Hello, I FEEL LIKE RUBBISH TEACHING HERE!!I'm a music teacher and not to sound like egotistical or anything...have had more training from the U.S. than they do here. I have been here 4 years and temped in sh** schools because other schools were afraid of how long I'd stay or taking on an "overseas teacher". I was consistently blamed for the kids' bad behaviour, given horrible classes and felt ganged up on by staff repeatedly. I worked my a** off and learned of stuff to improve on from my references to other employers. I am a very good teacher, but its like they took their vengance out me when the references came up...do I really deserve that? Its a nightmare trying to get qualified teacher's status..when I've already spent 5 1/2 years on a degree. Teaching in England has frustrated me completely and the references I got are unfair and biased and frankly ruined my career. But what can I do about it, I have no rights!! This is all why, for the last year I've been doing an office job instead of teaching! i never thought it would come to this...
rosy1912 in 'feel like a second class citizen?'
"Hey there everyone.. Im considering coming over to the U.K. to teach in September"
Oh for goodness sake!The UK is full of brats who don't want to learn. Exams are dumbed down to inflate pass rates. Papers are leaked or at least hinted at to ensure passes...
Plagiarism generally goes undetected; agencies abound who will write your coursework...and it's all 'research'.
If you're over 45 you won't even get a job as you'll be too highly paid.Therefore the ONLY reason young teachers are employed is because...they are young. Nothing to do with actual ability.
That tells you everything about the teaching profession.Stay away from the UK - unless you plan to set up a school for asylum seekers and then you'll probably get a grant to pay for their taxis to lessons.
(You may think the above is a rant but asylum seekers get taxis to sign on the dole (see www.bbc.co.uk) and also Welsh lecturers get a grant to research the effects of...beer)UK is long gone - stay out!!!!
David in 'Teacher Recruitment Agencies'
I have come to England from Australia last September. The comprehensive school that I am at, the kids are totally out-of-control and I been off sick because of this. I want to teach not to discipline all the time. It doesn't look good, its not working. I dont know what to do. I have applied to TES for independant schools as I feel all comprehensive schools will have the same lack of respect and bad behaviour-but i feel this is useless as I am getting letter after letter saying they have appointed someone else-also this is only my second year out and I dont have QTS(another problem)-however,I do have a 10 year visa. The ofsteds are all the same and my school is CONSIDERED A GOOD SCHOOL!-goodness knows what a bad school would be like! In TES i have applied for 27 jobs and not one interview! I have only got a couple of months to do anything. After that I will have to book airplane-We are a family of 4.
artbot in 'I am going home......'
I have found as a teacher in two countries, that overall the way behaviour is dealt with in the UK is rather alarming. I taught for 8 years in the US (US citizen), in three different counties, in two states - very diverse areas. In all areas, it did depend on how the head teacher handled things, but also in all areas there were clear, defined, cut and dried codes of conduct. Here, there seems to be nothing. What I also found was the way teachers talked to pupils here and in the US was quite different. In the US, we're taught to praise or condemn the behaviour, not the child. "Good boy" and "Good girl" are almost illegal. Yet here it's commonly used. Praise was more obvious in US schools - "I like the way..." kind of thing, which I use here. But there are a lot of commands I've heard given, a lot of sarcasm (not in a fun way, I mean) used without even a "please" from the teacher. We have an occasional US-trained supply teacher and she rarely has behaviour problems, I think because she speaks to them so pleasantly, yet firmly. Tells them what is expected rather than what not to do. I've been in two primary schools in the UK, in two different areas - very different areas (albeit similar SES areas, different type of clientele). Mind, this is primary school! When I taught in secondary, I was appalled by the behaviour here. Teachers weren't allowed to contact parents - all had to go through the HoY, and if s/he fell down on the job, so to speak, the teacher was left looking like a fool. That's only 1 school's experience, however, so it may be that that was an exception. As for support, I can't say I wasn't supported in the secondary, but it was ineffective. I had no sanctions besides detentions, which don't really work. In primary, I've had good support, but that is because I demanded it. I kept records and submitted things in writing. If I hadn't, the head might have just left me as she left others in my school.Just my tuppence worth!
