...by Amanda Novis, PGCE student at Lancaster Campus
With government cutbacks, the number of jobs available for newly qualified teachers is dwindling. This is a cause for concern for many students at the University of Cumbria, which trains a number of teachers for each key stage and subject. Instead of a fixed post, many graduates are having to spend some time in the supply sector. But what is supply work really like?
“The best part is seeing what pupils are learning in other subjects,” says Janet, a graduate in PGCE Secondary RE currently doing supply work. “You know what they're doing in your specialisation at different levels, but other subjects are kind of a mystery until you get in there.” She also enjoys meeting the different classes but sometimes being a supply teacher with a new class can be difficult.
“The kids know you're just a supply teacher. They might never see you again, so they're less worried about acting up. That's particularly a risk with older children. They're pleased to see you at first – they think they're just going to get a video to watch when a supply teacher comes in – but when you tell them that's not the case, that you will be teaching them a proper lesson, they can become difficult.” Once you've been in the same school a few times and developed your relationship with classes more, this becomes less of an issue.
It's not just the kids themselves that can be problematic. Communication can be poor, with no work set for the classes or a lack of clear instructions. On one occasion, Janet was left a note telling her to continue with the work set in the textbooks. However, when the textbooks were not in the classroom and even the head of department didn't know where to find them, the job got tricky.
“But it's definitely worth it,” Janet assures me. “It's just a hard market at the moment. Plus, it looks much better on your CV if you've shown that you're willing to do supply work.” There are also some easily overlooked benefits: “When new jobs come up at the start of term, people currently in teaching jobs can't apply for them because of their notice periods. So there's a little less competition.”
Janet has some tips for those wanting supply work: “Be flexible,” she says. “Be open minded. I'm on contract to travel up to an hour away, so I'll be considered for more work. You can agree to only take long term posts or to teach day to day, but if you want as much experience and opportunity as possible you've got to be willing to take day to day work.” She also recommends signing up for as many agencies as possible to increase your chances of getting work.
Col's note: Education students unable to attend our Teaching Careers Fair on Monday 5th December can find details of teaching supply agencies active in Cumbria and Lancashire at www.delicious.com/skillzone/supply
Monday 28 November 2011
Friday 25 November 2011
What Do Graduates Do?
The 2009-10 version of "What Do Graduates Do?", produced annually by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) based on annual graduate destination surveys has recently become available. It shows some interesting trends in graduate employment as it follows nuances of the economic downturn.
While large numbers 2008 - 09 graduates entered the public sector in preference to previously glamorous opportunities in banking and finance, the trend was reversed in 2009-10 as public expenditure cutbacks started to bite. The financial services sector recovered to 2008 levels with some quite spectacular rises in specific areas, including a 45.9% rise in financial analysts and an 81% rise in personnel and recruitment consultants/advisers.
On the public sector side, the numbers of graduates becoming nurses and teachers did not fall markedly, but there was a general decline in administrative posts in public administration and defence, and there were considerable reductions in the numbers of social workers and physiotherapists recruited.
Overall, the private sector comeback lead to a slight decrease in the level of graduate unemployment (down to 8.5%) although there was little rise in the level of salaries offered.
This is a national survey which doesn't necessarily reflect local trends, but it is interesting to note that the University of Cumbria Jobshop has been receiving large numbers of vacancies for recruitment consultants over the past year. Other frequently advertised opportunities have included information technology, marketing and sales jobs.
For a more detailed look at the current employment situation as perceived by University Careers Services, see www.agcas.org.uk/articles/462-Mixed-picture-on-graduate-jobs-front-HE-careers-services
While large numbers 2008 - 09 graduates entered the public sector in preference to previously glamorous opportunities in banking and finance, the trend was reversed in 2009-10 as public expenditure cutbacks started to bite. The financial services sector recovered to 2008 levels with some quite spectacular rises in specific areas, including a 45.9% rise in financial analysts and an 81% rise in personnel and recruitment consultants/advisers.
