Sunday 27 December 2015

It's Official, Teachers must Relax over Christmas to Avoid Burnout By Sarah Marsh

Scrabble tiles

Teachers will be looking forward to a well-earned rest this Christmas. But it can be tough to switch off from – and avoid catching up on – work. It might be good for you to shun your marking and instead plan for a proper break this year, though. Why? Well, for a start, research says you should.
A study of 90 teachers from across the UK by academics at City University, London, has found it’s critical for teachers stop working in the holidays to avoid burnout and exhaustion. Time off allows teachers to “restore their emotional energy,” the report states.
The research asked teachers to complete a survey at the end of eight weeks – capturing their feelings before, during and after the Christmas break in 2013. It found that teachers who continued to worry about work during their holidays were less likely to recover from the demands of the term, while those who satisfied their basic psychological needs (competence, autonomy and feeling connected to others) improved their mental health.
A senior lecturer in organisational psychology at City University, Dr Paul Flaxman, said: “Our work shows that breaks for teachers, especially at times like half-term and Christmas, are incredibly important ... Making sure that teachers have regular opportunities to recover from the considerable demands of the job will help to prevent burnout.”
The report also made recommendations for reducing stress levels, including practising mindfulness.
But there’s a huge gap between knowing you should take a break, and implementing that practically. Here our community of teachers and health experts share their tips for switching off:

Even a few days can help

Stress piles up, just like the papers you need to grade seem to. Work breaks are crucial to re-setting the physiological response to stress, and may even have lasting effects on health and wellness. Dutch researchers investigating the effects of vacationing have seen that short vacations (4-5 days) can have just as positive effects on health and wellbeing as longer vacations (9 days). However, the afterglow of a tropical vacation will not last very long so frequent breaks throughout the year are recommended. And it’s crucial to keep work off your holiday schedule, otherwise you won’t be as likely to benefit from the health benefits.

Disable your email and play games instead

For me, it is all about family time, making sure that I disable the email function on my phone, play board games, watch rubbish TV and eat far too much chocolate. I also make sure I read books on my to-read list.
  • Rebecca Goulds is a subject leader in English at an academy.

Distract yourself by getting active

It’s an obvious one but physical exercise is important. As well as being good for your waistline it helps you relax. Lots of teachers over the holidays also go for a massage and another good form of relaxation is laughter.
Some teachers find it really hard to relax, so the key is distraction. Find a way to distract your mind, by reading a book for example. Do anything to turn your thoughts away from school. 
If you find yourself thinking of school when you don’t want to, visualise yourself in another location – on holiday or on a beach. The other thing that people often ignore is their breathing. They tend to think of breathing as an automated response, but when we get wound up or stressed we tend to breath from the chest. Our most relaxed breath comes from the diaphragm. Sometimes it’s just about being conscious of breathing and putting your hand on your tummy, imagining you have a balloon in there that’s rising and falling.
  • James Hilton is a speaker, trainer and author specialising in resilience, stress management, leadership and positive psychology.

Amid all the festivities, find time for yourself

The hardest part about relaxing is the expectation that you should be relaxing. It then becomes a chore in itself, another task that you need to make time for. Remember, relaxing is not the same as doing nothing because this usually results in your mind stumbling across all the things you need to prepare for in January. 
I have found two things help to put aside niggling worries. The first is accepting that there are things you have to do; be realistic and set aside a couple of hours to complete some small tasks. Finding a storybook you might like to read to your class can be quite an enjoyable task and give you a small sense of achievement. 
You also need to set aside some time for you, which can be harder to achieve. Christmas can become a time for keeping other people happy. If you have children, agree with your partner (or with yourself) that after the kids are in bed you will watch that film you wanted to see, or go for a walk alone. This is not selfishness or being anti-social, it is vital self-reflection time.
  • Joe White is an assistant headteacher at a special school.