slieber24 in 'Student behaviour/SMT support'
I'm also from the US - taught there for 6 years at the high school level. I find the behaviour of the students (and some of the staff) here shocking. I really hate the 'pass the buck' system of discipline at my school (may be different elsewhere, I only have experience in one UK school). If a kid disrupts or causes problems I have to hand it off to the HOY or HOD which to me feels like I have no power - the kids know I personally can't do anything to them. After a problem has been passed on it can take a week for anything to be done. I thought we learned in teaching school (or child psychology) that discipline needs to be administered shortly after the 'crime' for it to be effective. I have students who are booked into detentions until NEXT half term for things they've done this term! The detentions mean nothing to them and most of them cannot remember what they did to get the detention - useless. In the states (2 different schools) teachers contact parents directly and all naughty kids are dealt with by the same person (the VP of discipline). As it is at my school here, a kid can disrupt all his/her classes in a day but see a different person for each disruption - HOY, HOD, other senior management.... it's nuts and it doesn't work.Any other experiences out there?
lyle8855 in 'Student behaviour/SMT support'
I have similar experience with the UK system. It wasn't until I became HOD I was able to reslove any problem myself and kids started to relise not to mess with me. In NZ you deal with the problem first, contact parents, run detention, place them in the school detention doing your work! Then if that fails the HOD or HoY steps in to help you and not take over. Unless you as the teacher are seen by the kid as resolving the issue the class room behaviour is very hard to change. But I suppose my biggest issue with the system in my UK school is the paper work require for this disruptive kid.This is just the situation at my UK school, school policy states teachers can't contact parents directly with out permission. Who would have thought! I'll be happy to get my NZ kids back but I prefer the UK pay.
VC_kiwi in 'Student behaviour/SMT support'
I am a Canadian who taught in the UK last year. I really enjoyed it, but it was a real eye opener. First off, the teacher shortage is not as great as it was two years ago. Then, it was not uncommon to regularly see 3000 jobs on TES. I remember near Easter there were over TWELVE THOUSAND teaching positions listed!!Now, enrollments are declining at the primary level as the baby boom echo hits their teens. Infant and Junior schools (think a pre-k to grade 2 and a grade 3 to 6) are not needing teachers the way they used to.Secondary schools are still in need, but not the numbers as before. Most of the secondary schools that would take a flyer on an OTT (Overseas Trained Teacher) are schools in rougher areas, or with a rougher reputation that puts British teachers off from applying.Behaviour in schools is also VERY different from behaviour seen in North American schools. Even at rough schools, the worst I have had to face in Canada is students skipping (bunking in England), or students swearing at me. In English schools if that is all you have to face at quite a few schools then you are doing extremely well! At my school in the UK, I knew five teachers who left in the first four months due to student behaviour and effort. Salaries are also lower, although starting salaries are higher than over here. However, if you have no experience, you get paid on the OTT scale, which is thousands of pounds less than what a British trained teacher makes. You would need to go through TQS (Teacher Qualification Service) to become certified to teach in Britain, and which also enables you to register with the GTC (General Teacher Council).Your initial OTT evaluation of documents is made by NARIC (do a websearch or follow the links on this site) and costs money. For an in-depth analysis of your transcripts and degrees, it is more money, and is done after the initial application.Students in Britian do a GTP or PGCE entry, or else do a Teacher degree at a Teacher Training uni or college. GTP is Graduate Training Program and is aimed at attracting people from other industries into education; for example, I worked with a GTP student who worked in computers in London for 20 years, made his loot, and was ready for a change. The PGCE is Post Graduate Course in Education for those who received a degree in a subject and then decided to teach in that subject. It is similar to a post degree professional program. Anyways, if you are looking to teach, big cities and supply agencies (given your lack of experience) are better than trying on your own. Me, I had 12 years experience overseas and in Canada at a variety of levels and subjects. I managed to find my own position after my wife received a job offer in another industry to work in England. In the end we enjoyed our time, but the expense of living in England caused us to rethink our plan of staying long term and we moved home. (a dilapidated row house (a line of 20) with a tiny front yard and no furnishings, usually no cabinets, closets etc, would have set us back $250,000 Cdn even without furniture, appliances and cabinets. A regular house such as you would buy here for $300,000 is over $1,000,000 in England, at least in the south where we lived.Hope this helps - don't give up, just be aware! You will also need a work permit unless you apply on the holiday makers visa or have right of abode through parents or grandparents (but not great-grandparents).
