whitecloud

Hi, I'm a primary school teacher and am hoping to emigrate to New Zealand to start school term 2010.

I've been hearing that it is hard to get a job in New Zealand even though employers are actually advertising for teachers over here!

Also if any teachers could advise me - all the resource books you have in UK. Did you take them with you or start again when you got to NZ.

Thanks everyone...hope I'll be on here a lot.

sonandbill

dont hold your breath about getting work here unless you are going to Auckland or maybe wellington. I have been here for two years and still not got a job!!!!!keep getting told no new zealand experience but how do you get it if no one gives you a chance. Lots of relieving (supply) as they call it here. I brought my books as the curr is similair. Sorry to be negative but i am going home at xmas for good. hope to get work back in lancashire. More jiobs for secondary or early years teachers. Early years teachers work in kindergartens like uk nursery but you have to do a full years course to re train to do that.

whitecloud

Sorry to hear that sonandbill. Really starting to have doubts now about New Zealand. Went to an EXPO recently and came away feeling really positive. However, been reading people's real experiences on here and it's beginning to change my opinion.

Anyone else offer advice.

j19fmm

Hi Whitecloud, just been on a 2 week recce of schools in Cambridge, Waikato area, all Primary Principals (Headteachers) I met were very welcoming but said I should get on to the Relieving list then if I was any good I'd be taken from there for full time job. Doesn't help if, like me , you need a job offer for points. Rural areas may be a better bet, and a good distance from teacher training colleges. South Auckland is probably an area you'd get a job but then again you might not want to be there... I wouldn't. There's a reason they come here looking for teachers
It has all looked very negative lately. I looked at doing the Early Years training here, but NZ will not recognise the qualification despite them being 'desperate' for early years teachers.
So really it depends on whether you can cope with just relieving jobs, whether you need the points or you can just go to NZ and see how it goes.
Good luck with it all

whitecloud

Well I work in what would be termed decile 1 over here so I suppose I could work in an area over there until something else comes up. However, just feel like I'm putting a lot into going over there and I'm not getting any younger - 40 soon so will it be worth it!

Yeh, also you're right do need the points as well other wise may not even get there. Think I may get my qualifications checked and teacher number and apply. Have really got cold feet though!

Kiwiprincess

ok which thread did i respond to earlier...i'm gonna hunt and find it...

Kiwiprincess

Found it!

Copy and pasted cos I am a bit of a lazy bint:

My mother works for a school in porirua and they often have problems finding teachers who want to teach in the area or (flip side) want to teach in a poor (decile 1A) area but have no experience with challenging behaviours and the concerns faced by children in those areas.

They can and do hire overseas staff.

I suppose the benefit of teaching in Wellington is that you can find work in schools such as that but you aren't 'forced' to live in the area. By that i mean, you can still live in a nicer area or an area you like but do not need to face a one hour commute to school.
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j19fmm

What are your qualifications then? PGCE or BEd? Don't go for the Pre assessment do the full one straight off, safer that way. Word to the wise, mine took 90 days to be assessed!!!!

whitecloud

Thanks for that everyone. j19fmm I'm PGCE 5 - 11 year olds trained. Specialism was Geogrphy but have done PE and now doing special needs. Am doing diploma in special needs this year so am just waiting to pass that (hopefully!) and then can get my quals assessed. Didn't know there was a pre assessment and an assessment.

j19fmm

Check out the NZQA site, they offer a pre assessment to see if you have enough points to put in your EOI, but there have been incidents of them changing their minds when it then comes to full asssessment, plus you end up paying more! Mine was a BEd Hons and was assessed at a Level 7.

whitecloud

Is level 7 the standard for teachers? Do you get paid more or get more points.
Thanks for this - think I need to do a lot more research

j19fmm

Level 7 is what they give for a degree. Promise I'll tell you more tomorrow, but for now I need to go to sleep. Have the most hideous jetlag..STILL!! night night

whitecloud

Lol thanks...have a nice sleep..x

ddavies73

Just got my NZQA report back, and my PGCE was "assessed" as a Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) at Level 7. Even my BA (Hons.) got downgraded to just a BA!!!

Then, I got my teacher registration back, and checked online I found out that I have been provisionally registered. To be able to move to full I need to be employed in a teaching position for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week for 2 years and successfully participated in a supervised advice and guidance programme. According to the Teacher Council website I am no better than someone who has no teaching experience to apply for provisional registration.

I am so glad that I am not staying as when I look at the salary scale I will earn little more than NZ$43000. I can earn more that as a cop with only a high school diploma!!! How messed up is that. (my words were stronger)

Well I am off to meet Jack and celebrate that I have made a good decision.

sonandbill

are you actually in nz? I was a teacher for 4 years prior to coming to nz and had 15 years as a nursery nurse exper i was given a level 7 same as you. having prov reg doesnt affect your salary i was put on step 11 when i actually had a job for a term and a half . The last two years have been spent doing supply i am going home had enough!