Learn the art of mindfulness

I would recommend staying away from work, especially during the main holidays – even if it’s just for a few days. If you do have to work during the Christmas break contain it to a certain amount of time. For example, you might want to get stuff done first thing in the morning. Get it out of the way and then relax for the rest of the day.
The other thing that’s important is mindfulness, be mentally present in your relaxation time. If you’re not working you may be thinking and worrying about what you’ve got to do, which defeats the object of relaxation. Sopractise some mindfulness techniques where you anchor yourself in the present moment.
Lastly, try to avoid talking about work. Teachers tend to socialise a lot with each other and that can mean you wind yourself up about work. Talking about other things is a smart move.

Saturday 26 December 2015

Students May Have Say on Teachers' Pay Taken from The Guardian

Teachers are unhappy that students might help decide their pay.

University teachers were angry yesterday when they heard that the Prices and Incomes Board had recommended that students should share in deciding how much they are paid.
The Secretary for Education, Mr Edward Short, said the Government was deferring for further consideration novel proposals by the board for discretionary payments to teachers which would rely in part on students’ assessment of their merits.
Mr Aubrey Jones yesterday appeared a little defensive about the board’s proposals, admitting that he did not appreciate that exam success rates vary widely without necessarily indicating the quality of teaching, and admitting, too, that a permanent increment for teaching merit might ignore variation in subsequent performance. But he showed student questionnaires in use at Stanford and other US universities, argued that student assessment might be fairer than professors’, and claimed that student interest in teaching quality was now an inevitable “fact of life.”
‘Betrayed’
The Government accepts the board’s main recommendations on university teachers’ pay - about 5 per cent or £3.5 millions a year overall and up to 17 per cent for the lowest paid.
The Association of University Teachers, whose claim for an all round pay increase of 15 per cent backdated to December 31, 1967, was decisively rejected by the board, commented: “University teachers have been betrayed. The PIB was not originally presented to us as a body which would work in this way. The overall award is too small. In individual cases it will be 2 or 3 per cent over 3 ½ years. The PIB has operated Government policy in an economic crisis and singled us out to use as an example to the public as a sort of economic sacrificial lamb to the spectre of inflation.”
The AUT holds a conference in Nottingham today and tomorrow at which rank and file bitterness may be expressed.
Major objections
The Committee of Vice Chancellors commented that it has “major objections” to a number of the board’s recommendations and complained that the universities had been treated differently because they were an isolated case. Their salaries were not compared with higher civil servants’ or doctors’, for instance and the report had encroaches on basic staffing and academic policies which should properly belong to the University Grant Committee.

Friday 25 December 2015

Secret Teacher: there's no Place for Luxury on my Christmas List – All I Need is Pens and Wine Taken from The Guardian

