palmer_eldritch Posted January 18, 2007 Posted January 18, 2007 Not a job ad, so apologies if I've posted in an incorrect forum. I have been reading the job description for an IT network manager post at a school. The usual enormous list of 'essential' personal qualities and duties was there and I was on the verge of just getting on with the application form, when I noticed the following in the 'Professional Duties' section; • Establish and maintain effective relationships with pupils • Contribute to pupils’ learning by demonstrating or advising on the proper use of equipment and materials, as requested by the teacher • Act as a personal tutor for a group of pupils • Act as a ‘cover tutor’ in relation to ICT lessons • Provide general support for pupils during unstructured situations Now, I know education is renowned for abusing the 'any other duties commensurate with the position' clause, but this seems to me to be taking the piss. Is anyone out there in the position of being a network manager and an 'unofficial' teacher / tutor as well ? Btw, no teaching qualification is required in the above job, 'experience in management of pupils' is 'desirable'. How do you do it? (This is of course assuming they will be able to find the time to read this post in the first place )
Geoff Posted January 18, 2007 Posted January 18, 2007 My understanding is that you cannot be left alone with kids to do anything unless there is a qualified member of staff (teacher, grade x teaching assistant) also present.
plexer Posted January 18, 2007 Posted January 18, 2007 Ask them if their insurance covers this, I think you'll find it doesn't. Unless they employ you on a teaching/cover supervisor contract and pay you accordingly for the times when you are instructing I'd tell them to stuff it. Ben
palmer_eldritch Posted January 18, 2007 Author Posted January 18, 2007 Indeed so, Geoff. It all reminds me of a job interview at a school I went to several years ago, in which the advertised position was for an English/IT teacher and ended up being for a Special Needs co-odinator. "If we offered you the job, would you accept?"
palmer_eldritch Posted January 18, 2007 Author Posted January 18, 2007 Ask them if their insurance covers this, I think you'll find it doesn't. Unless they employ you on a teaching/cover supervisor contract and pay you accordingly for the times when you are instructing I'd tell them to stuff it. Ben The advertised salary is c26K, which for the job as described made me laugh even more.
webman Posted January 18, 2007 Posted January 18, 2007 Should be atleast another £10k on top of that for what they're asking.
broc Posted January 18, 2007 Posted January 18, 2007 Cover supervisors & classroom teaching assistants get paid considerably less than £26k, so I would argue that having a NM do some of these roles is wasting valuable school resource
palmer_eldritch Posted January 18, 2007 Author Posted January 18, 2007 Oh, forget to say that the person spec also says - • Commitment to the Christian values of the Academy Nice and vague, I thought.
beeswax Posted January 18, 2007 Posted January 18, 2007 Ahhh...Academy. Playing by different rules there.
CyberNerd Posted January 18, 2007 Posted January 18, 2007 I do some teaching as part of the extended schools programme, only 2 hours per week + 2 hours prep time. It's in addition to my regular job, not as part of it. Useful for beer money Oh, forget to say that the person spec also says - • Commitment to the Christian values of the Academy lol, they need Ubuntu CE - christian edition (what would jesus download.com )
GrumbleDook Posted January 18, 2007 Posted January 18, 2007 Teaching ... let us dispel a myth now ... anyone can teach in a school. You can be employed as an unqualified teacher or as an instructor. Insurance is the responsibility of the school but it is beneficial if you join a teaching union (in case you school drop you in it and don't support you if something goes wrong). You can only instruct for a limited period of time before you have to have some level of recognised qualification ... IIRC it is 3 years, but if you then do the HLTA stuff you can keep going for longer. If you have to do this then I would recommend that you try and ensure that there is an upper limit that you get collared for ... and if possible have it confirmed that you will only do it for specified subjects (eg ICT, Media Studies, Music Technology ... you know ... things involving computers!)
Midget Posted January 18, 2007 Posted January 18, 2007 WWJDownload? Porn and Lost episodes probably Only JewKing ..... i mean joking.
palmer_eldritch Posted January 18, 2007 Author Posted January 18, 2007 Interesting stuff, grumbledook. I'm not going near the job - after eight years' teaching which ended some time ago, I've had enough of the job to last me a lifetime! Still find it hilarious that they pile on the 'responsibilities' with no clear idea about how they'll be addressed. Mind you, if the job spec was written by masochistic workaholic, then...
Lord_Edam Posted January 18, 2007 Posted January 18, 2007 You can only instruct for a limited period of time before you have to have some level of recognised qualification ... IIRC it is 3 years, but if you then do the HLTA stuff you can keep going for longer. So, how does Half Life Team Arena help teachers?
elsiegee40 Posted January 18, 2007 Posted January 18, 2007 It's in my job description to cover lessons when the ICT teacher is unavailable. Doesn't happen often - maybe a couple of times in a year - but I'm happy to follow the lesson plan with a class. Particularly as the max size of our classes is 17.
tosca925 Posted January 18, 2007 Posted January 18, 2007 You can be employed as an unqualified teacher or as an instructor. Insurance is the responsibility of the school but it is beneficial if you join a teaching union (in case you school drop you in it and don't support you if something goes wrong). You can only instruct for a limited period of time before you have to have some level of recognised qualification ... IIRC it is 3 years, but if you then do the HLTA stuff you can keep going for longer. If you have to do this then I would recommend that you try and ensure that there is an upper limit that you get collared for ... and if possible have it confirmed that you will only do it for specified subjects (eg ICT, Media Studies, Music Technology ... you know ... things involving computers!) I always wondered about this situation, now i know.
kylewilliamson Posted January 20, 2007 Posted January 20, 2007 Yes, but what the hell are support staff meant to do with a class of 28 screaming kids? . Kyle
MkII Posted January 20, 2007 Posted January 20, 2007 lol, they need Ubuntu CE - christian edition (what would jesus download.com ) Too funny. I like the look of Linux for Christians better - some great quotes on there. Based on KDE too - my prefferred GUI. I've 'helped out in class' a lot. Reallt like doing it, but I wouldn't give up my day job.
kingswood Posted January 20, 2007 Posted January 20, 2007 The side of me that has a degree in theology so wants to come down on you all with some very deep thoughts on your comments. But I think it would be coming down...;-)
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