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Question
1 - What are your
views on whether there is a prevalence in the use of supply
teachers on a planned and unplanned basis?
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In the case of
short-term teacher absences of a day or two, we would normally
deploy Higher Level Teaching Assistants, mainly for reasons of cost
and consistency. The School has invested in two such
assistants to ensure service continuity: both have appropriate
training and using them serves us well, as they know the
organisation and the children well and are respected by
them.
There are serious
problems at times in finding supply teachers for short or long-term
reasons who specialise in a particular subject. When this has been
planned it is a major problem, but at short notice on the morning
of an absence it is often impossible.
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If you believe that this results in problems
(for example, for schools, pupils or teachers), how do you think
they could be resolved?
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This is a rather thorny question. There is
a shortage of teachers to fill permanent positions in certain
subjects let alone supply posts. The Assembly, in conjunction
with Local Authorities, should devise a distinct system of
recruiting, recording and maintaining supply teachers with
up-to-date and regularly upgraded lists made available to
schools.
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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X
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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3 – This is a minor
problem
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 2
- What are your
views on the circumstances in which supply teachers are used for
example, the types of classes they cover; the types of learning
activities which take place under the supervision of supply
teachers; whether they are qualified to teach relevant
subjects?
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When supply
teachers teach their own subject one can trust that the teaching
will be of a good standard, but many of these teachers have not had
an opportunity to attend training courses for some while and
learning and teaching techniques change continually.
If they are not
subject specialists they are often engaged in teaching of some sort
and it therefore stands to reason that standards will
decline.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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As noted above and by holding regular regional
courses to retrain supply teachers.
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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X
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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3 – This is a minor
problem
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 3
- What are your
views on the impact of the use of supply teachers on the outcomes
for pupils (including any impact on pupil behaviour)?
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If the teachers
are not specialists then it stands to reason that standards will
fall. Behavioural problems can certainly arise if the pupils feel
they are not having proper lessons and do not sense an improvement
in their knowledge.
On the other hand,
there are rare examples of excellent supply teachers.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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This has already been outlined above.
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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X
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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§
3 – This is a minor
problem
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§
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 4
- What are your
views on the Continuous Professional Development of supply teachers
and the potential impact of the National Professional Learning
Model?
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It has already
been noted above that the Assembly and the Teaching Council need to
give this matter their detailed attention.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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A
national scheme that is properly structured and
financed.
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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X
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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§
3 – This is a minor
problem
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 5
- What are your
views on performance management arrangements for supply
teachers?
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This is currently
near impossible if the supply teacher is not at the same school for
a fairly lengthy period.
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If you think there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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The need must be met within a new and
appropriate structure – perhaps the new Consortia should play
a part in this, too.
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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§
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
X
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§
3 – This is a minor
problem
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§
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 6
- Do you consider
that local authorities and regional consortia have sufficient
oversight of the use of supply teachers?
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I think that the
local authorities and the consortia have hardly any role in this.
Perhaps the authorities maintain lists of supply teachers but
mostly, as the teachers work in a number of schools, it is
difficult to keep track of them. A better system is
needed.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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This has already been answered.
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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§
X
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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§
3 – This is a minor
problem
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 7
- Are you aware of
any local and regional variation in the use of supply teachers and
if so, are there any reasons for this?
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Not as such, but
often through its own searches and enquiries a school will find
someone. It is very often down to luck.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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See above.
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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X
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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3 – This is a minor
problem
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 8
- Do you have any
views on supply agencies and their quality assurance
arrangements?
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I have very few
examples of using supply agencies. Unfortunately, those who
came to us were not up to scratch and, unless there is some major
crisis, we will not contact an agency.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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A central, national system without
agencies.
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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§
X
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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§
3 – This is a minor
problem
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§
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 9
- Are you aware of
any specific issues relating to Welsh medium education? If so, what
are they?
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It is particularly
difficult to find Welsh-medium supply teachers, and at times we
have to settle for teachers who do not speak Welsh in order to
continue a subject. This is completely unacceptable, but how
else can one operate when push comes to shove?
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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This must receive attention within a national
scheme
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This
is a key, urgent problem.
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§
X
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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3 – This is a minor
problem
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§
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4 – Not a problem.
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