Diary of an NQT
EXTENDED SERVICES EXTENDED SERVICES
‘Exceedingly good’ poetry
IT HAS become apparent that teaching has taken I’m half expecting his final assessment to be entitled
over my brain. I cannot escape. It’s not like any The Battenburg Ballad.
other job, I have discovered. Even when I am at This week has also seen mild success with
home relaxing I’m thinking of new starter my Shakespeare units. I have managed to
activities, or next week’s assessment, or get through at least five set scenes with my
how I can engage a class in upcoming year 9 and 10 classes without feeling the
The disadvantage subsidy
lessons. It’s not a job you ever clock- sensation of pulling teeth. Giving breaks
off from, or that gets left behind at and using the majestic highlighter pens
the school gates, and this can only has worked well.
mean that I need a break; bring On the subject of year 9 boys
on half-term! I will make passing comment on
I chose this career for their obsession with all things
exactly this reason however – I phallic. Moving round any school,
wanted something to excite and you do, more than is reasonably
challenge me that I could give commonplace, come across
everything to. drawings of caricatured penises.
But I didn’t expect it to Psychologists will tell you
make such demands upon my that it is just boys coming to terms
consciousness! I find myself talking with their changing bodies, rather
about teaching to my friends and than anything more sinister, but I’m
relating interesting anecdotes to them not so sure. Despite an amazement at
during pub-based conversation rather where these naïve scribbles can be found
more often than I assume they would (bookcases, tables, chairs are a favourite,
find fascinating. and on books) nothing could prepare me
One such amusing story this week for discovering one graffiti penis on the
revolves around a year 7 poetry back of one poor boy’s school shirt!
lesson. We have a weekly library He knew nothing of it and was rather
lesson and I used this opportunity embarrassed at becoming the butt of
this week to get them to research classroom banter. Where will it end?
poets. We had a competition: who Eagerly anticipating half-term, I find all
could make an A to Z list of poets’ teachers now counting down the days. The
surnames first. They really enjoyed the business end of term always becomes tiring
task and approached the competition with and I’m finding myself slipping into grandpa-
much verve. like naps upon arriving home and sitting in a
Twenty minutes in and we were down comfortable chair.
to the remaining few letters. Students were This week I feel more like the OAP NQT. I’m
running round, enthusiastically searching for a too young for all this, but I like it all the same.
poet’s surname that began with X, Z or K: a tricky
business. • Matt Connett is a newly qualified teacher of English
Finally, Sam cracked it and with huge satisfaction at Shenfield High, a training school in Brentwood in
shouted: “Sir I’ve got it – Kipling!” Well done Sam. Essex. He returns after half-term
Teach it like Torno!
Bravo you heroes
“To me the sole hope of human salvation lies in who enters the profession should recognise this. You
teaching.” George Bernard Shaw cannot, I believe, hope to go home at half past three
Shortly before Christmas I was invited to an and put the day behind you. Teaching is a vocation and
evening held in honour of the Royal Greenjackets it is frustrating to see colleagues continually demand
and attended by Andy McNab (author of Bravo Two their “union rights”.
Zero). The occasion was the annual fundraising event The other worry that I have is that this seems to be
held by the London branch and organised by the becoming a culture in the profession. Young teachers
As the extended services ‘disadvantage subsidy’
branch secretary, Gary Driscoll, who also served in the are entering spouting union advice.
regiment himself and was instrumental in setting up What happened to the passion and determination prepares for national roll-out after a two-year
the branch. I was invited by Gary’s wife, in changing lives? I have never refused to
Maria – our head’s PA – who thought do a task because it goes “against union
pathfinder, Graham Holley from the Training
I would be interested in hearing what advice”, and while I believe each to their
Mr McNab had to say. own, I am saddened that the passion I
I have to say of all of the events expect from all colleagues does not
and Development Agency for Schools reflects
I have attended in my career, seem to be totally evident.
this was the most humbling. We The thing about work/
on what the subsidy has achieved and what lies ahead
heard stories of the heroism of the life balance is that teachers
soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq and need to be sufficiently
the sacrifices they make on a daily organised to make this URING THE last two years, 71 has made a difference in getting more young people
basis. It is still the case that soldiers happen and if they are not involved in out-of-hours activities.
are carrying out tasks that you or I they need to examine their “I work with parents to tell them about the money
might see as unreasonable in return professional practice more and what it’s for, and to organise appropriate activities
for small additions to their pay. No closely. for children and young people,” explained home-school
massive bonuses for these brave men The morning after the link worker, Amanda Jones.
