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-   -   Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad... (https://britishexpats.com/forum/new-zealand-83/calling-all-teachers-please-help-im-going-mad-692814/)

zoexr Nov 8th 2010 9:52 pm

Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 
After completing my PGCE and teaching for 2 years in the UK, passing my induction with flying colours etc... I thought I would be ok to teach over here. Turns out that I'm not... NZ teaching council say that I have to complete 2 years mentoring here (which to me makes me an NQT again).

After lots of heading banging, if I can prove I have had a years induction I only have to be supervised for 1 more year. This seems utterly ridiculous, especially as I had responsibilty at my last school.
I just feel like giving up on teaching over here, which is my worst nightmare as I love teaching, but this and the fact that I can't seem to get a job makes me want to go back to England, at least I know what I'm up against and my name is known over there.

Sorry for the moan and if anyone else has had any experience of how I'm doing it all wrong, please let me know.

dannigirl Nov 9th 2010 11:53 am

Re: Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 
Sorry you seem to be having a really frustrating time!! I am not a teacher so can't really comment on that aspect, but I did have to do similar when I came over to the UK (although not to the same degree). I was working in management in one part of social work, came over to the UK and began working in another field of social work. I started slowly, but surely pretty much at the bottom (although as an agency worker, so paid very well). It was so worth it.

Once you tick all the boxes you will be fine.....from what I understand teaching is a small world in NZ, so if you are a good teacher you will soon have no problems making contacts and getting work!! It will be worth it in the end.

Keep going!!!! :thumbsup:

jmh Nov 9th 2010 1:35 pm

Re: Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 
As a recent PCGE with only 2 years I would consider you a fairly new teacher, and in addition you move to a new country with a different curriculum so you can hardly expect to be put in charge of a classroom right away. This sounds like good practice to me. No doubt your love of teaching will shine through and your career will go well, but give them a chance to find out what you are made of. Just because the UK think you can teach doesn't mean New Zealand does. I have a UK PGCE and 15 years teaching and I'm not qualified to teach in NZ either. Fortunately I have no desire to.:D

I realise you probably want to vent. Just knuckle down and do it and you will find the time whizzes by quickly. Just a word of warning. You might find NZ teachers are not that interested in how it's done in the UK. Won't make you friends in the staff room.

thedtb Nov 10th 2010 12:19 pm

Re: Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 

Originally Posted by jmh (Post 8970912)
As a recent PCGE with only 2 years I would consider you a fairly new teacher, and in addition you move to a new country with a different curriculum so you can hardly expect to be put in charge of a classroom right away. This sounds like good practice to me. No doubt your love of teaching will shine through and your career will go well, but give them a chance to find out what you are made of. Just because the UK think you can teach doesn't mean New Zealand does. I have a UK PGCE and 15 years teaching and I'm not qualified to teach in NZ either. Fortunately I have no desire to.:D

I realise you probably want to vent. Just knuckle down and do it and you will find the time whizzes by quickly. Just a word of warning. You might find NZ teachers are not that interested in how it's done in the UK. Won't make you friends in the staff room.

My wife did 4 years at Uni in the UK to qualify as a teacher and after 8 years of teaching had worked up to the position of Deputy Head.

Applying for jobs over here in NZ, it did become clear that she wasn't going to be considered for anything higher than classroom teacher, but aside from that her opinion was (as jmh says) that moving to a new country and new curriculum meant that she actually wanted to stick with "classroom teacher" to get more of a feel as to what is different and adapt accordingly before progressing through the ranks again.

As it happens, 12 months in and there's already talk of promotion to the higher ranks!

Again, as jmh says, just knuckle down and do it...

ExKiwilass Nov 10th 2010 8:24 pm

Re: Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 

Originally Posted by jmh (Post 8970912)
As a recent PCGE with only 2 years I would consider you a fairly new teacher, and in addition you move to a new country with a different curriculum so you can hardly expect to be put in charge of a classroom right away. This sounds like good practice to me. No doubt your love of teaching will shine through and your career will go well, but give them a chance to find out what you are made of. Just because the UK think you can teach doesn't mean New Zealand does. I have a UK PGCE and 15 years teaching and I'm not qualified to teach in NZ either. Fortunately I have no desire to.:D

I realise you probably want to vent. Just knuckle down and do it and you will find the time whizzes by quickly. Just a word of warning. You might find NZ teachers are not that interested in how it's done in the UK. Won't make you friends in the staff room.

Well said.

zoexr Nov 11th 2010 2:45 am

Re: Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 
It seems as though I have offended people in my rant, I don't mind starting at the bottom, I've been volunteering as a TA since I got here, so I don't feel that I'm going to walk straight into anything and know I have to 'knuckle down'.
My point was that the teaching council don't recognise any experience past induction, which I find strange.

dannigirl Nov 11th 2010 7:15 am

Re: Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 
I don't think you have offended anyone, I think people are just trying to tell you that 2 years qualified is not really classed as an experienced teacher. The system as you probably know is different in New Zealand, the NZ authorities probably just want to ensure that your transition from being a UK qualified teacher to a NZ based teacher goes smoothly.

Also, I see you are Napier...that is a pretty small part of NZ. Have you ever considered moving for a job to get established or is that not an option.

Bo-Jangles Nov 11th 2010 7:44 am

Re: Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 

Originally Posted by zoexr (Post 8974595)
My point was that the teaching council don't recognise any experience past induction, which I find strange.