shadocg in 'frustrated and wondering'
After one term in England I am tired of being treated badly by the staff at my school. I am annoyed that my 10 years experience does not make me 'qualified' to teach in this country. I am furious that my classes consist entirely of bottom sets of Year 9s and 10s, while English NQT's are given A level classes. Mostly, I am amazed that I am blamed for the behaviour of students in my class. It seems that, in this country, kids are not responsible for their own actions. Sorry if this sounds negative, but I really feel that this school system needs to look at what overseas teachers can contribute instead of seeing them as a liability. If asked (which will never happen) I could share my experiences with a more progressive approach to teaching and learning, comment on the benefits of teaching groups that are truly mixed ability, compare curriculum, exams and assessment models. Why do the English believe that this is the best school system in the world?
scout finch in 'feel like a second class citizen?'
scout finch - don't waste any time putting any documentation together to show what you can bring to education here - as nobody will ever ask for it.A Kiwi teacher that was here for two years, brought all kinds of resources with her. She was scoffed at by the 'long term teachers' in her department, told it wouldn't work etc. She left prior to Christmas. Guess what - they're now starting to use some of her things - singing the praises of the materials/resources and taking full credit for it!While she was here, they treated her like sh*t
bandh in 'feel like a second class citizen?'
[Sorry if this sounds negative, but I really feel that this school system needs to look at what overseas teachers can contribute instead of seeing them as a liability.]Welcome to the world of the overseass trained teacher in the UK. The hint of anything outside the usual tick-box sends all the insecures into a manic panic! I am a well qualified OTT with a proven track record in education in 2 countries yet I could only stick less than 2 years in this system. I opted out because of the treatment metered out to OTTs - from the staffroom to OFSTED (who wanted to splash UNQUALIFIED onto the report - imagine explaining that to parents?) The attitude of some colleagues bordered on bullying & racism . . . opt out if you can
dee7 in 'feel like a second class citizen?'
I read this with interest because it rings bells. Over fifty per cent of all UK teachers are also deemed "unqualified" ( FE trained teachers) and its been a bone of contention since 1989.And its 1989 that is the crucial date.Teaching in Britain hasnt always been like this. After the second world war we did have a world beating education system - kids were responsible for their own actions, teaching was not done by numbers, students were excluded for poor behaviour, exam results were not doctored by teachers desperate to meet " targets". ALL teachers who were trained and/or experienced were "qualified" - honest! All that changed in the mid 1980's ( started in 1985), now I would agree with you - its total cr*p and getting worse if it is in fact possible to get worse.I too have thought of packing my bags and leaving but the trouble is, the UK teacher simply isnt good enough in reputation to go anywhere else now. I am a good teacher but I know that the Birtish education system is so bad no one would give me any merit which is a pity.
barriesmart in 'feel like a second class citizen?'
I enjoy learning and thoroughly enjoy teaching. I absolutely love working with the kids here, even if some of their behaviour would never be tolerated in other systems in which I have taught. That's the fault of the system, not the kids. Even the racism I get at times is due to ignorance rather than genuine hostility, and often a direct response aimed at educating the individual concerned is usually enough. I've only had one or two genuinely nasty kids with which to work.The staff, on the other hand, is another thing all together. Senior staff have actually been quite good to me, though hideous to my N. Irish husband. They have recognised my skills, experience and professionalism, even as I have had to jump through the statutory hoops to get qualified. Many of the assumptions made about OTT by the system are downright racism and ignorant; again, that's the system and the people who designed it, not the poor folk who have to work with it. I do find it amusing, though, the way the system appears to assume methodology used here is inherently superior to everywhere else, particularly on matters where its patently obvious to everyone involved but the politicians and a handful of theorists that the methodology is failing miserably as opposed to that used everywhere else.Middle management and fellow colleagues generally have been nothing short of hostile, insecure, vindictive and downright racist. Current school is a bit of an exception. Staff outside my subject area are wonderful to work and talk with. Most of the staff in my department are less than accepting, although one particular staff member is democratically horrible to all staff so I can't really say that it's because I'm foreign. In other schools I worked in, fellow staff made fun of my accent, constantly correcting the way I said "schedule", I got sent to the head for not "knowing my place" by suggesting ways of improving grammar teaching at a department meeting when feedback was requested (later proved right by an outside consultant initially brought in to prove I didn't know what I was talking about...was told to keep my mouth shut despite being right because my fellow staff members were too insecure to handle the truth). I got classes taken away from me during training because the students remarked to the HOD about my depth of subject knowledge and how I made learning fun. It took three months for staff to even acknowledge my existence beyond the barest pleasantries while NQTs and PGCSE students from England were given the warmest of welcomes.Probably won't stay in the system. I can accept immaturity and insecurity among teenagers; it's their job after all to push boundaries and find who they are. I don't have the same patience and understanding with staff, who are supposed to have grown up and become trained professionals.
moroba in 'feel like a second class citizen?'
