Your average Tory knuckledragger shouting “If they don’t like it they can leave!” at every person who’s profession here is grinding them into dust is going to find themselves wondering where all the teachers, medical professionals and public service staff have gone after they follow through with leaving.
Too much focus is placed on recruitment rather than *retention*. It’s all well and good increasing the starting salary and handing out payments for staying 3 or 5 years but this does little to tackle the crisis of experienced staff leaving.
Not that i’m qualified to be a teacher or ever wanted to be a teacher, but 1 of the things I’d hate is to teach kids who constantly disrupt and cause your life to be miserable. I saw an American video of a teacher who walloped his student and went to town on him and honestly I was glad the little shit got a hiding. I just wouldn’t be able to keep calm during a situation where I feel threatened but not allowed to properly defend myself
Plenty of places in the middle east pay the same, but there’s no tax, no rent, flights home each summer etc.
The opportunity to save exponentially more money is here. But hey, teach in London and spend half your wages in rent.
I know ateast two of my friends who did not make it within their chosen career path and decided instead to go to different countries to teach English which definitely was not their degree.
One went to Dubai and another went to Singapore. They seem to be doing pretty damn good out there.
There’s a time I’d have loved to have been a teacher but fuck me if I’m going to do 1-2 years of postgraduate study to get a job with as much bullshit as teaching, from parents, from kids and from schools and then get paid peanuts for the pleasure.
If young teachers want to go and teach at an International School in Qatar or Dubai etc, where they don’t have to pay any tax – I am not sure how the UK can match that.
Left my role as Maths teacher and Head of Year of five years, last year. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.
People don’t respect teachers, parents are wankers, behaviour is disgraceful, and burnout is inevitable. If anyone considering teaching asked me for advice, it would be one word. Don’t.
Just get in private schools if you can. Such a world of difference having majority of your kids be intelligent and well motivated. Regular schools are nothing but glorified day care for 50% of the students there
Good for them. The UK government know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
Is teaching a badly paid job?
I know increases haven’t kept pace with inflation and that’s a justifiable grievance; but £30-£46k basic, not including additional payments which can add up, 23.6% pension, 195 days worked per year (at least officially).
It’s undoubtedly not as good as it was to be a teacher, but it’s not ‘abject’ pay.
Yes, left 6 years ago.
No tax, more pay, free housing, better weather and the profession is still respected abroad.
Bizzar – I have literally just spoken to a NQT that is fucking of to Oz – smart move imo.
Friend of mine started teaching a few months ago. Already planning to leave and go abroad. She was even considering not finishing the year it’s so bad.
Good for them. I escaped 5 years ago. Everyone says that I am a different person now I am no longer being physically and mentally ground down. The thing that finally did for me was the perpetual gaslighting by management wankers that can’t do what I do.
I’d say go for it.
If it’s nigh on impossible to save anything in the UK, live like you actually are in supposedly wealth country or work to live (rather than live to work) then breaking the status quo and considering and seizing options/opportunities is not something to be afraid of.
Career development, saving money, being able to live a little and experiencing something/somewhere different before either returning to the UK or settling abroad permanently if the quality of life suits… nothing wrong with it.
Everywhere has economic migrants.
British or British edcuated professionals are highly regarded.
If governments (we’ve had 5 Prime Ministers in 13 years) fail the people then what incentive is there to stay (family and emotions aside)?
Left after two years to work internationally and I’ve never looked back.
I think this is an issue in all Public Sector. The erosion of pensions and pay means that it’s simply not attractive anymore.
I have over 20 years professional experience and a year ago looked into transferring to become a mature teacher. The conditions are horrendous. In addition to additional study (which actually, I was prepared for) none of my other Master levels qualifications would be recognised. Additionally I would have have to take a 60% pay cut as they don’t accept lateral transfers (despite being UK public sector) and the employment conditions (benefits, holiday, pension) were ghastly. If they want to attract decent candidates, they need to seriously up their game.
My son’s (8) teacher recently handed his notice in. He was newly qualified, and got offered a job in Dubai for more than double his wage. They’d also pay for his food, accomodation and travel to and from school. He left instantly and was a brilliant teacher. Such a huge loss.
Generally the UK tax thresholds are now becoming a joke… if you make 50k you already go into higher earner and pay 40% of tax… with current prices this is pathetic, and I know of many people in IT that moved to Poland because of better wages and lower taxes than UK has to offer…
While that’s generally true in the UK, it’s not true of every region. Northern Ireland for instance has a surplus of teachers and getting a first job can be quite tricky because there’s so much competition for places. And that’s even with us having some of the worst pay in the UK.
can’t blame them, the UK is finished.
christ knows why so many refugees want to come here.
the day i win the lottery is the day i leave this shitty country.
Teachers are now little more than glorified baby sitters with even less pay and job security.
Imagine trying to actually teach a room of 30+ teens all scrolling on their phones and messaging each other and recording you. And having to be extra careful not to make a single mistake, say the wrong thing, or discipline a child in case they upload an edited recording of you to Facebook, or accuse you of indecent behaviour.