Dear Santa,
I have been a very hard working teacher this year and have only shouted at the children 53 times (OK, so I shouted at Denise McDewey every time I saw her, but she deserved it). I know that at 32 I am a bit old to believe in you, but I do, so here is my Christmas list:
A Victoria Beckham Quincy bag in black
Something sophisticated and grown up; it will be my “power bag”. The students will look up to me, and maybe Mr Cool-Bachelor in the PE department will finally notice me.
Oh no, strike that, the marking will never fit inside. Please could I have two bags for life instead?
A Tiffany Infinity ring in silver and rose gold
Apparently the shape signifies energy and vitality. I’m not sure I can even remember what those are at the moment, but maybe a ring would help.
Actually, maybe cancel that one too. The students aren’t allowed to wear rings and I am fed up with hearing the words: “Well you’re wearing one.” Maybe a pair of simple stud earrings instead.
A new pair of walking boots 
Berghaus boots, please. Leather ones with Vibram soles. I know, I’m a girl of contrasts, but there is nothing like a stomp across the South Downs to clear a harassed teacher’s head.
Wait a minute, two problems there: 1) When did I last have a weekend free to go walking? 2) The headteacher (sorry, I mean “principal”) has cancelled all outdoor education until exam results improve so now I really won’t get chance to get outside.
A Mazda MX5 in Crystal White
I know, this is an expensive one. But my Clio is making funny noises, needs three new tyres and I have to drive with the windows open because the heating is stuck on.
On second thought, an old Land Rover would be better. We’ve been told that any days taken off because of snow this winter will count as unpaid leave.
A Barbour international polarquilt jacket in red
Red is such a dramatic colour. I would love to stand out from the crowd on playground duty. Plus, it would be that little bit defiant.
Actually, that really isn’t a good idea either. Last time I wore a jacket to school Davy Spraggett spat Monster energy drink all over it. Maybe one of those stuff-in-a-bag jobs would be better.
A spa day at The Grand hotel in Brighton
A full body massage I think, and a manicure. Last time I looked at my nails they were all different shapes because I have started biting them again. Plus, I can’t recall the last time I had to do less than three things at once.
Oh no, I have just remembered that Miranda Fairfax works there. I wouldn’t like her to see me in a dressing gown; she once told me that I looked like a constipated duck.
Brad Pitt
Don’t be cheeky, Santa! I can’t possibly tell you what I would like to do with Brad Pitt … but it would involve chocolate and a giant bath. I know, I am blushing too.
Now I am just being silly. What on earth would be the point in having Brad Pitt at home when I don’t get in until 8pm and fall asleep the minute I sit down? Maybe I need Huge Furry-Whittingstale to make me a casserole instead.
Oh Santa, this really isn’t going very well. Who knew that Christmas would be so tricky? Please could you cancel all of the above and consider bringing me the following:
  1. 52 green pens (one for each week of marking).
  2. 52 pink pens (for when management change their minds about the correct colour for marking).
  3. A large box of matches (to prop my eyes open).
  4. A discreet timer (so that I know when my 20-minute lesson observation is nearly over).
  5. A barrel of wine (to help me sleep).
  6. A barrow of coffee (to wake me up).
  7. A cup with a lid (for the coffee, as we aren’t allowed mugs anymore. Plus, I could hide the wine in it).
  8. A year’s union fees (I might be needing them, if I can’t be nice to Denise McDewey).
  9. A hoody with the new school (sorry, I mean college) logo stitched on to it (rumour has it only people who wear these on sports day will go through the upper pay scale next year).
  10. A calendar (one which can cope with a two-week timetable, 40-grade entry dates a year and meeting times that alter daily).
Thank you so much, Santa. I have had the chimney swept (tempting as it was to stuff a student up it, I refrained) and I will leave you a mince pie. Hang on a minute, I won’t have any mince pies this year because our staff party has been cancelled. I will leave you a carrot.
Mrs Teacher xxx
PS Those kisses are just a gesture. Nothing to do with the beard or the sprout habit. I haven’t got time for that sort of thing any more – the mock (sorry, pre-public) exam results are due and I haven’t even started marking the papers yet.

Thursday 24 December 2015

Dear Santa, Here's our Christmas Wishlist for Education – Love, Teachers By Sarah Marsh

Santa Claus and wish list

Dear Santa,
As you know, teachers are a dedicated bunch, working tirelessly to help the nation’s sprogs, sorry, next generation.
Anyway, we think they deserve some extra special festive gifts this year, and to make it easier for you to know exactly what to give them, our community has put together a Christmas wishlist. If you could sort out any of the below, that would be ace:

Pay parity and a pet unicorn

1 I’d like to see pay parity with other professions – specifically doctors and lawyers (perhaps somewhere in between to recognise the fact that we don’t actually have the power of life and death over our students).
2 Give us more time to reflect, organise, self-evaluate, assess and, above all, teach.
3 An exam system that reflects and assesses the skills and capabilities of our wonderful young people – rather than how well they can sit still and remember stuff.
4 A recognition that university, while useful for some, may not be the end-point for all.
5 A pet unicorn for the maths department.
  • John Rutter is a headteacher.
  • A sprinkle of optimism wouldn’t go amiss

    1 Promote the successes of teachers and students in school more to foster a culture of positivity at a time when so much negativity floats around the corridors.
    2 Increase funding so I can stop spending my own money on pencils and pens.
    3 Adequate time to implement curriculum changes. Wait, it’s too late for that, but one can still dream.
    • Anonymous teacher at a secondary school.

    Put the admin out with the recycling

  • Ofsted can be left for the bin men too

    1 Abolish Ofsted and replace it with something that makes a positive difference to schools. Almost everything that causes problems, unnecessary workload, fear and stress in education can be attributed to the deadly hand of Ofsted. Headteachers live in fear of “the call” and pass on all manner of burdens to staff.
    2 Require the minister for education to have actually taught in a state school.
    • Anonymous teacher at a primary school.