A very dear friend of mine is currently going through hell because of peer colleagues. The head apparently is throwing in with them, by prosecuting a frivolous complaint. The poor fellow is off work because of this, possibly could end up dead because he can't handle the amount of stress that this is causing. All because he sought help elsewhere when no one at the school - head or governors - paid attention to his complaints. Yet the complaints of the main colleague who bullied and harrassed him is being taken seriously. His record at the school is above reproach - several years he was at that school, through many an inspection (4, I think) where he was rated good or better. Yet that all seems to count for nothing when a manipulative junior colleague manages to wrap the head teacher around his little finger. She (the head) had a duty of care that she ignored. Hopefully my friend will be able to prove this shortly!
Forgot to mention - my friend is foreign born. Living here for over 10 years, though. He had already resigned his position due to the bullying at the school and was going to teach in another country for a while. He loved teaching here, though, and had had no plans to go until the bullying intensified. I wonder if this is an appeasement process for the bullying teacher, that the head feels that since the teacher is going and going out of the country, this action can be taken with impugnity as it may not affect the man's chances? My friend thinks that she doesn't realise that records follow, even if not intentionally so or deliberately so.Sorry - I'm so angry for him. It's truly an injustice to destroy a good teacher's career, using his foreign-ness as a cover for this action. Stepping down from the podium now....
oldster in 'feel like a second class citizen?'
Expect nothing. To acknowledge his contribution, skills and care for his students would be to acknowledge him as a human being. Obviously, as they are doing this to him in the first place, they don't recognise his basic humanity, never mind the wonderful things that make him a unique individual and, as you say, good teacher. My husband had to do something similar in his last school when administration told him that "doing a paddy" was acceptable language for him to have to tolerate amongst staff (as an Irishman), administration did not apologise for treating him as an overseas trained teacher despite his being trained in Northern Ireland and holding superior qualifications to his HOD, his HOD walked into his classes and berated him in front of students on points of methodology and so forth. In the end, he applied for another job before the HOD could get overly creative (particularly since this HOD was a union rep and therefore knew the ins and outs of the system). My husband took down all of his display materials, his demonstrations and his tools that he had brought in to supplement that of the department's as they were lacking certain basic equipment.No one said anything except the technician...who later resigned himself in disgust.
moroba in 'feel like a second class citizen?'
In my first job here I was bullying, degraded, put down in front of students and made to feel like scum by my HOD. He was upset that he didn't get a say in my employment (I was interviewed and offered a position on the spot by the head teacher). He was of the attitude that if students aren't writing, they aren't learning. He would waltz into my lessons and berate me in front of students if he felt they hadn't written enough in their books. He would give them (and in turn, me) detentions for spurious reasons. He would sit in the staffroom and boast of how he had already gotten rid of 6 teachers, and did anyone want him to help out in their department.I lasted 2 terms there. The kids were a challenge, but I could handle them, they're kids. It was the lack of support from management I couldn't handle. Some of the staff were lovely, very supportive and offered to back me up should I make a complaint. Others made racist and sexist comments and laid bets on when I would leave (I lasted longest of all the Australian teachers employed - their were 4 of us).My current school is a world away. The Head and managers are brilliant. Very supportive of me and are very open to innovations and ways of teaching they haven't seen before. I will eventually have to go through the OTTP to get QTS, but I'm not being rushed (and am being paid decently, as it's not an LEA school). My only bugbear now is book marking. What an absolute waste of time. 98% of the kids don't look at the comments and don't want you to write in their books how they can improve. It completely does my head in.I will be going home in a few years, certainly before I have school age children. I will not inflict a system where exam results are everything on my children. Also, I would die if I had to work here for another 30 years. I really would.
ladelley in 'feel like a second class citizen?'
