More Turmoil in the Education System

Hello. Having almost completed the first half of the summer term (they call April to July the academic summer term here), it is becoming clear how much schools have scaled back demand for supplies since Easter. More and more, TAs are taking over classes (if they haven't been cut too) or deputy headteachers and resource teachers and PPA covers give up their normal duties to take over classes. Alternatively, classes are getting divided up and sent to other classes around the school if a teacher can't make it. And teachers are increasingly hesitant to take any sick days at all. I have been glad for two days of tuition a week, as it has been difficult even to get four days of work a week if you're just on supply. There have been quite a few days where I, and all of my friends sat at home the whole day. Due to all of the holidays we had the last five weeks (Easter Monday, wedding, May Day), TimePlan wasn't having to pay its guaranteed staff for eight days, but this fortnight, I've been called in a few times to go to a school that hadn't requested a supply as a support person. I speculate that TimePlan is trying to curry favour with schools by sending freebie teachers sometimes--they have to pay me now anyway, so they might as well get some value out of me.

It is not an easy time to be in Britain, and for my housemates who are planning on staying around for another year, job security is a precious commodity in terribly short supply. The management who look after our house recently changed hands, and there is some question as to what the lease arrangement will look like come September. My housemates then, are all trying to consider different options for what they might do given various options and circumstances. For my part, I am very happy to be saying goodbye to Britain shortly...it just doesn't seem like a very hospitable environment in which to live and work at this juncture.

In the meantime, I am home nursing a cold today, and hoping to be well enough to accompany David on a daytrip to his old stomping grounds of Cirencester (where he grew up) on Monday. Next week is our holiday week, and then it's another 6-7 weeks to go before school breaks up and I come home.

Until next time...

Postscript: It is now six hours later, and I thought it was worth noting that we have just had our first decent rain in about three months. Or rather, I periodically hear thunderclaps and it starts up again, so it may keep up for several hours yet. Fine with me since I'm in today anyway. A good start for the parched plants here.