    A sack full of trust would be nice, though

    1 Top of my list is greater trust for the teaching profession. Increasingly teachers are less trusted to know what works, but they need to be given the chance to do their jobs. There’s too much glancing over our shoulders rather than focusing on making a difference, which we know we can.
    2 Give us time to make real, embedded change. There is an expectation that we can turn around failing schools on a sixpence. Although superficial change can be imposed quickly, lasting improvements come from cultural change and take time.
    • Peter Tomkins is vice principal at an academy.

    And could you also magic our classroom cupboards clean?

    Classroom cupboards, in my experience, only come in one shape and size – too small, and bursting with clutter that never gets used. Mine is no exception. It’s full of arcane, yet somehow indisposable resources from topics no longer covered in the national curriculum: my class’s books from last year, heaps of crusty watercolour paint tins, half-empty packets of oil pastels and sketching pens. You can also find folders containing ancient worksheets, schemes of work and the SAT results of children who passed through school a decade ago. The trouble with junk and clutter is that despite your best intentions, it simply expands to fit into the space available (how’re your lofts looking, folks?). I’d chuck the lot only I don’t currently have a skip outside my classroom – or the day it would take to sift through everything. This is the present which features on my Christmas list every year, but Santa never gets it for me.
    • Ben Culverhouse is a teacher at a primary school.

    Cool secondment opportunities would also be great

    I’d love to be able to go on secondment and become part of a university staff for a year (partially to top up my knowledge), or work in another English-speaking country’s school.
  • As well as some good books on growth mindset

    I would like Santa to bring every teacher a copy of The Marshmallow Test by Walter Mischel. There has been a great deal of confusion surrounding character, resilience, grit and growth mindset. Some of the scepticism is justified, given that many interventions do not appear to be underpinned by a proper understanding.
    This book sets out why we should explicitly teach how to exercise self-control and how this can result in better learning and life outcomes for pupils. Almost as sure as Christmas, exam stress stories are round the corner. Teachers can help young people manage these and other challenges more effectively, but we have to do some learning first.
    • Andrew Foster is a teacher at an independent school.

    Finally, give us a sprinkle of digital confidence

    I want more teachers to let go of the fear of failing, especially when it relates to using technology. If everyone tried a new piece of tech this year, from Kahoots to Google Hangouts, I would be super happy.

Wednesday 23 December 2015

Primary School Job of the Day!!

Year 5 Teaching Vacancy in Bexley with an immediate start.
Are you a qualified KS2 primary teacher looking for a rewarding teaching position in Kent ? If so then TimePlan Education is working with this Bexley School to recruit a Year 5 teacher to cover a maternity post with an immediate start until July 2016.
This forward thinking primary school is looking for a teacher who has high expectations of their pupils and is able to create a safe and stimulating environment, encouraging each child to love learning and embrace their intellectual curiosity.
Caring and enthusiastic teachers who are committed to high standards of education and are interested in joining a hardworking yet supportive and friendly team are invited to apply for this Year 5 teaching position in Kent.
This friendly primary school based in Bexley truly believe that every child can achieve. The Children's School Mission Statement says, 'Everyone is Good at Something.' We want there to be no boundaries to learning and, as staff and governors, we want to ensure that our children reach their potential, enjoy coming to school, share common values and good behaviour and develop a sense of identity within our local and the wider community.
The school is located within easy commutable distance of London and the Kent countryside.
If you are a qualified primary teacher with strengths in KS2 who is willing to integrate with the school ethos and possesses a high achieving attitude then TimePlan Education would like to hear from you. We ask that applicants are creative and dedicated to teaching and learning and can commit to a long term vacancy.
In return for your commitment TimePlan will offer you:
  • pay to scale
  • a designated key contact within the TimePlan office
  • the support of our Headteacher consultant
  • regular social events allowing you to meet with other local teachers and the TimePlan team.
To apply for this year 5 full time teaching post in Bexley please register your interest online today or call TimePlan on 01732 373 340.

Secondary School Job of the Day !!