Add on to that ever increasing workloads, marking, trying to stop the girls from dressing like ladies of the night, entitled parents, crumbling school buildings, and the knowledge that you’re being paid less than a nanny, and quitting is inevitable.
Teacher here. I’ve worked internationally in two different countries. Frankly, it’s just better, in pretty much every way. International schools are wildly variable – there are some crap ones out there – so you do need to do your homework before applying to them, but there are just so many jobs available all over the world you can afford to be picky.
It’s not just about the money. One school I worked at didn’t pay me a lot; in fact, I got paid ‘badly’ by UK standards. However, relative to the cost of living of the country I was paid well. It afforded me a very nice quality of life, including nice holidays. It was especially good as all my accommodation and subsistence was provided by school, even during the holidays.
Given this, I never had to worry about money.
Of course, some schools pay exceptionally well (eye-watering sums of money compared to the UK, sometimes tax free too), plus multiple extra benefits.
Students are typically easier to teach – no endless behaviour battles.
You typically have more manageable timetables and smaller classes.
Oh, and often you can afford to live near school. I know plenty of teachers who commute silly distances to get to school because the cost of housing is just ridiculous in many places in the UK. Short commutes are bliss.
Etc. etc.
I absolutely love teaching, and I’m good at it. I just cannot in good conscience recommend it as a career in the UK at the moment. I changed schools this year and I’m very happy in my new one, but frankly the majority are not like mine. It can still be a fantastic job in the UK and many of us do enjoy it, but the fact of the matter is that you can all too often have a better quality of life doing other jobs.
Do not get me started on teacher training. That’s a whole other issue, but a relevant one.
My brother taught maths in England for 2 years before realising it was broken. Searched for work in an international school in Shanghai and has been there since (6 years and counting). Earns 4 times as much money and is at a private school where the kids want to learn and are generally more respectful.
My University friend group meanwhile are all PE teachers in the UK and all they do is complain to each other about how awful their jobs are and what they do to cut corners to salvage their sanity.
Its not so much the pay, its definitely the conditions. As an NQT I was working 70+ hours a week at school and at home.
The real reason this won’t be sorted out is simple. The government (at this point Tory or Labour sadly) do not want an educated populace. Educated people won’t swallow lies and idiocy. Keep the teachers stressed and starving, and they’ll only be able to gove the kids enough thinking skills to obey when their masters demand it.
28 comments
Your average Tory knuckledragger shouting “If they don’t like it they can leave!” at every person who’s profession here is grinding them into dust is going to find themselves wondering where all the teachers, medical professionals and public service staff have gone after they follow through with leaving.
Too much focus is placed on recruitment rather than *retention*. It’s all well and good increasing the starting salary and handing out payments for staying 3 or 5 years but this does little to tackle the crisis of experienced staff leaving.
Not that i’m qualified to be a teacher or ever wanted to be a teacher, but 1 of the things I’d hate is to teach kids who constantly disrupt and cause your life to be miserable. I saw an American video of a teacher who walloped his student and went to town on him and honestly I was glad the little shit got a hiding. I just wouldn’t be able to keep calm during a situation where I feel threatened but not allowed to properly defend myself
Plenty of places in the middle east pay the same, but there’s no tax, no rent, flights home each summer etc.
The opportunity to save exponentially more money is here. But hey, teach in London and spend half your wages in rent.
I know ateast two of my friends who did not make it within their chosen career path and decided instead to go to different countries to teach English which definitely was not their degree.
One went to Dubai and another went to Singapore. They seem to be doing pretty damn good out there.
There’s a time I’d have loved to have been a teacher but fuck me if I’m going to do 1-2 years of postgraduate study to get a job with as much bullshit as teaching, from parents, from kids and from schools and then get paid peanuts for the pleasure.
If young teachers want to go and teach at an International School in Qatar or Dubai etc, where they don’t have to pay any tax – I am not sure how the UK can match that.
Left my role as Maths teacher and Head of Year of five years, last year. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.
People don’t respect teachers, parents are wankers, behaviour is disgraceful, and burnout is inevitable. If anyone considering teaching asked me for advice, it would be one word. Don’t.
Just get in private schools if you can. Such a world of difference having majority of your kids be intelligent and well motivated. Regular schools are nothing but glorified day care for 50% of the students there
Good for them. The UK government know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
Is teaching a badly paid job?
I know increases haven’t kept pace with inflation and that’s a justifiable grievance; but £30-£46k basic, not including additional payments which can add up, 23.6% pension, 195 days worked per year (at least officially).
It’s undoubtedly not as good as it was to be a teacher, but it’s not ‘abject’ pay.
Yes, left 6 years ago.
No tax, more pay, free housing, better weather and the profession is still respected abroad.
Bizzar – I have literally just spoken to a NQT that is fucking of to Oz – smart move imo.
Friend of mine started teaching a few months ago. Already planning to leave and go abroad. She was even considering not finishing the year it’s so bad.
