing the last 2 years but cannot do another year really. Unfortuantely havent been able to do my Dip thus far. Am considering moving to the UK but wondering what its like as have read a good few horror stories to do with mountains of paperwork. Any advice on agencies etc would be greatly appreciated!!

lulufinn90 · 22-08-2014 10:30pm

Im based in kent at the moment. I took a job in sept 2013 teaching maths in a secondary school. Its not as bad as everyone says. Sign up to tes.co.uk for starters and see what jobs is up there. You can contact some agencies if necessary to get started. I would advise you to check the ofsted report of any school first and if you are interested ask to visit the school before you take the position. The south east is where the majority of work is it is expensive enough to live but at least you will get a stable job and income and you will get experience which is quite difficult to get ah home right now. Also the paperwork is not too bad. You have to record students progress every half term in their subjects which is too hard as it is all computerised. You get some pushy parents but you get that anywhere.

themurph36 · 25-08-2014 10:35am

Hi lulufinn90
Cheers for the advice much appreciated! Just a quick question, did you go through an agency or get the job directly? Do you live far from London? Id probably be going over on my own so wouldnt know too many people!

lulufinn90 · 25-08-2014 10:44am

I went to kent county councils recruitment day in mar/apr 2013 had informal interview with a recruiter and a principal of a school they were recruiting for the whole of kent but the principal that was at the interviews gave me the job in her school. i was hired directly by the school and was made permanent straight away.

lulufinn90 · 25-08-2014 10:48am

themurph36 wrote: »

Hi lulufinn90
Cheers for the advice much appreciated! Just a quick question, did you go through an agency or get the job directly? Do you live far from London? Id probably be going over on my own so wouldnt know too many people!

Also i work in sevenoaks which is 30minutes by train to charing cross. it is very expensive to live in so i live in tunbridge wells which is 45 minutes to london by train. i came over with my boyfriend. there is very few irish around. you will meet planty in the schools at work. in twells there is loads of clubs n groups to join which makes it easier also your only 40 minutes to gatwick for flying home

themurph36 · 25-08-2014 12:20pm

Cool, cheers for sharing! Seems to be loads of work, agencies are bombarding me so will decide soon! Have an idea anyway, Best of luck with the year ahead!

lulufinn90 · 26-08-2014 11:18am

my best advice to you with agencies is make sure u visit the school and check the ofsted report before you decide what you do. (my school paid for my flights over to visit) some agencies recruit for schools that most teachers don't want to work in. the best agency i have heard of is KS education and they pay the best rates. Kent County Council recruit for all of kent and they hire directly so you start on the pay scale immediately. there is plenty of opportunity over her so don't let agencies suck you in and put you in a bad school

rebel girl 15 · 01-09-2014 10:31pm

There will be loads of Irish teachers getting to know each other soon - Irish Council in Britain are helping launch an Irish Teachers Network in the near future, which will be a great help.

Agencies are a means to an end - I used an agency, and now onto my permanent contract in my current school

LeonDen · 02-01-2015 3:53pm

I'm finishing up my PDE in June and seriously considering a move over to England in Sept.. been talking to teachers who have been over there and some have loved it and others hated it and told me to wait around here for something. Is it worth waiting around here to get the odd week of subbing or should I move over and get the experience of teaching an actual class? Would also be going on my own so slightly worried about that aswell. Any advice would be much appreciated!

TEACHING jobs in ENGLAND and Agencies!

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