On the public sector side, the numbers of graduates becoming nurses and teachers did not fall markedly, but there was a general decline in administrative posts in public administration and defence, and there were considerable reductions in the numbers of social workers and physiotherapists recruited.
Overall, the private sector comeback lead to a slight decrease in the level of graduate unemployment (down to 8.5%) although there was little rise in the level of salaries offered.
This is a national survey which doesn't necessarily reflect local trends, but it is interesting to note that the University of Cumbria Jobshop has been receiving large numbers of vacancies for recruitment consultants over the past year. Other frequently advertised opportunities have included information technology, marketing and sales jobs.
For a more detailed look at the current employment situation as perceived by University Careers Services, see www.agcas.org.uk/articles/462-Mixed-picture-on-graduate-jobs-front-HE-careers-services
Thursday 24 November 2011
University of Cumbria - Teaching Careers Fair
Advance notice for our Education students and graduates that this year's Careers Fair is on Monday 5th December 2011 (Lancaster Campus)
The Fairs is an ideal opportunity for all final year and PGCE students to gain direct information about potential employers, job opportunities, induction, and application and interview tips and advice.
Guest speakers include representatives from Lancashire County Council, London and surrounding areas, a Secondary School Headteacher and a Supply Agency. There will also be the opportunity to speak directly with exhibitors.
Please see the programme for further details
Transport from Fusehill Street will be provided free of charge - leave Fusehill Street 12.15pm (prompt) Return from Lancaster 5.15pm. See Blackboard for more information
Monday 21 November 2011
Watch Out for The Informer...
...message from Jonny Irving (Informer Online Editor)
Student Newspaper The Informer has just launched and is available on campus now. It is also available digitally at http://issuu.com/thisisio/docs/informernov2011
The issue is a joint effort between University of Cumbria journalism and graphic design students.
Some of the top stories include: a victim of a sexual attack in Carlisle that was previously unknown, Helen Skelton's bake off in Carlisle, the Brampton Road shop situation and some successful graduates.
The editor Steven Ramshay has lead the team to produce what I think everyone is the best looking Informer yet which contains some very strong articles.
People can keep up to date with the Informer team on Twitter @informeronline
Student Newspaper The Informer has just launched and is available on campus now. It is also available digitally at http://issuu.com/thisisio/docs/informernov2011
The issue is a joint effort between University of Cumbria journalism and graphic design students.
Some of the top stories include: a victim of a sexual attack in Carlisle that was previously unknown, Helen Skelton's bake off in Carlisle, the Brampton Road shop situation and some successful graduates.
The editor Steven Ramshay has lead the team to produce what I think everyone is the best looking Informer yet which contains some very strong articles.
People can keep up to date with the Informer team on Twitter @informeronline
Friday 18 November 2011
FE to HE Transitions
Recent research from the University of Westminster has shown up some of the prevailing attitudes of students who have entered University by non-traditional routes.
Reported in Phoenix, it shows that many students :
Reported in Phoenix, it shows that many students :
- had few plans for their future
- had low levels of awareness about University and were not proactive about seeking assistance
- viewed themselves negatively and often felt they were incapable of going to University
- although aware of the advice and guidance available at University, did not see themselves as potential users of it
- saw themselves as needing to rely on their personal resources and hard work rather than making use of support services
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Supply Teacher Service Nursery Primary Secondary Teaching Vacancies in Cumbria Lancashire | Step By Step Education http://ow.ly/7vJ9X
Can Facebook Get Me A Job?
More and more students and graduates are using social media to search for jobs and make themselves known to potential employers.
If you would like to know how, come along to this free lunchtime workshop for University of Cumbria Students and Graduates - presented by Colin Taylor of LISS – Careers.
When: Thursday 24th November, 12.30 – 1.30 p.m.
Where: Room CH8, Bowscale Building, Fusehill Street Campus
The session will include an opportunity for hands-on practice
N.b. To avoid disappointment, please book in advance via careers@cumbria.ac.uk as a limited number of computers are available on the day.
