Throughout the pandemic teachers have been on the front lines, ensuring that the nations kids have been able to keep up with their education and they have been pushed to their limits.
For those who graduated last year in 2020 the education industry has been a daily cycle of stress and anxiety, the expierence that they had dreamt about over the course of their studies has not become a reality. Instead, these newly qualified teachers have found themselves within an uncertain, high stress environment.
The first year for a teaching graduate is spent earning Newly Qualified Teacher Status (NQT). It is a challenging and rewarding environment for a first-time teacher, unfortunately some of last year’s graduates have not had the same opportunities as graduates from the years before.
Speaking to one graduate who wished to remain anonymous for this article, has found her path into teaching temporarily stalled because of the pandemic.
“I couldn’t get a full-time job, so that meant I had to go into supply teaching, there were jobs available but unfortunately because I have just qualified, I haven’t got any further than the CV because of my lack of expierence”
She continued.
“I’m not saying for any NQT that we can just walk into a job and get it, it’s still going to be difficult, but I definitely think I would have had a greater chance if there was no COVID.”
Some such as fresh faced and enthusiastic Miss Bufton was however lucky enough to secure a full-time teaching position within education.
You can listen to a section from the interview with Miss Bufton below.
The issues of job security within the education sector however seem to be universal and not just for NQT’s or because of the COVID pandemic.
One individual who also wished to remain anonymous has recently left the education sector and believes that the issue of job security is systemic and mainly relates to budgetary issues.
“Schools usually favour recruiting an NQT for the job over a more experienced and senior teacher, it’s cheaper to hire them on a one-year fixed contract and repeat the process then to recruit and hire an experienced teacher who will be after a higher salary. There are Facebook groups full of experienced teachers who are also struggling to find work. There are jobs out there, it’s just having the patience to keep trying and facing that rejection and it certainly doesn’t get easier the more experienced you are.”
