

(115 Posts)
ArseAche Mon 18-Mar-13 16:29:21



YABU although it is annoying.

Think though, if you were in a certain position and offered a job so much better than the one you have but you have to wait another 7 months before you can leave??? Not really on is it. You really think a teacher is going to do a good job teaching your child if they are at that school against their will.

If they dont want to be there let them go and get in someone who does.

ballinacup Mon 18-Mar-13 16:35:56

Their career is not beholden to their students, in the same way that mine is not beholden to my clients, or a doctor to their patients, or a cashier to their customers.


ArseAche Mon 18-Mar-13 16:36:14

Yes, I agree with what you are saying but if new jobs started in say September each year and they were contracted for the full year, then it would be better all round.

But who is to say what is going to happen two months down the line let alone a year. No job would make their employee stay a whole year so why should a teacher?

Poledra Mon 18-Mar-13 16:38:09

But you can't mandate that all new jobs start in September! Your school loses a teacher because they (the teacher) are moving with their family to another area. So, your school should just manage without a teacher until Sept? Or with supply teachers, which means the class may not get much consistency depending upon availability?

Finola1step Mon 18-Mar-13 16:38:37

Yes, tend to agree. I am one of the people who then has to pick up the slack (and there always is no matter what the head tells the parents!). Teachers do have lives outside of the job but it is just much more professional if they move at the end of the summer term. Looks better on the CV too.

I do know lots of teachers though who have not gone for great looking jobs because it is a January or Easter start. The vast majority I know do commit for the full year. But some just don't see the impact of leaving mid way.

myheadwillexplode Mon 18-Mar-13 16:39:17

How would you feel if you could only leave at one point in the year? What would constitute exceptional circumstances? Would there be a list? What if you were just sick to the back teeth of the place you were working. It could be a heck of a long year (bitter experience speaking).

Sorry but YABU. At the end of the day teaching is a job and why should we not have the freedom to move on the same as any other career. YABU.

knittingirl Mon 18-Mar-13 16:40:48


Why should teachers only be allowed to move jobs at one point in the year? They are people, they have lives, sometimes they are unhappy in their jobs, sometimes a better job comes along - just the same as for all of us non-teachers. Seems totally unreasonable to want to restrict them to only be able to move jobs at one point in a year.

You say it would be "better all round" if jobs went Sept- Sept - I would argue that it although it might be better for the kids, it would be substantially worse for teachers. As ballina said, teachers are not beholden to their students.

married to a teacher

SuffolkNWhat Mon 18-Mar-13 16:42:52

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ArseAche Mon 18-Mar-13 16:43:38

Well it is the supply teacher until the end of the school year which grates me. Not one, but several, all not knowing where the last one left off and starting their own thing. I will give you an example. DS had a teacher to do Business GCSE, (exam taken last summer) She left, then no fewer than 6 supply teachers muddled through the controlled assessments etc, and hardly anyone got above D grade. Nobody knew what they were doing.

Luckily a great new teacher was found, and they are all retaking it. But it has been a shambles.

Talking to people from other schools, (teachers and parents) have said it can have a serious effect on the students with all the chopping and changing.

I do take your points about not wanting to have to stay but it does happen alot, and have been thinking aloud of how it would be better all round.

PipkinsPal Mon 18-Mar-13 16:45:15

YABU. I wonder if you expect teachers to have their babies in August or the last week in December and be back to school for the new term.

KC225 Mon 18-Mar-13 16:45:29

There are a lot of schools that are awful to work in. Heads that mini dictators with general politics and backstabbing that would make your hair stand on end. To move to a school where you are appreciated, supported and heard is not unreasonable

ArseAche Mon 18-Mar-13 16:45:43

suffolk don't be ridiculous.

myheadwillexplode Mon 18-Mar-13 16:46:11

Well that is down to individual schools needing to take more care to find a suitable replacement. It is is no way down to the person who left.

I don't have a problem with teachers moving on, but I do have a problem with how a school handles it.

DD is stuck with a constant stream of supply teachers for maths and now a couple of other subjects. She has told me she is not the only one getting fed up with teaching at the school. For example she's just had supply teachers giving the exact same lesson twice in a row for one subject.

She is in Year 8, and one of her friends is considering asking her parents for a private maths tutor. It's a sad thing when a child is actually asking for that.

I am contemplating speaking to a couple of parents and arranging a meeting with the head.

Lueji Mon 18-Mar-13 16:46:36

Would you, if you had been offered a better paid job, or one closer to home, or in a better school?

SuffolkNWhat Mon 18-Mar-13 16:46:46

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CloudsAndTrees Mon 18-Mar-13 16:47:13

I'm on the fence with this one.

On one hand, they are employees like anyone else and have the same rights as anyone else, but on the other, they must know that a lack of continuity is not going to be good for their students. It comes across as if they don't actually care that much about their students education if they are prepared to leave them at a critical time such as during GCSEs or A Levels.


ArseAche Mon 18-Mar-13 16:48:32

Because I said exceptional circumstance. I think having a baby would be that don't you? As in, moving house, illness, there are lots, but surely you know what I mean??? hmm

sleepyhead Mon 18-Mar-13 16:48:38

What are exceptional circumstances do you think?

- Pregnancy
- Illness
- Illness of a dependant
- Relocation of partner? Or should the teacher stay behind to teach your child, or should the partner also only look for jobs that start in September?
- Severe unhappiness with job (eg bullying, stress, realisation that they're not cut out for teaching)
- Any more?

ArseAche Mon 18-Mar-13 16:49:28

Thank you clouds, you are saying exactly what I meant in my OP, but have a better way of putting it, clearly smile

Flisspaps Mon 18-Mar-13 16:49:40

Having a teacher who is unmotivated and really fucking miserable because they're stuck in the school for potentially another year, is not going to do the students any good.

Having a new teacher come in mid-year, with fresh eyes and enthusiasm is far, far better.

Only allowing staff to move schools in September is not the answer - schools appointing permanent replacements quickly or bringing in long term, specialist supply cover is a better solution.

YoothaJoist Mon 18-Mar-13 16:50:44

Haha! YABU and hilarious. Teaching's a job, not bonded labour. Teachers already have to give three months notice. If you had to give a year, it would be an even LESS popular career choice, and your DCs would be even less likely to get good teachers.

ArseAche Mon 18-Mar-13 16:50:54

sleepyhead yes, all those.

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