Maths Teacher required for January 2016.
Full time Maths teaching job in Sittingbourne Kent. TimePlan Education, working in partnership with their client school, is looking for an experienced Maths teacher who has taught successfully across Key Stage 3, 4 and Key Stage 5. The position is a full time contract starting January 2016. A successful candidate must be committed to achieving high standards and able to engage students across the ability range at K3, KS4 and KS5.
This school is a very large 11-18 mixed secondary academy. It has Specialist School status for Mathematics, Computing and Science. It is popular and oversubscribed and attracts applications from beyond its immediate locality.
Due to the selective system, pupils arrive at the school below the national average in terms of attainment but leave the school at above the national level of attainment. These statistics contributed to two 'Outstanding' Ofsted judgements, in 2008 and 2012. In 2012, achievement, teaching, behaviour and leadership were all judged as 'Outstanding'. All pupil categories show positive value added and in 2013 the Best 8 Value Added score placed the school in the top 2% of schools nationally.
At the heart of its success is a relentless drive to ensure that pupils make exceptional levels of progress in literacy and numeracy, with standards in core subjects a top priority. The academy has a highly regarded reputation across Kent and beyond. It is a National Support School which means it works with other schools, in more challenging circumstances, on whole school improvement.
This Maths teaching vacancy based in Sittingbourne, Kent requires an applicant who is able offer the following:

Experience of teaching Maths to KS3, KS4and KS5
Delivering good and outstanding teaching practices as the norm
A willingness to form part of a successful and enthusiastic team
Creating an enriching, supportive and high performing learning environment
Supporting the school ethos at all times during your working days.
You will be an imaginative and forward thinking classroom practitioner.
You will possess excellent teaching skills and an ability to lead classes with pace and sufficient challenge.
It is essential that you understand the schools academic standing and have a sincere commitment to sharing long-term aims.
In return we offer:
Professional classroom support from our team of Headteacher consultants throughout the length of your contract
A dedicated key contact at the South East office
TimePlan South East teacher socials where you can meet professional teachers from all over the planet who are teaching at schools in your placement area
Opportunities to aid your professional development.
If you are interested in applying for this Maths teaching position in Sittingbourne, Kent please apply online today or call Nicola Lacey on 01732 373340 at TimePlan, the number one teaching agency for jobs in Kent.

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Secondary School Job of the Day!!

Are you an English Teacher, looking for a January 2016 start in Rochester , Kent ?
TimePlan Education, working in partnership with their client school, is looking for an English teacher who has taught successfully across key stage 3 and 4. The position is a full-time contract starting January 2016. The successful candidate must be committed to achieving high standards and able to inspire students across the ability range at KS3 and KS4.
This innovative and forward thinking Medway school is located in Chatham and has recently moved into a brand new academy building with state of the art facilities. They are a Church of England Academy, specialising in Maths, ICT and Music.
The modern facilities and resources are second to none and there are many opportunities for staff and pupils to learn and perform, using everything from traditional instruments to cutting edge electronic resources. This school aims to achieve two things: excellent behaviour and outstanding teaching and learning.

To be considered for this English teaching vacancy based in Rochester , Kent you will need to;
  • show you are an imaginative and forward thinking classroom practitioner.
  • have the willingness to form part of a successful and enthusiastic team.
  • support the school ethos at all times during your working days.
  • possess excellent teaching skills and an ability to lead classes with pace and sufficient challenge.
It is essential that you understand the school's academic standing and have a sincere commitment to sharing long-term aims.
In return we offer:
  • professional classroom support from our team of headteacher consultants throughout the length of your contract.
  • a dedicated key contact at the TimePlan South East office.
  • TimePlan South East teacher socials where you can meet teachers who are teaching at schools in your placement area.
  • opportunities to aid your professional development.
  • pay to scale.
If you are interested in applying for this English teaching position in Rochester, Kent, Please apply online today or call on 01732 373340. TimePlan are the number one teaching agency for jobs in the south east.

Primary School Job of the Day!!

Are you a Primary Teacher looking for a January 2016 start in Bexley, Kent?