Good for them. I escaped 5 years ago. Everyone says that I am a different person now I am no longer being physically and mentally ground down. The thing that finally did for me was the perpetual gaslighting by management wankers that can’t do what I do.
I’d say go for it.
If it’s nigh on impossible to save anything in the UK, live like you actually are in supposedly wealth country or work to live (rather than live to work) then breaking the status quo and considering and seizing options/opportunities is not something to be afraid of.
Career development, saving money, being able to live a little and experiencing something/somewhere different before either returning to the UK or settling abroad permanently if the quality of life suits… nothing wrong with it.
Everywhere has economic migrants.
British or British edcuated professionals are highly regarded.
If governments (we’ve had 5 Prime Ministers in 13 years) fail the people then what incentive is there to stay (family and emotions aside)?
Left after two years to work internationally and I’ve never looked back.
I think this is an issue in all Public Sector. The erosion of pensions and pay means that it’s simply not attractive anymore.
I have over 20 years professional experience and a year ago looked into transferring to become a mature teacher. The conditions are horrendous. In addition to additional study (which actually, I was prepared for) none of my other Master levels qualifications would be recognised. Additionally I would have have to take a 60% pay cut as they don’t accept lateral transfers (despite being UK public sector) and the employment conditions (benefits, holiday, pension) were ghastly. If they want to attract decent candidates, they need to seriously up their game.
My son’s (8) teacher recently handed his notice in. He was newly qualified, and got offered a job in Dubai for more than double his wage. They’d also pay for his food, accomodation and travel to and from school. He left instantly and was a brilliant teacher. Such a huge loss.
Generally the UK tax thresholds are now becoming a joke… if you make 50k you already go into higher earner and pay 40% of tax… with current prices this is pathetic, and I know of many people in IT that moved to Poland because of better wages and lower taxes than UK has to offer…
While that’s generally true in the UK, it’s not true of every region. Northern Ireland for instance has a surplus of teachers and getting a first job can be quite tricky because there’s so much competition for places. And that’s even with us having some of the worst pay in the UK.
can’t blame them, the UK is finished.
christ knows why so many refugees want to come here.
the day i win the lottery is the day i leave this shitty country.
Teachers are now little more than glorified baby sitters with even less pay and job security.
Imagine trying to actually teach a room of 30+ teens all scrolling on their phones and messaging each other and recording you. And having to be extra careful not to make a single mistake, say the wrong thing, or discipline a child in case they upload an edited recording of you to Facebook, or accuse you of indecent behaviour.
Add on to that ever increasing workloads, marking, trying to stop the girls from dressing like ladies of the night, entitled parents, crumbling school buildings, and the knowledge that you’re being paid less than a nanny, and quitting is inevitable.
Teacher here. I’ve worked internationally in two different countries. Frankly, it’s just better, in pretty much every way. International schools are wildly variable – there are some crap ones out there – so you do need to do your homework before applying to them, but there are just so many jobs available all over the world you can afford to be picky.
It’s not just about the money. One school I worked at didn’t pay me a lot; in fact, I got paid ‘badly’ by UK standards. However, relative to the cost of living of the country I was paid well. It afforded me a very nice quality of life, including nice holidays. It was especially good as all my accommodation and subsistence was provided by school, even during the holidays.
Given this, I never had to worry about money.
Of course, some schools pay exceptionally well (eye-watering sums of money compared to the UK, sometimes tax free too), plus multiple extra benefits.
Students are typically easier to teach – no endless behaviour battles.
You typically have more manageable timetables and smaller classes.
Oh, and often you can afford to live near school. I know plenty of teachers who commute silly distances to get to school because the cost of housing is just ridiculous in many places in the UK. Short commutes are bliss.
Etc. etc.
I absolutely love teaching, and I’m good at it. I just cannot in good conscience recommend it as a career in the UK at the moment. I changed schools this year and I’m very happy in my new one, but frankly the majority are not like mine. It can still be a fantastic job in the UK and many of us do enjoy it, but the fact of the matter is that you can all too often have a better quality of life doing other jobs.
Do not get me started on teacher training. That’s a whole other issue, but a relevant one.
My brother taught maths in England for 2 years before realising it was broken. Searched for work in an international school in Shanghai and has been there since (6 years and counting). Earns 4 times as much money and is at a private school where the kids want to learn and are generally more respectful.
My University friend group meanwhile are all PE teachers in the UK and all they do is complain to each other about how awful their jobs are and what they do to cut corners to salvage their sanity.
Its not so much the pay, its definitely the conditions. As an NQT I was working 70+ hours a week at school and at home.
The real reason this won’t be sorted out is simple. The government (at this point Tory or Labour sadly) do not want an educated populace. Educated people won’t swallow lies and idiocy. Keep the teachers stressed and starving, and they’ll only be able to gove the kids enough thinking skills to obey when their masters demand it.
Ghostbusters nailed the school system
“State-sponsored day care for delinquents”