Welcome to England.And of course, none of this is ever said to anyone's face. Oh no-o-o-o. Only ever, ever behind someone's back, preferrably after being disgustingly pleasant to the individual in front of all concerned in order to make the shallow, backstabbing character assassination all the more delicious once the subject has absented the room or moved out of earshot. Better yet if the individual concerned is close enough to only hear parts of the conversation so the gossipers can grow suddenly silent at key intervals, giggle and look guilty. Perpetual insecurity, emotional immaturity, vindictiveness and manipulation are cultural hallmarks along with a self-satsifying smug arrogance based upon purposeful ignorance that is a source of actual pride in the company of others...intelligence, talent, enthusiasm and a genuine desire to learn are to be shunned at all cost, particularly when evidenced in foreigners. A sense of humour based upon actual joy, as opposed to a satiric, biting wit, is also to be frowned upon.You wouldn't want these bitter individuals on your side, hollybridge. They clam up when actually confronted face to face, only daring to be so nasty when annonymous or amongst friends; they are the epitome of the passive-agressive personality. And you're right. They don't like their problems solved because they'd have nothing to whinge about, then.Although I have met exceptions to the rule. There are some genuinely wonderful people, here. Most that I have encountered have travelled and lived elsewhere for extended periods of time, which may or may not have had something to do with it.I'll be moving on soon, I think, though. I think it's a poor match of personality and culture.
moroba 'Sidebar about this forum'
Having observed this time and again (I'm a widely travelled one, btw), may I please apologise on behalf of the British people for the actions of those who have caused you to form such a low opinion. (hangs head in shame)
RogerRabbitX in 'Sidebar about this forum'
To all who care, I am another OTT who has worked in the UK for the past 3 years. My wife and I were originally with an agency (who never mentioned the necessity of QTS), but decided to sign on with our school after 2 years after being offered head of department positions. Now here is what I don't understand, why is a QTS required when we have both proven ourselves time and time again to not only the SLT, but also to OFSTED and HMI through countless inspections. Until last week we were a special measures school in very real threat of closure. Now if we can both teach in a school like that, and successfully I might add, haven't we done our part to prove we are capable. I can understand the reasoning behind it, I genuinely can, however in practice the entire process is horribly flawed. As far as I am aware the UK is the only country that will hire you, let you teach with overseas qualifications, establish yourself in a school and community, and then after 4 years say sorry you aren't actually qualified to work in our country, start jumping through those hoops. If the QTS process was really designed to weed out bad teachers and set a standard for satisfactory educators it would be a requirement for ALL OTT (not only commonwealth, but an arguement for another time!) teachers to go through the process during their first year teaching in this country. Although if that became the requirement there would be a significant drop in any OTT's coming over, and I suppose the view point is that it is better to have enough "unqualified" teachers for 4 years than a desparate lack of "qualified" teachers every year.I don't really expect any replies, particularly since there is already a glut of QTS complaints, but I feel better for voicing some frustrations. So to all who take the time to read thank you.Cheers,
kforde in 'More QTS Complaining'
HiI have had some messages of support and follow-up from users of the TES site, and thought I would advise what happened to me after my QTS debacle of 2006. Some users may remember I was teaching quite happily in a borough school until a serious and debilitating condition reared its head. I went on extended sick leave, during this time having physio to try and fix my personal condition. Things suddenly came to a head for me personally, when my specialist advised I would require costly surgery. The very day I was admitted to hospital, I received a call from my head to advise there was something that needed to be discussed and I should come into school immediately.
Fearing the worst, I declined and said 'If its my job you're taking, you might as well spare me the agony until next week. I am sitting here on the eve of surgery already nerved up and cannot address your request right now'.No sooner had I come out of surgery than my husband tentatively bought in a letter to my hospital bed, for me to open. It was an official letter from my school's borough, advising that as I was an OTT and had exceeded the '4 year rule' (a rule I had never even heard about until this point), my employment woulld come to a conclusion with immediate effect.Suffering from the effects of major surgery, I was beset with the fact that I was being ousted, based on some rule I had never heard of. I'd already been teaching in the UK for 9 years, and had been at this school for at least 5 years!
Upon leaving hospital, I went into overdrive and started pursuing as best I could all the information I could find on this ruling, including signing up to the TES website. In not so many words, since I was an OTT, I was told by some unhelpful souls at various departments including my own borough, that I should have known about this ruling. 'Surely, you have coffee and chats with fellow Antipodeans'? Er well, actually no. My school comprised a full complement of British teachers. I was the token Antipodean.. Perhaps that was integral to my downfall in the state system.
It was never about having to engage in the qualification conversion, most of the terminology for which I have since put to the back of my mind. It was all about NOT KNOWING. Knowing could have made a real difference to my teaching career. I could willingly have engaged in the appropriate courses through the auspices of my borough before it was too late. Instead, my borough, the board of governors and everyone else decided to place their hands in the sand and only when a case presented itself in the borough, did department heads start to roll and a full cull of OTTs exceeding the 4 year rule take place. I am a casualty of this system.