TimePlan Education, working in partnership with their client school, is looking for a year 4 teacher who has taught successfully across key stage 2. The position is a full-time contract starting January 2016. The successful candidate must be committed to achieving high standards and be able to inspire students across the ability range at KS2.

This is a large four form entry junior school on a separate site to the infant school. It has excellent facilities and a large sports field and playground to maximise outdoor activities. Ofsted quoted the following on their most recent report 'Attainment on entry is significantly above the expectation of seven-year-olds nationally. By the time those students leave the school at age 11 there is a well-established trend of attainment in mathematics and English that is significantly above the national average because teaching is good and expectations are high.'

To be considered for this primary teaching vacancy based in Bexley, Kent you will need to:
  • show you are an imaginative and forward thinking classroom practitioner.
  • have the willingness to form part of a successful and enthusiastic team
  • support the school ethos at all times during your working days
  • possess excellent teaching skills and an ability to lead classes with pace and sufficient challenge
It is essential that you understand the school's academic standing and have a sincere commitment to sharing long-term aims.

In return we offer:
  • professional classroom support from our team of headteacher consultants throughout the length of your contract.
  • a dedicated key contact at the TimePlan South East office.
  • TimePlan South East teacher socials where you can meet teachers who are teaching at schools in your placement area.
  • opportunities to aid your professional development.
  • pay to scale.
If you are interested in applying for this year 4 teaching position in Bexley, Kent, please apply online today or call on 01732 373340.
TimePlan are the number one teaching agency for jobs in the south east.

Oxford Students Campaign to Remove 'Racist' Rhodes from College By Jessica Elgot

Cecil Rhodes statue in Oriel College at Oxford. The college released a statement saying it 'does not share Cecil Rhodes’s values or condone his racist views or actions'.

An Oxford University college has said it hopes to remove a plaque dedicated to Cecil Rhodes and will also consider taking down a statue of the British imperialist after a campaign by students.
More than 2,300 people have signed a petition calling on Oriel college to remove the dedications. Rhodes was a student at the college in the 1870s and a plaque dedicated to his legacy has been at the college-owned 6 King Edward Street since 1906.
In a statement, Oriel said the college “does not share Cecil Rhodes’s values or condone his racist views or actions” and that it hopes to receive consent from Oxford council to remove the plaque. A consultation will start this week before a formal application to the council.
“Its wording is a political tribute, and the college believes its continuing display on Oriel property is inconsistent with our principles,” the college said in a statement, adding that consent must be obtained from the council because the building is in a conservation area.
The college also announced a six-month consultation on the future of the statue of Rhodes, starting in February 2016. Removing the statue, part of a Grade-II listed building, is trickier because it would require planning consent. The statue has also been listed by Historic England as an object of historical interest, in part because of Rhodes’s chequered reputation.
But the college acknowledged that the statue could be seen as “an uncritical celebration of a controversial figure, and the colonialism and the oppression of black communities he represents: a serious issue in a college and university with a diverse and international mix of students and staff, and which aims to be a welcoming academic community”.
The consultation will involve students and staff of the college and the wider university, alumni, heritage bodies, the council and residents. A sign will be placed next to the statue in the meantime explaining Rhodes’s background.
His name is also attached to a scholarship programme for international students, with former US president Bill Clinton, the Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and his predecessor, Tony Abbott, among its alumni.
Oriel said the programme Rhodes endowed had given nearly 8,000 scholars from around the world the opportunity to study at Oxford. “But Rhodes was also a 19th-century colonialist whose values and world view stand in absolute contrast to the ethos of the scholarship programme today, and to the values of a modern university,” the statement said.
The campaign to remove dedications to Rhodes from Oriel was sparked by a similar campaign at a university campus in South Africa, where Rhodes is seen as the embodiment of 19th-century colonialism in Africa. A statue of Rhodes was attacked and later taken down as part of a concerted campaign by the University of Cape Town students, named #RhodesMustFall.
Rhodes, a mining tycoon and prime minister of the Cape colony, was a controversial figure even during his lifetime. In a collection of essays entitled Confessions of Faith, he enthused about colonialism and the racial superiority of Europeans. “Africa is still lying ready for us, it is our duty to take it,” he wrote. “It is our duty to seize every opportunity of acquiring more territory ... more territory simply means more of the Anglo-Saxon race, more of the best, the most human, most honourable race the world possesses.”
After his death in 1902, the Guardian obituary said: “At best his conception of civilisation was empirical, if not vulgar ... Rhodes’s career becomes definitely that of a wrecker instead of a constructor of South African development.”
Oriel said the strength of feeling behind the campaign to remove Rhodes had led it to examine how it fosters an inclusive atmosphere for minority students, and said it would increase outreach to BME applicants, step up equality and diversity training, and fundraise for more graduate scholarships at Oriel for students from Africa.
The Oxford Rhodes Must Fall campaign group said it was excited by the response. “It would be dangerous to uncritically celebrate this as an absolute victory,” it said in a post on Facebook. “We wish to restate our position that we are calling for the statue to be removed immediately, and will continue to organise for this purpose in the coming term.
“We reiterate that universities are no places for genocidal colonialists, or any other such toxic figures. We will continue with our call that all violent symbolism be immediately expunged from educational spaces.