If you would like to know how, come along to this free lunchtime workshop for University of Cumbria Students and Graduates - presented by Colin Taylor of LISS – Careers.
When: Thursday 24th November, 12.30 – 1.30 p.m.
Where: Room CH8, Bowscale Building, Fusehill Street Campus
The session will include an opportunity for hands-on practice
N.b. To avoid disappointment, please book in advance via careers@cumbria.ac.uk as a limited number of computers are available on the day.
Friday 11 November 2011
Youth Unemployment: A Student’s Perspective
an article provided by Sam Curran, an Education Student at our Lancaster Campus
If you have wandered round a nondescript town centre dispensing as many CVs as you possibly can (for no reward) or looked on the Job Centre Plus site every day or even been forced to claim benefits then you will know all about the effects of recession. Whilst media coverage tends to focus on redundancy and lack of jobs for middle aged people it is actually the younger generation, those who are in-between the ages of 18-25 that are suffering the most.
Youth unemployment is at a record high and the number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) has risen by an incredible 100 per cent in some areas of the country. According to recent statistics the worst hit area is the North East (where I’m originally from) where the benefits claims of 18-25 year olds has risen a staggering 43 percent in the last year. Interestingly in the more affluent South East benefit applications have dropped 5.9 per cent. The situation is further compounded by the obvious fact that the government has to make cuts to try and stimulate economic growth and many benefits claims will either be rejected or reduced. How on earth will this benefit people of my generation?
However the effect of youth unemployment cannot just be gauged by simple statistics (although on average benefits applications have increased by 8 % across the UK in the last year), the effects seem even more pronounced when you look at each individual case. Take my situation for my example:
I’m an 18 year old student studying secondary teaching with maths at the Lancaster Campus at the University of Cumbria. In three years’ time I will graduate from my degree and have £25,000 debt to contend with. Will I have any kind of savings to fall back on whilst paying this debt? Not in the current economic climate I won’t. For the past two months I have been searching (fruitlessly) for a part-time job to boost my savings. I have put in over 200 job applications, given out so many CVs I must have covered every shop in the town centre twice and searched on the net for job vacancies and what do I have for my efforts…….. absolutely nothing! Most firms can’t even be bothered to reply and the ones that do trot out the vague phrase: “good candidate, but not enough retail experience”. How much experience do they want?!? For the record, I have had a proper temp job in the past and gone in every Saturday religiously to volunteer at Oxfam in my home town of Darlington. The fact is there is very little chance to get retail experience these days.
Perhaps I’m one of the lucky ones though. I have a loan to cover my living and tuition fee costs but what about when I leave Uni? £25,000 worth of debt and nothing to fall back on. What do I do then? Withdraw from the bank of Mum and Dad? Take out an overdraft? None of the options are desirable, especially when it is even harder to get a foot on the property market these days so it would seem I will be consigned to renting a house for the next decade with no realistic hope of actually ever owning my own house.
Some might say that I’ll be fine: I’ll be earning more than enough as a teacher and they are “paid far too much” anyway. Realistically though the starting wage of a teacher is £20,000 which sounds a lot but looks a lot less impressive when you take away bills and paying off my student loan. The fact is not getting a job now will harm me in the long term.
Some suggestions have been mooted by the government: they plan to make anyone unemployed carry out a six month “community work programme” for 30 hours each week. It is compulsory: anyone who refuses will have their benefits taken away. This would not solve the problem though: in fact it could exacerbate it if some people refuse to carry out these work placements.
So it seems I and a number of people of similar age are consigned to a period of unemployment and no chance of earning some extra cash. I’ve now got to the point where I’m doing surveys online to try and earn a little bit of money (although the most I can make is £40 per month). I’m also considering volunteering again at a charity shop although will that even look good on my CV to employers? In short, youth unemployment is a big problem and it doesn’t look like it is going away any time soon.
If you have wandered round a nondescript town centre dispensing as many CVs as you possibly can (for no reward) or looked on the Job Centre Plus site every day or even been forced to claim benefits then you will know all about the effects of recession. Whilst media coverage tends to focus on redundancy and lack of jobs for middle aged people it is actually the younger generation, those who are in-between the ages of 18-25 that are suffering the most.
