Post of Responsibility

Olivia Pope · 16-05-2019 8:57am #1

Hi,

As I am soon to start teacher training college I’m starting to thing about the above. Obviously it’s many years down the road. I would definitely like a post but I don’t know if I would like the top job. I don’t know enough about any of the posts yet to know I suppose.
Which is harder, being an administrative principal or being a non administrative deputy principal in a large school?
Seniority will be gone by the time I can apply for a post. Is this causing tension in schools? As I understand it, in the past, the next longest serving teacher got the next post (unless they weren’t interested). Has this been turned on it’s head now?
Do you need a school leadership course to have any chance of getting a post?
When do people usually apply for posts? After 5, 10, 15 years?
Is there a lot of competition for posts?
Are there any happy teaching principals out there? All I seem to hear is that unless you are an administrative principal, it’s very very tough going.

2xj3hplqgsbkym · 16-05-2019 9:02am

Hold your horses!
First see if you like college, then teaching, then get a job, then like your job and want to stay in it. Then get CID, then it’s something you could consider. You won’t know what kind of post you would like until you have some experience.

Olivia Pope · 16-05-2019 9:06am

Sofia Curved Highway wrote: »

Hold your horses!
First see if you like college, then teaching, then get a job, then like your job and want to stay in it. Then get CID, then it’s something you could consider. You won’t know what kind of post you would like until you have some experience.

Thanks Rosebush, I know, I know. I’m jumping the gun!!
Genuinely interested in everyone’s opinions on this. I won’t have time to think about these things once I start the course.

mtoutlemonde · 16-05-2019 9:15am

Olivia Pope wrote: »

Thanks Rosebush, I know, I know. I’m jumping the gun!!
Genuinely interested in everyone’s opinions on this. I won’t have time to think about these things once I start the course.

Well you won't have to be thinking about it for a long time - until you get a job which is a LONG LONG ordeal that will knock you several times. I wouldn't be looking into a post until you're well established teacher in a school 1. students have more respect for you and 2. if you're coming the door applying for posts, other staff members will think that you have notions and you could find yourself having your lunch by yourself.

Can I ask why you would be thinking about posts before you even become a teacher? Is it really a management role that you're looking for?

I've never heard of the term non-administrative deputy principal - what do you think they do if they don't do administration?

Olivia Pope · 16-05-2019 9:21am

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

Well you won't have to be thinking about it for a long time - until you get a job which is a LONG LONG ordeal that will knock you several times. I wouldn't be looking into a post until you're well established teacher in a school 1. students have more respect for you and 2. if you're coming the door applying for posts, other staff members will think that you have notions and you could find yourself having your lunch by yourself.

Can I ask why you would be thinking about posts before you even become a teacher? Is it really a management role that you're looking for?

I've never heard of the term non-administrative deputy principal - what do you think they do if they don't do administration?

Thanks for your reply mtoutlemonde. I’m simply asking a few questions about things I know very little about. Thats what this forum is for, right?

I thought that an administrative principal/vice principal does not teach a class aswell as their post duties? I may have the wrong terminology there.

I wouldn’t necessarily say I want to be in management but I would like a post when the time is right and I feel ready for it.

Olivia Pope · 16-05-2019 9:23am

P.S. I don’t want to have lunch by myself!!

mtoutlemonde · 16-05-2019 9:59am

Olivia Pope wrote: »

Thanks for your reply mtoutlemonde. I’m simply asking a few questions about things I know very little about. Thats what this forum is for, right?

I thought that an administrative principal/vice principal does not teach a class aswell as their post duties? I may have the wrong terminology there.

I wouldn’t necessarily say I want to be in management but I would like a post when the time is right and I feel ready for it.

Yes that's what the forum is for. I just find it strange that someone who does not currently hold a teaching qualification is interested in posts. I'm ten years teaching and wouldn't want a post yet. When I was in your position - getting qualified and finding a job that would lead to permanency was all that worried me.

No, DP's teach unless the school is very large. It depends on the number of students in the school e.g. for a small school, the DP teaches a half timetable, in a bigger school, they teach 4-6 hours etc. and in a big school, they don't teach at all.

Olivia Pope wrote: »

P.S. I don’t want to have lunch by myself!!

It can happen unfortunately

You will find some people that will want it that way as well though.

Wesser · 16-05-2019 10:03am

surely being a teacher means holding responsibility??!!

mtoutlemonde · 16-05-2019 10:13am

Wesser wrote: »

surely being a teacher means holding responsibility??!!

Yes of course but what OP is asking is about is posts of responsibility which is usually senior members of staff who are year heads, programme co-ordinators, health and safety, exams secretary etc.

Olivia Pope · 16-05-2019 11:39am

Thanks for clarifying about the principal/vice principal query mtoutlemonde.
I totally get what you say about yourself, focusing on the qualification, experience, trying to get a job, trying to get CID.

I’m the exact same, will need to do all those things, work really hard, deal with all the rejection when I qualify and I’m trying to get a job.

I always think about the future aswell as the present, it’s just how I am. I know lots about what’s ahead in the next few years. And that’s all I really think about. Whereas I know nothing about posts etc. I guess we are just different. Thanks for posting.

evolving_doors · 16-05-2019 4:14pm

Wesser wrote: »

surely being a teacher means holding responsibility??!!

Responsibility for what?

evolving_doors · 16-05-2019 4:17pm

Olivia Pope wrote: »

Hi,

As I am soon to start teacher training college I’m starting to thing about the above. Obviously it’s many years down the road. I would definitely like a post but I don’t know if I would like the top job. I don’t know enough about any of the posts yet to know I suppose.
Which is harder, being an administrative principal or being a non administrative deputy principal in a large school?
Seniority will be gone by the time I can apply for a post. Is this causing tension in schools? As I understand it, in the past, the next longest serving teacher got the next post (unless they weren’t interested). Has this been turned on it’s head now?
Do you need a school leadership course to have any chance of getting a post?
When do people usually apply for posts? After 5, 10, 15 years?
Is there a lot of competition for posts?
Are there any happy teaching principals out there? All I seem to hear is that unless you are an administrative principal, it’s very very tough going.

About 10 years ...
Unless you're asked earlier cos no-one else wants to do it- in which case ask why.

babybuilder · 17-05-2019 10:45pm

Join your local Cumann FF preferably. Be ambitious, network and do what is needed e.g. take on what ever job your principal asks of you. Get qualified and your set for life. Mind you the other staff will despise you.

Post of Responsibility

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