Career as Teacher

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi is it true that the pay raise on the year that an EO finishes the bond is substantial compared to normal years? I feel like i have read it somewhere before in the forum but couldn't find it again.

No. Not true at all. The increment is equally poor.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi is it true that the pay raise on the year that an EO finishes the bond is substantial compared to normal years? I feel like i have read it somewhere before in the forum but couldn't find it again.

No specific increase for finishing bond.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

How do i shake off this EO who wants to enter KP-ship ? To add context, i am 2 years into my service. This EO is about a decade into his service and seems willing to do anything to get into leadership's good books, including appearing willing to groom newer teachers. This colleague would randomly pop up during my lessons and Form Teacher periods to observe and then give feedback at the staff room. I did not do anything wrong but he would make it like his suggestions are better and he would say it out loud in the staff room so that everyone can hear. I am all for improvement but this one does not seem sincere and i feel like i am being used as a springboard to get this colleague to his goal.

Is this a common method for people trying to become a KP?

Sounds like higher ups may have asked him to "try to mentor/grow junior colleagues" as a stepping stone to the KP role. Talk to the guy himself, approach with curiousity. Keep an open mind and invite him to obserbe your lessons in a more structured way. Is there any area of your teaching that you would observations on? When he becomes KP, he will rmb you and reciprocate.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

How do i shake off this EO who wants to enter KP-ship ? To add context, i am 2 years into my service. This EO is about a decade into his service and seems willing to do anything to get into leadership's good books, including appearing willing to groom newer teachers. This colleague would randomly pop up during my lessons and Form Teacher periods to observe and then give feedback at the staff room. I did not do anything wrong but he would make it like his suggestions are better and he would say it out loud in the staff room so that everyone can hear. I am all for improvement but this one does not seem sincere and i feel like i am being used as a springboard to get this colleague to his goal.

Is this a common method for people trying to become a KP?

First, check with your RO if this individual has been tasked to mentor BTs, and if this includes unscheduled / informal lesson observations.

If he was indeed tasked to do such things (possibly to groom him for leadership roles), ask if the way he does it is in line with the school's protocol for informal lesson obs (i.e. it should be something that applies generally to ALL BTs, for instance. Unless you have been identified for a performance review process, there should be no reason to observe only your lessons.) You can also check with your SLs if your RO is unable to give you a straight answer on this.

If he was not tasked to do these things and is indeed being an intolerable smartarse of his own accord, approach him, thank him for the kind thought and effort in giving you feedback, then offer to start doing the same to him. Drop in for his lessons unannounced. Approach him in the staff room to give him feedback. Let him tire of his own game.

But at no point should you let yourself be construed as confrontational or "unreceptive to feedback" as other posters have cautioned, as long as you are still a BT. Once you are an experienced teacher, he will jave no grounds to continue doing such things to you unless he is your RO.

Hi, I’m here to seek some advice from the many experienced gurus:

HOD in independent school since Jan 2025, GEO 4. 6th year in service (cleared practicum in Mar 2019). Teaching award holder. Ending secondment in end 2026. Offered direct hire but have respectfully declined as I wanted to expose myself to different environment possibly in HQ.

I was anticipating FHQ posting, but did not receive any info till date. Wonder if it’s safe to assume that I’m not on FHQ already? And if so, wonder if this also reflects MOE HR lack of plans for me - and therefore should I then reconsider the decision to stay? The school is kind enough to still leave the cards on the table.

No strong push or pull factor. But as I’m only in my early 30s, this being my first school, I’m feeling lacking in terms of exposure, and feeling “sian” knowing that I will be stuck here working with the same people (professional but don’t really have any close connections) for the years to come. Im blessed with good leaders and RO who took the chance on me.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi, I’m here to seek some advice from the many experienced gurus:

HOD in independent school since Jan 2025, GEO 4. 6th year in service (cleared practicum in Mar 2019). Teaching award holder. Ending secondment in end 2026. Offered direct hire but have respectfully declined as I wanted to expose myself to different environment possibly in HQ.

I was anticipating FHQ posting, but did not receive any info till date. Wonder if it’s safe to assume that I’m not on FHQ already? And if so, wonder if this also reflects MOE HR lack of plans for me - and therefore should I then reconsider the decision to stay? The school is kind enough to still leave the cards on the table.

No strong push or pull factor. But as I’m only in my early 30s, this being my first school, I’m feeling lacking in terms of exposure, and feeling “sian” knowing that I will be stuck here working with the same people (professional but don’t really have any close connections) for the years to come. Im blessed with good leaders and RO who took the chance on me.

Check with your SLs. SLs will know long in advance if an officer has a future FHQ posting lined up for them. You don't need to ask explicitly about FHQ, you can just say that you have strong intentions to explore work in HQ for your professional growth, and see what their response is like. If they know you have FHQ coming up in a certain year, they will answer in a certain way, you should be able to pick up on it.

Does anyone know if secondment to independent schools or specialised schools affect one's immediate chance for a HQ posting or even another secondment to an external agency, e.g. NIE?

Does the secondee need to go back to teach at a mainstream school first?

TIA!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Check with your SLs. SLs will know long in advance if an officer has a future FHQ posting lined up for them. You don't need to ask explicitly about FHQ, you can just say that you have strong intentions to explore work in HQ for your professional growth, and see what their response is like. If they know you have FHQ coming up in a certain year, they will answer in a certain way, you should be able to pick up on it.

Yes school HR mentioned earlier this year that I’m tentatively placed on FHQ for 2026. But yes no news yet.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Does anyone know if secondment to independent schools or specialised schools affect one's immediate chance for a HQ posting or even another secondment to an external agency, e.g. NIE?

Does the secondee need to go back to teach at a mainstream school first?

TIA!

MOE HR would generally not encourage secondment stints one after another, as they would want officers to still keep updated off the ground. However it is not impossible, so just have to make sure that the receiving side can fight for you and you also stand ready to justify

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yes school HR mentioned earlier this year that I’m tentatively placed on FHQ for 2026. But yes no news yet.

Don’t worry about it. Think the emails for FHQ (enter in 2027) have not been sent out. I know of friends who have been informed by their SLs, but have yet to receive to email as well. Might only get the email in January.