Diary of an NQT
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Travelling to Iraq
AS USUAL, the end of term break has been much and helped translate some train timetables before
welcome, although unfortunately it went far too I left).
quickly. I love working in a city like London. Although
I decided to do some travelling despite sometimes you want to escape the hustle
the fact that I knew it would be to my and bustle and find the time to think, to
detriment. And sure enough, I don’t work in a city like this does keep the job
quite feel like my batteries have been refreshing, as the pupils create such a
fully recharged. multicultural environment. A global approach
We are in the summer term I like to ask about their home
now and I hope it lives up to its countries and I really get a feel of their
representation of being the easiest perspectives on lots of topics, ranging
of the three. However, even despite from culture to music.
my fatigue, I do feel on the ball and Aside from the exciting discussions
well prepared for the final push. about my travels, actual teaching and
The destinations of choice for maintaining of high grades is also a
my break were Turkey, Syria and focus in the coming weeks.
Iraq. People look at me as if I am My actual work is going to change a
crazy when I mention the final of these lot this term. First off is going to be tying
destinations, but there are, generally up my relevant classes, getting them
speaking, safe places to go in Iraq ready for their exams, and marking
– namely the Kurdish controlled the last of the coursework. Then
parts in the north of the country. it will be swiftly on to preparing
The main problems I faced the Diploma in society, health and
while there was the horrendous development.
driving, and on more than one There is lots of planning to
occasion I laid my life in the hands be done to get the schemes of
of some very erratic drivers. work into order and make sure
Effectively the “coalition of everything is co-ordinated and the trips,
the willing” has liberated the Kurds and speakers are all fully arranged.
and now with semi-autonomous governance Other tasks will include training days
I am sure they will achieve independence and working in collaboration with the other
within 10 years. schools and colleges in the consortium. I’m
As always, it is great to relate my experiences really looking forward to meeting some new
back to the school context. As well as the obvious staff from an array of backgrounds and expertise.
impact on lessons, I find it a useful facet for Bring on the new term!
helping to build positive relationships.
So once again, I’m looking forward to sharing • This year, our weekly NQT diarist is Charles
my travels with the pupils; especially those who Aubeeluck, a qualified citizenship teacher who
are from these countries (we have around 10 such teaches sociology and health and social care at
students, who all gave me some language phrases Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in west London.
Teach it like Torno!
Show me the money!
“NOW IF the harvest is over, And the world cold, of others to succeed. They will be attracted to the big
Give me the bonus of laughter, As I lose hold.” John money payouts and this is simply the opposite of why
Betjeman. people should enter the profession.
During the Easter break I read with interest a With this in mind I have sympathy with the
story about a headteacher receiving bonuses totalling comments of Hank Roberts, a former head of
£130,000 over two years on top of his annual salary. geography at the school in question and a senior
My first reaction was one of relief in that the member of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.
money was not going to the city bankers who have He said: “Never mind whether getting bonuses is the
dominated the news for the past two years. I was right thing to do, public servants should do the job
also pleased to see that the news was not about the they are paid for. You should just be thinking how
celebrities who make money from being you can do the best for the pupils, not just
airheads. I have to say that I even had trying to get an extra bonus.”
a bit of a smug smile and spent the What I am very clear about is the
rest of the day explaining why all more this type of thing creeps into
teachers should receive bonuses schools, the more that the morality
for the nature of the work they of the school will become
Simon Dennis, principal of Hockerill
do. eroded.
And then I reflected some Do nurses get bonuses? Anglo-European College, discusses their
more. Why should anyone in any They do not even get
line of business get a bonus? Surely fair wages, never mind
international ethos, but explains why UK
people enter into a profession bonuses! For every heart
because that is what they have attack patient who is
chosen. With teaching in particular saved is there a financial
legislation is hampering their drive to achieve
isn’t it about vocation rather than incentive? I don’t think
vacation? This story has courted much so! God forbid that the
true internationalisation
controversy since it hit the headlines, business culture in schools
but it does raise the question of becomes the norm. It has HE LAST 10 years have seen growing In 1994, the college opted to become self-governing
whether headteachers should be certainly got a foothold and and changed the name to Hockerill Anglo-European
given bonuses for what they are education has changed because College to reflect the school’s European outlook and
paid to do in the first place. of it. We cannot have leaders international dimension to the curriculum. The college
In a recent article for SecEd who are financially driven. They also opened its doors to day students for the first time.
