Your career and pay questions answered by John Howson
Q I am finishing my teaching degree in a few weeks and have been offered a job in the school where I took my final teaching practice. Some of my friends have been offered posts where they will be paid from the end of July. My school says for pay purposes my service won’t start until the first day of term in September. How can I get paid from July, like my friends?
A Generally, teachers are paid from the date they start work, usually the first day of term. Some schools and local authorities are paying students for the summer holidays, or even from the end of their degree courses, as part of their recruitment drives. Some offer supply work to new teachers for July, and others offer relocation payments and other forms of assistance such as “golden hellos”. If you feel in a strong position, ask your new head to accept that you will spend the summer preparing for your new job and should be paid for it. But as you have already accepted the post on its original terms you are in a weak position to argue for more at this stage.
Q I started work as a classroom helper when my children moved to the junior school. I am studying GCSE English and maths, but otherwise have only CSEs. I would like to teach primary children, specialising in English. I can’t afford to give up work, and I haven’t had any support from the school, which has a staff development policy for teachers only.
A To become a teacher you need a degree plus training. GCSEs in English, maths and, in your case, science are a prerequisite for entry into training. Some LEAs have schemes to help classroom staff train to be teachers. If there isn’t one locally - check with your LEA recruitment and retention manager - try the teacher information line on 0845 6000 991. Or you could do a part-time degree with the Open University or your local university. After the equivalent of two years’ full-time higher education, you could switch to on-the-job training, if you could find a school to offer you a training place. But this is easier said than done in many parts of the UK, where there is no shortage of primary teachers.
John Howson is visiting professor at Oxford Brookes University and managing director of Education Data Surveys. Do you have a career question for him? Email susan.young@newsint.co.uk