Friday 18 December 2015

Secondary School Job of the Day!!

Science Teacher required with an immediate start
Full time science teaching job in Folkestone, Kent. TimePlan Education, is working in partnership with their client school, who are looking for an experienced Science teacher who has taught successfully across Key Stage 3, 4 and Key Stage 5. The position is a full time contract startingimmediately. The successful candidate must be committed toachieving high standards and able to inspire students across the full ability range.
This Academy on the Kent coast specialises in Art, Media and European Culture. They have been identified by Kent County Council as its Centre of Excellence in Media and the Creative Arts. Located by the sea in a traditional coastal town, this academy has excellent transport links. They have the very latest in facilities including; outstanding ICT facilities including laptop computers with wireless Internet access in all classrooms; interactive whiteboards in all classrooms; specialist facilities in every subject area; 9 science labs; 8 specialist rooms for art textiles and graphics; dance, drama and recording studios; post production suite; 4 music rooms and 6 music practice rooms; large and flexible performance space; sports hall with viewing gallery and retractable assembly seating for 800 pupils; hard play areas and all weather pitch; playing fields, cricket pitch and running track; The Park; indoor recreational space for all pupils; vocational training suites.
This Science teaching vacancy based in Folkestone, Kent requires an applicant who is able offer the following:
Experience of teaching Science to KS3, KS4and KS5
Delivering good and outstanding teaching practices as the norm
A willingness to form part of a successful and enthusiastic team
Creating an enriching, supportive and high performing learning environment
Supporting the school ethos at all times during your working days
You will be an imaginative and forward thinking classroom practitioner
You will possess excellent teaching skills and an ability to lead classes with pace and sufficient challenge.
It is essential that you understand the schools academic standing and have a sincere commitment to sharing long-term aims.
In return we offer:
Pay to scale
Professional classroom support from our team of Headteacher Consultants throughout the length of your contract
A dedicated Key Contact at the south east office
TimePlan South East teacher socials where you can meet professional teachers from all over the planet who are teaching at schools in your placement area
Opportunities to aid your professional development.
If you are interested in applying for this science teaching position in Folkestone, Kent please apply online today or call on 01732 373340, TimePlan the number one teaching agency for jobs in the south east.

Primary School Job of the Day!!

Are you a Primary Teacher looking for a January 2016 start in Bexley, Kent?

TimePlan Education, working in partnership with their client school, is looking for a year 4 teacher who has taught successfully across key stage 2. The position is a full-time contract starting January 2016. The successful candidate must be committed to achieving high standards and be able to inspire students across the ability range at KS2.


This is a large four form entry junior school on a separate site to the infant school. It has excellent facilities and a large sports field and playground to maximise outdoor activities. Ofsted quoted the following on their most recent report 'Attainment on entry is significantly above the expectation of seven-year-olds nationally. By the time those students leave the school at age 11 there is a well-established trend of attainment in mathematics and English that is significantly above the national average because teaching is good and expectations are high.'