Youth unemployment is at a record high and the number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) has risen by an incredible 100 per cent in some areas of the country. According to recent statistics the worst hit area is the North East (where I’m originally from) where the benefits claims of 18-25 year olds has risen a staggering 43 percent in the last year. Interestingly in the more affluent South East benefit applications have dropped 5.9 per cent. The situation is further compounded by the obvious fact that the government has to make cuts to try and stimulate economic growth and many benefits claims will either be rejected or reduced. How on earth will this benefit people of my generation?
However the effect of youth unemployment cannot just be gauged by simple statistics (although on average benefits applications have increased by 8 % across the UK in the last year), the effects seem even more pronounced when you look at each individual case. Take my situation for my example:
I’m an 18 year old student studying secondary teaching with maths at the Lancaster Campus at the University of Cumbria. In three years’ time I will graduate from my degree and have £25,000 debt to contend with. Will I have any kind of savings to fall back on whilst paying this debt? Not in the current economic climate I won’t. For the past two months I have been searching (fruitlessly) for a part-time job to boost my savings. I have put in over 200 job applications, given out so many CVs I must have covered every shop in the town centre twice and searched on the net for job vacancies and what do I have for my efforts…….. absolutely nothing! Most firms can’t even be bothered to reply and the ones that do trot out the vague phrase: “good candidate, but not enough retail experience”. How much experience do they want?!? For the record, I have had a proper temp job in the past and gone in every Saturday religiously to volunteer at Oxfam in my home town of Darlington. The fact is there is very little chance to get retail experience these days.
Perhaps I’m one of the lucky ones though. I have a loan to cover my living and tuition fee costs but what about when I leave Uni? £25,000 worth of debt and nothing to fall back on. What do I do then? Withdraw from the bank of Mum and Dad? Take out an overdraft? None of the options are desirable, especially when it is even harder to get a foot on the property market these days so it would seem I will be consigned to renting a house for the next decade with no realistic hope of actually ever owning my own house.
Some might say that I’ll be fine: I’ll be earning more than enough as a teacher and they are “paid far too much” anyway. Realistically though the starting wage of a teacher is £20,000 which sounds a lot but looks a lot less impressive when you take away bills and paying off my student loan. The fact is not getting a job now will harm me in the long term.
Some suggestions have been mooted by the government: they plan to make anyone unemployed carry out a six month “community work programme” for 30 hours each week. It is compulsory: anyone who refuses will have their benefits taken away. This would not solve the problem though: in fact it could exacerbate it if some people refuse to carry out these work placements.
So it seems I and a number of people of similar age are consigned to a period of unemployment and no chance of earning some extra cash. I’ve now got to the point where I’m doing surveys online to try and earn a little bit of money (although the most I can make is £40 per month). I’m also considering volunteering again at a charity shop although will that even look good on my CV to employers? In short, youth unemployment is a big problem and it doesn’t look like it is going away any time soon.
Wednesday 9 November 2011
Teacher Training News
Here are some latest highlights on developments in teacher training:
FE Teachers Able to Teach in Schools?
Subject to approval by parliament, schools will from April 2012 be able to employ teachers who hold qualified teacher learning and skills (QTLS - the professional status for teachers in further education). Head teachers will have the freedom to employ the qualified teacher that best meets the requirements of the job, regardless of whether their background is in schools or further education. Currently, QTLS holders cannot take up posts in Secondary schools.
Plans for Primary Teacher Training
From 2012/13 the Training and Development Agency (TDA) will prioritise primary courses that offer a specialism, particularly in the sciences, mathematics or modern languages. For 2013/14 they expect to adjust financial incentives for trainees to favour trainees on specialist primary courses with a good A-level in mathematics, a science, or a language, over those on generalist courses. They will also require most trainees to hold a 2.1 or first to be eligible for a bursary.
