FEATURE FOCUS: RECRUITMENT
The impact of Covid on the education sector
The impact of Covid on education staffing levels Normally, around this time of year, teachers will be considering their options and looking at their next opportunity. Whether it be for personal development or a new school environment, this is one of the key times for teachers to move on. However, this year it’s different. Life is still on hold for so many and this applies to teachers moving roles too. Most are not moving on, or certainly not in the numbers usually expected around now. This means that there are less teachers for you to choose from if your school is looking to recruit main scale teachers. It’s the Senior Leaders who are retiring or
I
t's been almost twelve months now since we were all told to stay home and save
lives. Twelve months of disruption to our daily lives and twelve months of uncertainty. But now, as the green shoots of recovery are beginning to show, it's a good time to reflect on the impact of Covid on the education sector. What will its legacy be and how can we be smart and act now to prevent the legacy turning into a hangover? In our second feature this month looking at recruitment, we hear from Mike Donnelly, Managing Director at Premier Teachers, who looks at the issues.
moving on. Some of them out of the education sector all together. There’s an element of leadership burnout in education and as a result, there are senior leaders who have chosen to take early retirement. Schools are starting to feel the pain of losing exceptional talent due to the pandemic. There needs to be more thought around back-filling these roles and plugging the skills gap.
The impact on trainee teachers Learning has moved online for many schools and the same is true for trainee teachers. Whilst learning online may be the new normal for a while, the impact on trainee teachers is devastating! The various lockdowns have meant that many trainees haven’t been able to
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experience any time in the school environment. A part of teacher training that many of us may well have taken for granted during our training days. Imagine starting your first year as an NQT without that invaluable, hands-on experience Many trainee teachers are worried about their
lack of classroom experience. It’s almost that they are the forgotten generation of our future teachers. They have missed out on that ‘real’ experience and the vital feedback they receive when classroom based. It’s an experience all of us as teachers had when we were training. So, what will happen to this year’s trainees? Will they be thought of as less prepared, or less capable? Doesn’t this seem a little unfair? Schools need to start thinking about different ways to attract NQT’s and help give them the confidence to carry on in their teaching career. What about when it comes to trainee teachers
applying for new jobs? Without that vital experience, what will they include in their personal statement to help them secure their first teaching role? There needs to be a focus on the availability of CPD for all our teachers. But in particular, those that have missed out on so many experiences during the last 12 months.
The impact on supply teachers Spare a thought for our amazing network of supply teachers in the UK. The teachers we rely upon for last minute and short-term cover. Supply teachers are an essential resource to many
March 2021
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