Diary of an NQT
CODE OF CONDUCT CODE OF CONDUCT
The nocturnal NQT
“I WAS born, lucky me, in a land with KFC.” After all it is comforting to know that my year 7s
Having spent the first few days of half-term in think Bob Marley is the current Poet Laureate and
bed ill and the second half marking, it’s fair to say I that my GCSE class are prepared to talk about
have not returned refreshed and revitalised to the social context of A Christmas Carol by
embark on the long push to Christmas! arguing that not having mobile phones and
The idealised prospect of long days KFC in the Victorian period was “pathetic
relaxing gave me comfort in the run- or what”! If I don’t laugh I’ll cry. Deciphering the code
up to the break, but it seems we Spending a large amount of time
always plan far too much to fit into with the teenage population is indeed a
a measly seven days. psychologically interesting affair.
It turns out that I did next It’s absurd to observe how much
to nothing I wanted to in half- reluctance, moaning and general
The ongoing row
term and this makes me sad bodily rejection they show towards
– god damn my professionally reading, writing, speaking or showing over the new
conscientious immune system! an interest in pretty much anything in
Although I suffered from class.
Code of Conduct
what seems to be a typical NQT “Oh my god that’s like just so
response to the first term – a half- much, it’s well boring, missions sir
term of illness – I still quite enjoyed missions,” they decree as they finally
for teachers has
returning to school this week and start their work. Poor dears, if only it
greeting my classes (who had all were not considered “dodgy” to film them
sparked many debates in
obviously fully enjoyed their week I would love to show them in five years
off!). what sluggish swamp monsters they really
staffrooms around England.
I am only now getting to the once were!
forgotten bottom of last term’s Still, this half-term should be very
Chris Parr speaks to
marking and although it’s a rewarding enjoyable. Again I feel I have some very
feeling, it only lasts until I realise that interesting books to share with my eager
their books are now in desperate need vessels, and studying A Christmas Carol
two teachers, one who
of green ticks and stickers; it really in the run-up to the festive season should
does never end. be, if nothing else, timely. is for the new code, and
How can I work such long hours and I cannot wait for that final week though,
always be behind? It’s getting to that time coursework done, when we can sit back and
one who wants to see it
in the year where I both arrive and leave in enjoy the Muppet’s version with all talk of “Bah
the dark. This coupled with my classroom’s Humbug!” firmly resigned to memory.
weary-looking, ramshackle blinds has led Maybe I’ll actually get a bit of a break next
scrapped
me to believe that I am the “Nocturnal holiday. An NQT can but dream...
NQT”. Perhaps we all are. IKE IT or not, in October the General
However, occasional light relief does come in • Matt Connett is a newly qualified teacher of English Teaching Council for England
bounds during my school day. Sometimes you can at Shenfield High, a training school in Brentwood in (GTCE) introduced a new
only laugh at the potentially draining situations. Essex. He returns next week.
L
Code of
Conduct designed to dictate how
teachers should conduct themselves,
and aimed at elevating educators in
the eyes of the public.
Moral support
The NASUWT union certainly did not like it, and
has collected thousands of signatures (and counting)
from teachers opposed to the document. They are
opposed on the grounds that it is full of unattainable
The Great Teachers’ Tea Break
ideals, and has too much influence over what teachers
can get up to in their private lives.
This is not the view of all teachers, however, many
IN NOVEMBER, Teacher Support Network is sense of defiance in the face of adversity. of whom feel that the code gives teaching an air
asking teachers across Great Britain to take up the Whatever the situation, good or bad, many Brits of professionalism previously only enjoyed by those
maxim “cuppa, cake and donate!” and join us in will reach for the kettle, pull out their china, practising law or medicine – professions which both
celebrating the first ever Great Teachers’ Tea Break. and settle down for a few minutes of supportive have established codes of conduct already in place.
Teachers play a vital role in all our lives, as we conversation and a nice cup of Rosy Lee. Simon Uttley, headteacher at St Paul’s Catholic
count on them to educate and inspire our young Not me, though, I’m afraid! I know this is unusual, College in Sunbury-on-Thames, sits staunchly in the following people around on stag dos, or when they go
people. But teaching can be tough – and teachers but the appeal of tea has always been lost on me. “for the code” camp, describing it as something on holiday to Ibiza.
often don’t get the recognition they need and Coffee I can handle, and hot chocolate has its place, teachers have “fought long and hard for in order to “The code simply says that one’s behaviour outside
deserve. but tea has never caught my imagination in the way establish the professional status already afforded other the school gates is not completely sealed off. It spells
The Great Teachers’ Tea Break is a celebration of it has for most. professions”. out the fact that when you are out and about, you must
the teaching profession and the important job that they Over the years, many true lovers have tried Paula Roe, English teacher at Redhill School in continue to bear in mind that you are a professional.”
do – and is a great opportunity for teachers themselves to convert me, each with their own take on the Stourbridge, sits in the opposite corner, describing To Ms Roe, this intrusion is too much, and represents
to take time out from their busy working day to accompanying rituals: warming the pot with the code as a “waste of money that infringes on every another reason why the GTCE should not have “wasted
celebrate their achievements. steam rather than hot water, using a teacher’s right to a life outside school”. such vast sums of money” on the code.