I feel for you zoezr and can understand your frustration. Unfortunately and very sadly it's a ruse that many miss because it's not altogether straightforward and obvious that you are most likely going to have to step down the ladder or start all over again. Presumably, like many other trades and professions your qualifications were perfectly good enough to gain you a visa / PR into the country: because aren't we always being told this country needs qualified or experienced people like you. Yet, I have lost count of the sheer numbers of people from all walks who found that those qualifications and experience that gained them those valuable points are not actually good enough to get them an actual job. :curse:


It makes me really cross and I don't see why immigrants should have to 'suck it up' and accept menial roles below their capability just for the 'privilege' of being in this country.

zoexr Nov 11th 2010 7:53 am

Re: Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 

Originally Posted by dannigirl (Post 8974880)
Also, I see you are Napier...that is a pretty small part of NZ. Have you ever considered moving for a job to get established or is that not an option.

Yeah, Napier/Hawkes Bay is pretty small! Unfortunately, moving is not an option, we got PR due to my OH's job, which is pretty specialised.
I'm sure something will turn up.

Bo-jangles, I am frustrated, I wasn't far up the ladder (head of Science and on my way to becoming an advanced skills teacher. Rated good to outstanding for OFSTED...) I thought it would be easier to get a job, or at least relieving.
I think I'm more frustrated at the lack of help from the teachers council helpline!! They made it seem like I had filled in the wrong forms and each time I asked what I had to do, I got a slightly different answer from the same person. :blink:

dannigirl Nov 11th 2010 7:55 am

Re: Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 

Originally Posted by Bo-Jangles (Post 8974929)
I feel for you zoezr and can understand your frustration. Unfortunately and very sadly it's a ruse that many miss because it's not altogether straightforward and obvious that you are most likely going to have to step down the ladder or start all over again. Presumably, like many other trades and professions your qualifications were perfectly good enough to gain you a visa / PR into the country: because aren't we always being told this country needs qualified or experienced people like you. Yet, I have lost count of the sheer numbers of people from all walks who found that those qualifications and experience that gained them those valuable points are not actually good enough to get them an actual job. :curse:


It makes me really cross and I don't see why immigrants should have to 'suck it up' and accept menial roles below their capability just for the 'privilege' of being in this country.

She is not being asked to start at the bottom, nor having her qualifications not recognised. She is being asked to be supervised for a year, which given the different system and her relative level of experience seems fair.

I was supervised and had limited responsibilities in terms of what I could and couldn't do in my job until I found my way around the social services and slightly different legal system in terms of social work. This was for a good six months plus, and this was in a busy London child protection team. I was fully qualified, had a four year degree (much more qualified than most social workers in England who had a three year certificate not a degree), had experience in statutory and voluntary sectors and was in management before I came to the UK. Good practice I say, wouldn't happen now, you would be chucked in the deep end and on your head be it.

To be honest I think it also has a lot to do with her location.

dannigirl Nov 11th 2010 7:56 am

Re: Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 

Originally Posted by zoexr (Post 8974941)
Yeah, Napier/Hawkes Bay is pretty small! Unfortunately, moving is not an option, we got PR due to my OH's job, which is pretty specialised.
I'm sure something will turn up.

Bo-jangles, I am frustrated, I wasn't far up the ladder (head of Science and on my way to becoming an advanced skills teacher. Rated good to outstanding for OFSTED...) I thought it would be easier to get a job, or at least relieving.
I think I'm more frustrated at the lack of help from the teachers council helpline!! They made it seem like I had filled in the wrong forms and each time I asked what I had to do, I got a slightly different answer from the same person. :blink:

That would be frustrating! Maybe some teachers on here who have experience of completing all the forms can help you out.

Hope you find something soon.

Bo-Jangles Nov 11th 2010 8:09 am

Re: Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 

Originally Posted by zoexr (Post 8974941)
Bo-jangles, I am frustrated, I wasn't far up the ladder (head of Science and on my way to becoming an advanced skills teacher. Rated good to outstanding for OFSTED...) I thought it would be easier to get a job, or at least relieving.
I think I'm more frustrated at the lack of help from the teachers council helpline!! They made it seem like I had filled in the wrong forms and each time I asked what I had to do, I got a slightly different answer from the same person. :blink:

Is there not somewhere you can go and talk to someone face to face? These helpline dudes only have a script to follow and if you don't ask the questions in accordance with the answers they have, then you just go round and round in ever decreasing circles.

UKNZAUS Nov 12th 2010 5:48 am

Re: Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 
All teachers who want to teach in NZ have to go through a provisional registration phase. This is normally 2 years, and it shows the NZ Teachers Council that you can do the job, and are 'fit to be a teacher'. It's not just for new immigrants, I am studying for my teaching degree here and I have to go through the process too. Once the 2 years (less if you can prove work history) is up, the NZTC decide if you have met the criteria and grant you teacher registration. This needs to be updated every few years too.

I know it's a pain in the backside, but the NZTC are only making sure that they give new (and new to the country) teachers the opportunity to have a mentor help them. NZ is a bicultural country and the NZ curriculum and Te Whariki (early childhood curriculum) are both implemented using Maori perspective. Teachers coming from abroad don't have this training and experience. If I was to leave NZ and my registration lapsed, I would have to go back to the beginning again and restart the registration process. It's not personal, it's just what they do!

Expat Kiwi Nov 12th 2010 10:41 am

Re: Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 
The reasoning behind it is sound enough, but the problem is it puts off experienced Kiwi teachers from returning to New Zealand after doing a stint abroad.

Bellasmum Nov 12th 2010 10:57 pm

Re: Calling all teachers! Please help, I'm going mad...
 

Originally Posted by Expat Kiwi (Post 8977448)
The reasoning behind it is sound enough, but the problem is it puts off experienced Kiwi teachers from returning to New Zealand after doing a stint abroad.

Even if you keep your registration current ?

I made sure I kept my NZ nursing registration up to date while I spent a number of years abroad.


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