I commented that teachers must be value driven. Surely this is not In 1998, the college become one of the first
certainly did not get extra too much to ask. T
interest in international education
within UK schools.
Quite rightly schools have
recognised the value of having an
active international programme, both
as an extra-curricular activity and as a specialised language colleges in the country with
payments for the amount of A* Even the kids are at it. One student part of their mainstream curriculum provision. a new 6th form provision opting to deliver the
grades they achieved. Little did informed me that he had to get as many A* The international links, often supported by EU International Baccalaureate programme as the only
I know that some headteachers to C grades as possible. I was delighted to funding or the British Council, range from exchanges, course of study.
were not just taking the credit for hear this, thinking he had seen the educational visits, sharing of resources and teaching methods, to In 2000, Hockerill became one of the first training
success, but they were also taking light. “Oh no,” he retorted, “every grade I video-conference links and much more. schools, working in partnership with the University
the financial rewards as well. What get above a D my dad is going to give me The International School Award, which is a of Nottingham to train future language teachers. We
an outrage! £50”. Heaven’s above! Is this really what his Department for Children, Schools and Families award, have also been privileged to have the ambassadors
What I have not ascertained as yet schooling is worth?” but is managed by the British Council, has also of Germany, Rwanda and Bulgaria not only visit the
is whether other members of the senior So as the summer term approaches and the encouraged schools to consider international education college, but also agree to be our patrons.
staff at the school received bonuses and sense of urgency among the students increases within their curriculum provision.
whether this had filtered down to the (one can only dream) ensure that you encourage This has certainly proved popular judging by the
The international dimension
classroom teachers who, let’s face it, are and cajole, motivate and mentor for one purpose number of International School Award marks appearing The international dimension at Hockerill Anglo-
at the interactive chalkface. only. To be clear in your mind that you have given on school letterheads. European College has become very much a reality. We
If anyone deserves a greater whack in their every student every opportunity you can for them to However, we have to step back and ask ourselves have partner schools in France, Germany, Italy, Spain,
paypacket it is these members of staff. If the teachers achieve their potential. whether we are really serious about the value we Romania, Japan, India and Rwanda, with exchanges
are not getting a share of the spoils why is this the Bonuses indeed! I hear the cry of the multitude of place on internationalising our educational experience and visits occurring annually. All students now study
case? Ed Balls has publicly supported the principle student teachers about to enter the profession: “Show for students in UK schools. Are we offering the best at least two modern foreign languages up to GCSE.
of bonus schemes for senior school staff and again me the money!” possible experience we can construct? At Hockerill Nearly all our students reach the end of year 11
I have to question this. Why? As you will know Anglo-European College we believe strongly that there genuinely bi-lingual and some are tri-lingual.
by now, reader, I am somewhat suspicious of those • David Torn is professional tutor and an advanced is more we can do in this area. The mix of students from a variety of cultural and
who seek leadership because of status rather than skills teacher at St Edward’s Comprehensive School ethnic backgrounds makes Hockerill Anglo-European
purpose. in Essex. He is the London Secondary School Teacher
The history of Hockerill
the exciting college it has become.
Surely with initiatives such as this there will be of the Year 2007 and is passionate that the purpose of Hockerill College was established in 1980 as an Essex Walking around the college you can hear English,
more scope for those who are ambitious on the backs education is to change lives. He returns in two weeks. boarding school having previously been a teacher German, Spanish and many other languages being
training college for women dating back over 128 years. spoken, and not just by native speakers.
8 SecEd • April 23 2009
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