and women and certainly no expenses! fundraising event, I awoke D
secondary schools in 37 local
clusters spread across 18 local
authorities have been taking part in
a pathfinder project to see how best
to use the “disadvantage subsidy”
for extended services. “The disadvantage subsidy is a very positive
Whether you agree with what is early and felt extremely The subsidy is part of the government’s commitment addition to the package of support I can offer families,”
happening with our armed forces or grateful for the privilege of to high quality out-of-hours activities for all, and is she added.
not, one could not help but be filled doing the job that I do. I do not intended to help schools ensure that these services As an example, Ms Jones is working with a family
with admiration and pride with the have to bury dead bodies and are available to pupils who could not otherwise afford whose elder boy was increasingly being excluded from
courage that we were told about. fear for my life. I do not have to them. school. She was able to capitalise on his love of sport by
Why is this relevant to the work on a building site in the rain, and It allows for facilities such as after-school clubs and using the subsidy to involve him in activities the family
teaching world you ask. I shall I do not have to work for an agency for a holiday activities, which are catalysts for “narrowing would otherwise have been unable to afford – with
tell you. Since September the minimum wage. the gap” in attainment and wellbeing. impressive results.
“rarely cover” policy has come I sincerely believe over the last decade By the end of 2010/11, the Department for Children, “He excels at most sports and being able to take
into action which has meant (at teachers have had a greater opportunity Schools and Families will have distributed more than part in these activities has dramatically improved his
least in theory) classroom teachers than ever to enhance their career and pay. £200 million in funding to schools. For 2009/10, there behaviour at home and at school,” Ms Jones said.
have had more time to mark and Unions have certainly been key in improving is funding to ensure that at least one cluster in each
plan and to carry out their duties more conditions, but we must be careful that the local authority can access it and for 2010/11 all school
Raising aspirations, building confidence
effectively. pendulum does not swing too far and teamwork clusters will in principle be able to benefit, depending As you might expect, there is a big emphasis among
I applaud this and welcome any and goodwill become the casualties of over- on local priorities. the various programmes running across the country on
initiative which is designed to make the zealous union reps. using the subsidy to raise pupils’ aspirations and increase
lives of teachers easier. Moreover, in the I wish I could have taken every teacher in my
Learning from the pathfinder
their self-esteem, confidence and independence. Social
last decade the teaching unions have rightly school to the evening with Mr McNab to hear The pathfinder project set out to establish how best to and life skills are strong features, and so is the facility to
fought for improved conditions generally, what some people have to do for a living for pay target and manage the subsidy locally. inspire pupils to discover talents and interests that might
and, once again, this has to be welcomed. which teachers would be horrified to receive. Teaching An interim report on the pathfinder by BMRB Social otherwise remain hidden.
However, at least in my opinion, this has come at a is a job in which all must give 100 per cent and there is Research and Newcastle University offers insights into A year 9 pupil at Withernsea High School in
price. Up until quite recently staff were willing to cover no getting away from that. I am hoping that 2010 is a the impact that the subsidy has had in its first year. It Yorkshire has seen real benefit from the subsidy. He
for each other and to help out where necessary in order year in which common sense returns and that everyone reports that there has been an increase in the proportion lives with elderly grandparents, has a younger sister
to make a school function. is working towards what is most important – the of economically disadvantaged young people taking part with disabilities, and had little social life outside
It seems now the case, however, that one is futures of those we serve! Have a great week. in out-of-hours activities – up from 35 per cent to 63 per school.
frightened to even contemplate asking a colleague to cent once the subsidy was in place. As he moved into his teenage years, he became
cover a lesson for fear of them threatening to get the • David Torn is professional tutor and an advanced skills Schools have also reported favourably that they no increasingly isolated and his behaviour deteriorated.
unions to take up the issue. Though I, myself, am a teacher at St Edward’s Comprehensive School in Essex. longer have to go to the PTA with a “begging bowl” With the offer of funding through the Me Too Fund,
union man it does seem that the situation has become He is the London Secondary School Teacher of the Year or use other school funds to subsidise activities for the local name for the disadvantage subsidy, he was
ludicrous. 2007 and is passionate that the purpose of education is economically disadvantaged pupils. encouraged to join the Scouts. Funding covers the
Teaching is not a nine to five job and anyone to change lives. He returns after half-term. At the Didcot Partnership in Oxfordshire, a cluster subscription fee, uniform and any extra activities such
of two secondary and 13 primary schools, the subsidy as camping.
8 SecEd • February 11 2010
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