Newly Qualified Teachers Signposted to Supply

A leading Welsh supply teaching agency has held a seminar for newly qualified teachers (NQTs) to help signpost graduates into their first teaching post.

New Directions Education invited a host of guest speakers to deliver guidance and honest advice about the job application process within the teaching sector. The seminar, held at the company’s Cardiff office was attended by over 20 would be teachers who were keen to get ahead of the summer application frenzy.

Speaking about the event, Howard Burge, Regional Manager for Wales and the South West said ‘As a supply agency we have a responsibility to both the schools we recruit for and those individuals we help find work. As the appointed preferred supplier to the governments Welsh purchasing consortium we want to add value. By equipping NQTs with real advice from head teachers and those already working within the sector, we are ensuring that graduates have some exposure to the industry they are about to enter’.

The seminar included presentations from Bob Meier, former Head Teacher and now Safeguarding Officer for New Directions, Ruth Dalton, Group Communications Manager for New Directions, Mr Steve Rees, Head Teacher for Evenlode Primary School, Mr David Lewis, Head Teacher for Aberbargoed Primary School and Mr John Mogford, New Directions Supply Teacher of six years.

The evening was organised by the New Directions primary branch. The team have witnessed competition for teaching positions in South Wales increase tremendously in recent years. The event was a direct response to feedback from both their candidates and the schools they work in partnership with. Kelly Storer, Branch Manager for the team commented ‘The teaching sector grows increasingly competitive year on year. By exposing these NQTs to real advice from professionals we are hopefully helping to signpost them into their first teaching assignments with confidence’.

The seminar covered a number of pertinent topics for the graduates of 2013 including: safeguarding, protecting online reputations (social media), job applications and interview guidance, supply teaching survival tips and a day in the life of a supply teacher.

The key messages from the event covered being prepared for all occasions, attention to detail with job applications and enjoying a long teaching career. Speaking about the perceptions of supply teaching and those that choose to work freelance, Steve Rees, Head Teacher for Evenlode Primary School assured the NQTs in attendance ‘We have used supply staff for a number of occasions. The benefit for both parties is getting to know one another. We have taken on a number of temporary staff in permanent roles after they have worked here on supply. It’s a great option to consider after graduation’.

New Directions Education will continue to provide a series of support seminars across the UK for Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs). For more information visit www.ndteach.com