We’re asking teachers to take a well pewter teapot, abandoning batches Both parties are evidently impassioned about their She told us: “Section 8 speaks about how the public
earned break, to have a cup of tea, chat which were filled with water too long respective positions, but why has this code provoked views teachers, but ‘the public’ is such a vague phrase.
with their colleagues, and make a after it had boiled, even stipulating such a strong reaction from teachers across the Most people are reasonable, but some are not. Does this
small donation to help us to continue which direction the pot should be country? mean that if I have a party and my neighbour simply
to provide emotional and practical stirred before pouring, convinced Ms Roe told us: “I’m genuinely angry about the refuses to tolerate it, then I have breached the terms of
support to the profession. Every that their methodology would way the code was put together, and just don’t feel the code?
penny raised will be used to provide finally cause me to appreciate tea. that teachers were fairly consulted about its contents. “It is absolutely right for parents to expect a high
vital support to teachers in need. In order to avoid riling SecEd’s Individual teachers, and thousands of teachers via union standard of behaviour from teachers, but the vast
We recognise that taking time out readership on a very sensitive representatives, sent in objections, saying the code majority of teachers behave in a perfectly acceptable
during the day is very difficult for subject, I won’t even broach the wasn’t needed, but they’ve just been ignored. way anyway. The code is patronising. It treats us like
many teachers because of the sheer “milk before or after” debate, “The new code is full of vague statements, which naughty school children.”
volume of work that must be undertaken which I have seen sour relationships could be interpreted in so many different ways, and to Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT,
during the school day. Nevertheless, we more quickly than a bottle of full-fat spend hundreds of thousands of teachers’ money on has repeatedly used words such as “vague” and “pious”
think it’s important to try and help teachers left out overnight. developing it is wasteful.” when describing the code, and has even referred to it
to carve out a short time off together this In spite of my friends’ efforts, Mr Uttley, however, feels that the code is necessary, as a “blueprint for sainthood”, arguing that nobody
month to interact with colleagues and I’ve never been won over. I’ve and goes some way towards cementing the trusting – teacher or otherwise – could ever hope to fully adhere
celebrate their achievements. We’re been wondering recently whether relationship already in place between schools and to its requirements.
very excited about the project, despite I’m missing out. Perhaps it’s time parents. Mr Uttley disagrees. “It’s not calling for people to be
my own preferences for coffee! for another attempt to join my He said: “The reason teachers have fought for this saintly at all,” he said. “The worst thing this code could
So why have we chosen this format countrymen and women in their code is because it confirms their professional status. have done would be to try and describe each and every
to celebrate teaching? We know from appreciation and pride in the British We have to accept that our individual actions can possible incident that a teacher could be involved in,
speaking to thousands every year that interpretation of our favourite Far potentially undermine the trust that parents place in us and prescribe a suitable punishment for it.
a teacher’s relationships with his or her Eastern import. as teachers, and this code puts down in writing how we, “But it does not seek to do this. All it seeks to
colleagues can have a definitive effect on their What better opportunity to broaden as professionals, should act.” do is make the point that teachers’ actions, in or
experiences at work. my hot drink horizons than the Great One of the most controversial parts of the code is outside school, may undermine the relationship of
Although the profession may always be Teachers’ Tea Break? By taking part, I hope section 8, which focuses on teachers’ responsibilities trust with parents. That, for me, is it. There is nothing
difficult and stressful, having a supportive team, to join thousands of teachers in appreciating to demonstrate “honesty and integrity”, and urges in the document that would increase the likelihood of
including school management, around them can the profession’s contributions; work that is them to “maintain reasonable standards in their own spurious legal action against teachers. If it did, then it
be crucial in being able to cope with its demands. vital to the lives of everyone across Great Britain, behaviour that ... uphold public trust and confidence in would be destructive and not constructive, which I do
By asking teachers to come together this month, undertaken in the face of tremendous pressure in and the profession”. not believe to be the case.”
we hope teachers will have the chance to reflect outside of the classroom. After the NASUWT petition was launched, and Unsurprisingly, Ms Roe takes a different view,
together on their own achievements and foster the The Tea Break will also allow teachers to relax many teachers expressed their fear that the code was saying that the code itself could be used in disciplinary
relationships that help make their efforts successful. together – an oasis in an otherwise hectic school too imposing on their private lives, a number of national hearings against teachers, and that the vague statements
Our plans have made me reflect on my own lack day. If such circumstances don’t enable me to gain newspapers implied that educators were up in arms contained within it could be interpreted to the detriment
of appreciation of tea. As well as being a popular appreciation of tea, I don’t know what will! because “it would stop them from getting drunk at the of the defendant.
hot drink, it’s also a very powerful cultural icon. Why not join the campaign and organise a Tea weekend”. She said: “There is so little in the code about actually
For many, having a cuppa is the embodiment of Break in your school? You can find out more about Mr Uttley feels that this is simply untrue of the caring for children, and it reads like a list of instructions
relaxation and socialising. It has the reputation as a the Great Teachers’ Tea Break on our website. code – although he concedes that it does dictate, to on how we should behave.
subtle yet potent elixir, which, to paraphrase William some extent, how teachers should behave in their “We are public sector workers, and of course we
Gladstone, can heat the cold, hearten the depressed, • Julian Stanley is chief executive of the Teacher free time. are caring for people’s children, which requires a huge
and calm the excited. Support Network. Visit www.teachersupport.info or He said: “If a teacher acts inappropriately, even if amount of trust, but what right does the GTCE have
Enjoying a good slurp of chai somehow also call 08000 562 261 (England), 08000 855088 (Wales). they are outside of work, then they are neglecting the to revise and reprint what was already a perfectly
conjures up a feeling of cheery yet Churchillian Moral Support returns in a fortnight. high amount of trust that parents have put in them. This workable code about behaviour?
does not mean, however, that the GTCE is about to start “We already have civil and criminal law in place,
8 SecEd • November 12 2009
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