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Question
1 - What are your
views on whether there is a prevalence in the use of supply
teachers on a planned and unplanned basis?
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There is a wide
use of supply individuals within schools. I use the term
supply individuals, as they are often not qualified teachers.
Non qualified means they are cheaper. I am an ex Head
of Science, with 20 years of experience. Regardless of the
qualification of the individual used to cover lessons, the
individual used often fails to engage in any teaching, they simply
babysit the pupils, and the resulting behaviour of pupils
deteriorates.
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If you believe that this results in problems
(for example, for schools, pupils or teachers), how do you think
they could be resolved?
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Firstly, remove the agencies. These are
money making organisations and have no interest in the quality of
the individual sent into schools.
Secondly, introduce a law preventing
Headteachers using supply teachers for long term situations such as
maternity leave or long term illness. Make them advertise the
job on a temporary basis where the individual employed is employed
to plan lessons, deliver quality lessons, and mark pupils work,
providing useful feedback.
Only allow qualified teachers to provide
cover.
County based pool of teachers where they get a
full wage and so are expected to deliver as a full time teacher.
Agencies remove so much that individuals then feel that they
are not expected to teach as they are not being paid a
lot.
County to have a pool of reserve teachers on
their books that can be called upon to step in when a school needs
support. There are many in the profession, e.g. new mums,
those in their early 50s, that want to cut their hours/work part
time etc. Pick the best of these. Have them on standby.
When a school has a teacher off they can go in and take over.
Give them regular enough work at a good wage, capitalise on
their experience.
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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Yes
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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3 – This is a minor
problem
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 2
- What are your
views on the circumstances in which supply teachers are used for
example, the types of classes they cover; the types of learning
activities which take place under the supervision of supply
teachers; whether they are qualified to teach relevant
subjects?
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It would be wrong
to state that one group of learners are more important than
another. Each pupil, each class has that entitlement to an
education. The current use of supply teachers removes this.
Pupils are left work that is appropriate but not at the same level
their normal teacher would deliver, but they make less effort or no
effort with it as the adult in charge is not a suitable role
model.
SLT abuse cover.
They attend meetings when they know they have a class they
are supposed to teach. This should not be allowed.
Schools have
training days. These should be used for training. Staff
should not go on training courses during teaching days, and so the
use of supply teachers to allow this could be removed.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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As stated above
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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yes
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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3 – This is a minor
problem
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 3
- What are your
views on the impact of the use of supply teachers on the outcomes
for pupils (including any impact on pupil behaviour)?
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Learning
considerably deteriorates.
Behaviour
deteriorates.
Vandalism
increases.
Bullying
increases.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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If you are a teacher, with a teaching
commitment, the only reason you can justify in not being in front
of the class is if you are ill. Stop all other reasons for
leaving your class such as meetings, training etc.
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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yes
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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3 – This is a minor
problem
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 4
- What are your
views on the Continuous Professional Development of supply teachers
and the potential impact of the National Professional Learning
Model?
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Supply teachers
are not being used exclusively. They are avoided as they are
more expensive. The quality of the supply teachers is
generally poor.
I think you must
be a teacher, with a proven track record before you are allowed to
be considered a supply teacher. NQTs who could not get a job,
probably because they just made it through their PGCE should not be
used.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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See above
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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yes
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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3 – This is a minor
problem
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 5
- What are your
views on performance management arrangements for supply
teachers?
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See previous
answer – question 4
Have a county pool
of supply. Make it difficult to get on this list, e.g. you
must be an ex teacher, track record etc, good refs from last
headteacher
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If you think there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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yes
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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3 – This is a minor
problem
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 6
- Do you consider
that local authorities and regional consortia have sufficient
oversight of the use of supply teachers?
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No
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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See previous
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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yes
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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3 – This is a minor
problem
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 7
- Are you aware of
any local and regional variation in the use of supply teachers and
if so, are there any reasons for this?
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Have worked in 5
schools, Cardiff, Newport, Torfaen etc.
Last 10
years quality of individuals decreased, but no difference from one
area to next
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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yes
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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3 – This is a minor
problem
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 8
- Do you have any
views on supply agencies and their quality assurance
arrangements?
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I can only say
that in my experience there is no quality assurance. The
individuals that they sent to us should never be in front of
pupils.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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Do not use agencies
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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yes
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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3 – This is a minor
problem
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 9
- Are you aware of
any specific issues relating to Welsh medium education? If so, what
are they?
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n/a
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This
is a key, urgent problem.
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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3 – This is a minor
problem
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4 – Not a problem.
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