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.

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:

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.

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

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...

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

Well said.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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:

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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

I have around 20 years teaching experience and I had to work for buttons for a while. Even now I am on less than I was in the UK. The thing is, it is different here. I do not feel as though I know it all by any means, and I have had to learn new approaches and have relied heavily on the support of colleagues here. (By the way, I was rated a 'good to excellent' teacher by OFSTED). So you have to decide whether you really want New Zealand, and are prepared to do what it takes. The mentoring is excellent, by the way, and you will then begin to climb up the scale here - if you are really good, then what's the problem?

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

hi Zoexr , I was in the same position as you are, We arrived here in jan last year having done a PGCE and 2 years of teaching in the UK. I was offered a permanent position in Collingwood, Golden Bay and was mentored :unsure:for a year to gain my registration. We now live in Canterbury where there is more work for my OH:) and the cost of living is lower. On the job front we are waiting for someone to die:huh: before I can get a job:fingerscrossed:At the moment I am on the relieving list and have regular schools ringing me with work:thumbup:
You will need a regular job though to get the registration and this may be a problem if you don't live in Auckland. We could have been here much sooner if I had accepted a job in Auckland. It is a good idea to take a job you are not so keen on to get your full registration (just like beginning an NQT) Seems tough but kiwi rules here so suck it up and just do what they expect or you will never get on. Teaching here is so very different to the Uk that I can honestly say I felt like an NQT again. All the best ...
Gozzy

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

You don't say if you are primary or secondary trained? If you are working as a TA join the union PPTA for Secondary and NZEI for primary - they will help you sort out any problems. Even if it is just someone to moan too! Been there so know how you feel:) Be as flexible as you can and keep trying.
Gozzy

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

Very funny! But yes, it is a bit like that, isn't it? I am not young myself, but hey - these guys stick in their jobs forever and it is VERY hard to get work. I am in the Wellington region and was knocked back twelve times. Just coming to the end of a fixed term contract and desperate really to get something. I was working for $1800 dollars a month at first too, but you've just got to accept it really. I prefer the teaching here but still feel like I have a lot to learn.

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

I'm so glad that it's not just me to be waiting for someone to die!!!:o

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

oooh don't go back to that cold, class riddled place pease! lol! Sorry to be so flippant i've got a PGCE (learning disabilites/pottery) so i responded to your call! I know how undervalued teachers are everywhere, also know that there r some really bad teachers out there too oops!:zzz: don't give up on the fight, good luck:thumbsup:

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

I also was a Dept. Hd. in UK.
I concur with all you say. Different country, different curriculum requires more evidence of teaching ability.
Numerous professions with sound qualifications in UK have to go through a formal 'training/induction period' before being appointed in NZ.
Even those with high UK grades have to take this advice.
Don't fret-- It will be well worth it.
At the end of the day you will know that you are working for in a system which really values teachers.?????????
Sorry -- bit of a GOOF there!
Teachers are holding spasmodic strikes at the mo.
Ah well. I led a strike in 1981-
so I guess nothing changes!
;):(:ohmy:;)