We always welcome a Letter to the Editor to share with our readers – unsurprisingly they don’t always reflect the views of this publication. If you have something you’d like to share, get in touch and of course, your considered comments are welcome below. This from Phil Jones, Head of Humanities at Carisbrooke College. Ed
I am good teacher. That may sound conceited, but you have to have a bit of self belief in this profession because people are quick to criticise, but more hesitant when it comes to praise.
So how do I know I am good teacher? Well I’ve jumped through all the hoops, I’ve achieved a good degree, 2:1 from Nottingham University, successfully completed a PGCE at Southampton University in Secondary History, then to ensure I took my studies further, I obtained a Masters in Education.
A solid basis
This gave me a solid basis for the profession I entered. In school I worked hard, achieved Head of Department relatively quickly, but ensured I was skilled by gaining professional qualifications from the National College of School leadership.
To make sure my students had the most up-to-date exam information, I have marked for both A-Level and GCSE History for the last eight years, whilst at the same time ensuring that I had successful performance management cycles, good and outstanding observations, both validated by OFSTED, the school, outside consultants and Hampshire Local Authority.
A passion for education
On top of this I’m passionate about ensuring students have had a rounded education by leading Duke of Edinburgh Awards Schemes, being an officer in a Combined Cadet Force and leading trips to Russia, Poland, France and Belgium.
So why am I telling you all this?
It helps to give you the hard facts that I am a good teacher. However, I feel I might need to leave the Isle of Wight to secure my future, my family’s future and my sanity and this horrifies me, because I want to continue to give back to the community that has given me so much.
Driving good teachers away
The press, the Local Authority, the Island, have cried out that they need to attract good teachers, but at the moment all they are doing is driving them away.
Why would you come to a place where you are ridiculed continuously, constantly held under threat of being closed, threatened with redundancy and never given the breathing space to improve, flourish and demonstrate how much better you can become.
Teachers need job security as well, so when three weeks ago there were about 16 pages of History jobs on the TES and yesterday still 60 English teaching jobs available why would you come here, when you are frightened to commit to a mortgage or make to many plans in case the next reorganisation comes around.
My view is valid
I’m a teacher at Carisbrooke College and some may say this makes me biased. Maybe I am, but my points are still valid.
I am immensely proud to be teacher at this school. Since joining the school in 2011, I’ve been on a journey, it’s been hard. It has demanded sacrifice, but in the spring we received validation and recognition for all we put in, but this is apparently not good enough?
We need to close because small schools can’t succeed, they don’t achieve?
The most inclusive school on the Island
Our OFSTED report praised us for being the most inclusive school on the Island, students with education Statements flock to join us, our Autistic Unit thrives, why?
We offer the type of community they can cope with, the personalised care they need, the are not one of 300 in a year group, they are one of 150, they get 50% more attention.
Why leave?
But why might I leave? I’m sure I could get a job elsewhere on the Island, but I’m not sure I have it in me. I have three beautiful daughters who need their Daddy around. I’ve had one day off this year because of a stomach upset, but went in the next day despite still being sick, because OFSTED were in. I was observed and managed to achieve a ‘Good’ rating.
I’ve missed parents evening for my own children, forced them to come to work with me when they have been too ill to go to school themselves, just so I didn’t miss work.
Were my sacrifices for nothing?
Two years ago my wife had a brain haemorrhage and almost died whilst pregnant with our third child, I had seven days off because I didn’t want the children I teach to be adversely affected by my personal life.
All of these sacrifices might be for nothing, because Hampshire want to close the school I have invested in professional and emotionally.
It can’t be fixed in a day
This isn’t letting emotion rule over data. Data can prove anything you want.
The Island Free School found data to prove small schools work. Hampshire found data to prove they don’t.
This is about allowing improvement a chance to occur.
Stop looking for quick fixes
David Cameron stated it will take years for austerity to end, the economy can’t be fixed in a day, so why do we think education can be?
Allow us the opportunity to carry on the amazing job my school is doing and stop looking for quick fixes.
Phil Jones, Head of Humanities at Carisbrooke College
