Comments on: The six month slap-in-the-face for UK teachers

By: Doug Belshaw

Doug Belshaw — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:22:00 +0000

Probably all the useful stuff – any mention of using technology, anything other than the absolute rudiments of behaviour management, *alternative* ways of doing things… the list goes on. :-(

By: Francis

Francis — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:02:00 +0000

Well, I’m not entirely against the proposal. A one year PGCE is really only about 9 months once you take off the long Summer vacation. Of course, that is reducing the course by 33%. I wonder what they will choose to leave out?

By: Doug Belshaw

Doug Belshaw — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:19:00 +0000

Post hoc ergo propter hoc? The fact that you're a decent teacher now doesn't mean the method by which you were trained was ideal. :-)

By: GTPteacher

GTPteacher — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:55:00 +0000

Not sure about your comments about the GTP. I completed a primary GTP a couple of years ago and feel that it prepared me just as well for the start of my teaching career as a PGCE. I was in a school from the outset, but did not teach to begin with. I had lots of opportunities to observe experienced teachers and spent all my time reflecting on and creating action plans to improve my practice. The course did also involve a few days at university, but personally I learned more in the classroom. I was observed lots during the year and did learn about behaviour management.

I suppose the GTP experience varies between universities and on the schools that applicants are placed in, although I suppose this is also the case for the PGCE route. I think it is a bit demeaning to your GTP-trained colleagues to suggest that the GTP leaves us unprepared compared to teachers who chose other routes.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:02:00 +0000

By: Paula Critchley

Paula Critchley — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:52:00 +0000

Watching your video comment was like a window into my soul, too. I’m considering moving abroad to apply to none less than private international school. They have values such as “encouraging pupils to act with conviction…resilience in the face of set backs…curiosity about other cultures in our community…” I never thought I’d see the day… I’m fed up of meaningless targets, useless paper-pushers and box-tickers and a government that thinks teaching is not a skilled profession. I’m an AST and I LOVE the work I do and value each and every pupil who crosses my path. But enough is enough. Goodbye GB.

By: Doug Belshaw

Doug Belshaw — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:03:00 +0000

Indeed! :-)

By: Alex Bellars

Alex Bellars — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:45:00 +0000

wouldn’t you love to see some of these faceless bureaucrats (not to mention Ed Balls-up) doing a 6-month training and then being thrown to the lions at some “challenging” comp or other?

By: Doug Belshaw

Doug Belshaw — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:44:00 +0000

I *wish* I earned £35k a year, Karyn! We just roll over and die as teachers as we’re too committed to the profession. I despair, I really do. When is education going to be wrestled out of the hands of party-politics and become independent? The sooner the better I say…

By: Nick Hood

Nick Hood — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 11:44:00 +0000

Doug, don’t leave the profession!

Actually, teaching is easy, just like parenting. That’s why we are all so naturally good at it without any prior experience. And that’s why we have such a well-rounded, balanced and well-behaved population coming up behind us.

I’m thinking of getting out of teaching, though. I fancy surgery. I understand there’s a six-month on-the-job qualification programme being planned by the Health Ministry…