However, there is no point in crying over spilt milk. I have since gone on to teach on a supply basis and granted, whilst I won't ever be able to take a borough contract again, strangely I could accept a term placing..., Work that one out. The system is so crazy, that I could theoretically return to my old school, on term supply, yet when I was terminated last year, I was made to feel I had less right to be in my classroom, than my less-qualified classroom assistant!Perhaps the most amazing part about all this QTS, is the EU constitution which allows for teachers from newer entrant countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia and so on, to teach here and not have to comply with the same rulings accorded to OTTs from countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. English is my mother tongue. English is not the mother tongue of a Czech trained teacher of Czech natgionality....
I rest my case.
However, although I'm not on some sort of crusade, here, it would be very helpful if things were more transparent.Judging by this site and this forum, there are plenty of confused teachers out there. Not all of us go home after a 2 year working holiday. Some of us are here for an extended period and have indefinite leave to remain. It seems it is this cross-section of people who have been caught in ther crossfire, perhaps even those who extend their working holiday to skilled worker status and hope to stay on. Be careful, you can't exceed the 4-year rule.Things will come about circle, they always do. Britain will be screaming for teachers again one day, just as they did in the late 90s, when I arrived.Good luck to all OTTs, and apologies again, as usual for the verbosity of this new message.
Mel Chanel in 'OUTCOME OF QTS - IT'S RIDICULOUS - THE MEL CHANEL STORY'
No it is not that bad.
It is much, much worse.
Just look in the headlines for the amount of gun related crime and the number of yufs stabbed and or shot in the last week.
A friend visited a hospital because of a suspected heart attack. On A&E that night there were 3 separate stabbings involving young teenagers and 3 kids (around 13-14) who had been severely injured in a drink-related road accident.
If your intended school is in Hampstead or somewhere nice, it is probably but have no illusions.
smirk in Are UK kids/teaching situations really as bad as people say?
There are crap schools everywhere. If you've seen one you've seen them all. I've taught in them in both Canada and England.
The difficulty with teaching in the Uk is that the shortages of teachers are in the crap schools (largely) and places where you can't afford to live. The nice jobs are taken by teachers with QTS and the leftovers are for OTT's. Also, if you are not familiar with the area you will not know (until you get there) what kind of school it is likely to be.
canadashirleyblue in Are UK kids/teaching situations really as bad as people say?
The last posting is absolutely true.
If you start walking north or east from Liverpool Street station in the City of London- one of the wealthiest areas of the planet- you soon walk into various parts of the East End. The degree of ghettoisation is amazing. It is impossible to tell from a map what a place is like and where the unofficial boundaries between poor and well-off areas are.
Even places like Brighton, Scarborough et al. are now full of homless druggies living in hotels. Very sad.
Gun and knife related violence has never been more common. Prisons have never been more full of young people. The suicide rate among young males in prison is shameful.
Drugs are a big part of teenage life in the UK, even among rich kids. Cannabis has had a profound effect on behaviour in the last few years, and has even caused an increase in the number of teenagers seeking help for severe depression or other psychiatric problems.
Then there is also the question of teenage pregnancies, which are at an all time high. Binge drinking, obesity and smoking... OK, issues in other countries as well, but in the league tables for pregnancy the UK leads the way!
It is now even higher than Ireland!
canadashirleyblue in Are UK kids/teaching situations really as bad as people say?
The UK school system is significantly different than almost any other system in the world, particularly compared to North American systems. Over 3 years I have found the basic skills of students to be significantly lower, due to the fact there is no need to 'pass' anything, they are simply passed on. Several of my year 11 students currently at a 12 year old reading/writing age are strong examples of this. The behaviour is significantly worse here than to any school I have taught at in Canada. Those who say it is similar and there are bad schools/students in both countries are diluting themselves into believing something that is simply not true.
Now that said, I wouldn't trade my experience here for anything. I have been in a special measures school (came out in December) and it is particularly difficult. I am now confident that I could teacher anywhere successfully. If you are mentally strong, and expecting a massive change you should be okay but I won't lie to you, my wife and I are 2 of the only OTT's to last as long as 3 years in our school. Most wash out in the first 3-4 months (we lost 4 before Christmas last year!). It is an experience well worth trying although most of the horror stories you have heard are probably true.
Good luck, k
kforde in Are UK kids/teaching situations really as bad as people say?
