Teaching, learning and assessing

So, here we are again.

Term has started. Children are settled in, and have begun testing their boundaries. Books are dog-eared, and already my favourite marking pen has run out of ink. Yes, we are back into term-time.

As part of my preparations for the new term, I've been setting up my APP, promising myself that this year, I'll be more on top of it and won't spend the night before moderation pulling portfolios together again. I've even started evidence-gathering, at least for Maths where it comes more easily than writing or reading.

Flicking through some of my children's work already this term, I've identified several pieces that don't securely fit any APP target. And this got me thinking; Does that mean that the work hasn't been worthwhile? Assessing Pupil Progress is one of the hardest things I've been asked to do. Nothing in university prepared me for it and I had no idea what it entailed and even now, having work that doesn't neatly fit into one (or more) of the APP targets fills me with a little dread.

I'm sure our Great and Glorious Leader would adore for every piece of work my children do to be able to be analysed and scrutinised and made to fit these targets. After all, without them, are my children really making progress? Can I prove that? Can I quantify it?

In my opinion, it comes down to this: Are my children learning? This is what is truly important to me. If my children are learning something, they are acquiring knowledge. As long as they are acquiring knowledge, they can build on that knowledge. And because they are building on that knowledge, eventually that building will reach the dizzying heights of an APP target (and beyond, one hopes!)

So, I've learnt, in the course of my afternoon assessing, not to hold on so tightly to the security of APP targets. To take a deep breath and move away from them, knowing we will come back eventually. And as long as I can prove that return will take place, I'll be happy to defend my decisions to the bitter end.

To hell with APP if that's what it takes. Let's go back to just plain learning. It never did anyone else any harm.

The Jobless Majority

There are several things they don't tell you in University. That's a whole other blog post, spread over a variety of topics. This is just for one.

Things that they don't tell you in University #63; Teaching is exceptionally difficult to get into. As the jobs market has become tougher for everyone, it feels even more difficult again for those of us who entered our three- and four- year degrees with the idea, and the promise, that we would walk into a job. When I entered training, golden handshakes were still commonplace. Then, the world crashed around us, and the recession begun. Now, less than half of all NQTs secure jobs in their first year (cite).

I found it particularly difficult. I trained in London, but I had grown restless of the city. The things that drew me to London were no longer appealing, and I moved back to be closer to my parents in Peterborough.

I applied for 73 jobs. I was interviewed for 12. I got no offers. Over and over again, I was told that my experience let me down. I know that for at least 3 of those interviews, it was a ruse. That I had made a mistake, or that they were looking for a certain candidate with qualities that I did not possess (in one instance, it was simply that I was not a man!)

I was forced to do supply work, and did so for two solid terms. It was really difficult to get into, I had to badger almost constantly for work until I got a few places, and once I did reports coming back from schools were good. That held me through and kept the money coming in. It also built up a strong reputation for my ability to teach.

Eventually, I got a call from my agent. She had a full time teaching post. It was one term only and I would still work for the agency, but I would have my own class. It was almost perfect. And that has led me to be where I am now, teaching in March and loving my work. But, I knew it was simply a temporary contract, and that in July, it would come to an end.

No more; As of yesterday, I was invited to become part of the teaching team at the school, employed by the school and as a full time member of staff. My NQT year will be completed and I am no longer part of the jobless majority.

It feels so good. But I will never underestimate again just how incredibly difficult it was to get here. My sympathise are with everyone still going through it, including several friends.