PGCE Bursaries for 2012-13
In line with a new TDA strategy to prioritise trainees with the best qualifications, bursaries for 2012-13 will vary considerably according to the level of degree attained by the applicant as well as teaching shortage areas.
So a Secondary Maths, Physics or Modern Languages student will receive £20,000 if they achieve a first class degree but only £12,000 if they only get a 2.2. The comparative figures for Primary trainees with the same qualifications will be £9,000 and £0.
Information Source: AGCAS
Col's Comment:
Along with the proposal to allow former HM Forces employees to enter teaching if they can pass relevant skills tests, the new bursary structure may be the most controversial part of the new teacher training strategy. It has been well-researched that students from prosperous backgrounds are more likely to achieve high grades, thus entitling them to the de-luxe level bursaries. Some may therefore query the lack of an 'inclusiveness' element in the new strategy and feel it reflects the political preferences of current policy makers.
FE Teachers Able to Teach in Schools?
Subject to approval by parliament, schools will from April 2012 be able to employ teachers who hold qualified teacher learning and skills (QTLS - the professional status for teachers in further education). Head teachers will have the freedom to employ the qualified teacher that best meets the requirements of the job, regardless of whether their background is in schools or further education. Currently, QTLS holders cannot take up posts in Secondary schools.
Plans for Primary Teacher Training
From 2012/13 the Training and Development Agency (TDA) will prioritise primary courses that offer a specialism, particularly in the sciences, mathematics or modern languages. For 2013/14 they expect to adjust financial incentives for trainees to favour trainees on specialist primary courses with a good A-level in mathematics, a science, or a language, over those on generalist courses. They will also require most trainees to hold a 2.1 or first to be eligible for a bursary.
PGCE Bursaries for 2012-13
In line with a new TDA strategy to prioritise trainees with the best qualifications, bursaries for 2012-13 will vary considerably according to the level of degree attained by the applicant as well as teaching shortage areas.
So a Secondary Maths, Physics or Modern Languages student will receive £20,000 if they achieve a first class degree but only £12,000 if they only get a 2.2. The comparative figures for Primary trainees with the same qualifications will be £9,000 and £0.
Information Source: AGCAS
Col's Comment:
Along with the proposal to allow former HM Forces employees to enter teaching if they can pass relevant skills tests, the new bursary structure may be the most controversial part of the new teacher training strategy. It has been well-researched that students from prosperous backgrounds are more likely to achieve high grades, thus entitling them to the de-luxe level bursaries. Some may therefore query the lack of an 'inclusiveness' element in the new strategy and feel it reflects the political preferences of current policy makers.
Thursday 3 November 2011
Study in the USA - Help from the Fulbright Commission
The Fulbright Commission is generally agreed to be the best starting place for all students and graduates looking to study in the USA.
The help they can offer includes:
To find out about all these goodies, you need to start by registering on their website - www.fulbright.co.uk
The help they can offer includes:
- Study in the USA Events
- Postgraduate Study in the US Seminars and Webinars
- Fulbright Awards (scholarships for postgraduate study and research, tenable in any field at any university in the US in 2013-14)
- monthly newsletter
To find out about all these goodies, you need to start by registering on their website - www.fulbright.co.uk
Wednesday 2 November 2011
NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme - 2012 Intake
Final numbers are yet confirmed, but the NHS will be recruiting up to 150 posts covering all four specialisms (Finance, General Management, HR and Health Informatics).
The Scheme will open for applications on 31st Oct and close on 9th December at 10 a.m. Competition is likely to be very keen.
For more details and to apply, visit: http://www.isthenhsforme.co.uk/
You can also follow the Scheme's Twitter account: http://twitter.com/NHSGradScheme
and sign up to its Facebook page
The Scheme will open for applications on 31st Oct and close on 9th December at 10 a.m. Competition is likely to be very keen.
For more details and to apply, visit: http://www.isthenhsforme.co.uk/
You can also follow the Scheme's Twitter account: http://twitter.com/NHSGradScheme
and sign up to its Facebook page
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