To be considered for this primary teaching vacancy based in Bexley, Kent you will need to:
  • show you are an imaginative and forward thinking classroom practitioner.
  • have the willingness to form part of a successful and enthusiastic team
  • support the school ethos at all times during your working days
  • possess excellent teaching skills and an ability to lead classes with pace and sufficient challenge
It is essential that you understand the school's academic standing and have a sincere commitment to sharing long-term aims.

In return we offer:
  • professional classroom support from our team of headteacher consultants throughout the length of your contract.
  • a dedicated key contact at the TimePlan South East office.
  • TimePlan South East teacher socials where you can meet teachers who are teaching at schools in your placement area.
  • opportunities to aid your professional development.
  • pay to scale.
If you are interested in applying for this year 4 teaching position in Bexley, Kent, please apply online today or call on 01732 373340.
TimePlan are the number one teaching agency for jobs in the south east.

My Students have Paid £9,000 and Now They Think They Own Me Taken from the Guardian






























































































































































































































































Learning has shifted from an intellectual achievement to a commodity, says our anonymous academic.



As I made my way to my office at 7.30am last Thursday, I noticed an A4 poster stuck to the lift door. Then I noticed one on the wall. And one on the notice board. Then one on my classroom door. In fact, they were tacked to nearly every available surface along the corridor. And they all bore the same statement: “All I’m asking for is a little respect seeing as I pay you £9,000 a year.”

I still don’t know what prompted this flyer campaign – rumour has it that it’s linked to a group of students who were denied assignment extensions – but I could not help but become annoyed at the blunt, consumerist language.
I started to think about the ways that my students act and speak, and the way I acted and spoke during my time at university. I will admit that I didn’t do all of the readings, and yes, I may have missed a couple of lectures throughout the year, but I completed all assignments, followed the guidelines presented to me and understood the consequences of disengagement, without expecting my lecturers to chase after me like I was back in school. I wish I could say the same for my students.
As I walked through the car park with a colleague at the end of the day, we discussed the unrest that the posters had caused: “If you ask me,” he said, “all universities are going to need a customer services department before long.” And there it was, plain and simple, the issue that I hadn’t been able to articulate: these young people weren’t behaving like university students, they were behaving like customers.
Later, I spoke to a colleague from a university I used to work at – he had experienced the same thing. “They seem to think they are buying a degree, rather than working for it,” he said. Learning has shifted, we realised, from an intellectual achievement to a commodity. 
We compared notes. He gave an account of a student who had requested a tutorial at 8pm, because his office hours of 9-11am were not convenient – and because he had missed two hours of lectures at the start of term due to illness, he was effectively in debt to her. This young woman had calculated that my colleague’s absence had cost her £160 worth of learning and decided that the recuperation of this time should take place when it suited her most. 
I recalled the student who told me he was disappointed with his low grade because he had “paid so much money”. My colleague topped it: when one of his students was asked to leave a seminar for not completing the reading, they retorted: “I pay you to teach me what’s in the article, not the other way around.”
Last week I sent out the first round of grades for a module and had 12 emails of complaint within an hour. One in particular stood out for its misunderstanding of what it means to be a scholar. The student said the grade must be incorrect because he had turned up to all the lectures – as if simply regurgitating what I had taught him deserved a 70+ grade. 
As I attempted to formulate a diplomatic, polite and supportive response, I pondered a few things. When did it become an expectation that turning up to lectures is worthy of reward in itself? Moreover, when I was studying would I have ever had the balls to contact my lecturers and not only question their ability to grade my work appropriately but imply that my low grade was their fault?
I find that as the year progresses, my students become increasingly reluctant to engage in any academic behaviour that does not impact directly on their assignment grade. That is, after all, what they are paying for. And so I am not regarded as an academic. I am not an expert in my field, a practitioner with 10 years’ worth of industry knowledge. I am a service provider. 
I wish I’d had the gusto to reply to those posters. “Hey student – all I’m asking for is a little respect, seeing as how much you pay makes no difference to my wages, yet the level of support I am forced to offer you takes up 80% of my time despite the fact that teaching still only equates to 33% of my workload. But I’ll be in the office until 9pm anyway because if I don’t publish two papers by the end of the year, I’ll be fired”.
Good job I thought better of it.