Everyone thinks student leadership is good, but its just a playform for you to display strengths..

The rewards:effort ratio can be quite low

Agree. I’m from SL and always wonder if it’s even worth the effort although I must admit my performance grades r decent

Was in SL Comm before. Did not have a choice was given to me. Being a new BT i just accepted it. Slogged for a good 5 years in it.

Let me paint the realistic picture for you:
A lot of events to run = yes (orientation, ceremonies, camps, trainings etc)
A lot of events = a lot of trainings and rehearsals = a lot of time burnt which you can use to do marking, go home earlier etc
Need to meet students constantly to check on their work/progress
Student leaders got problem = You will be summoned + have to deal with it
Was it fun and rewarding = Yes
Was it visible = more to your cock ups, less to your successes
Does it help in career = Yes and No - depends on what type of portfolio you are looking for. Non IP would be better (become year head etc.). Honestly, no one really cares that much once you move on. No point competing with the high CEP people
Was it worth it = not really, can chill and do as well in other committees and progress as fast
Rating = 6/10

How much are fresh grad teachers getting for starting salary these days?

Isn't that what people are asking for? People here often whine about working so hard but not being noticed and rewarded. So here are some platforms that you can use to showcase how good you are.

So it's worth it la if you say your grades are decent

That's cause people here want to get promoted by doing the least work necessary. Ironically behaving like those whom they accuse of wayang

anyone has a rough idea or news about your next years workload and deployment already?

interested in knowing esp for FSBB schools

What do you want to know about SBB?

Your CEP might not be there to become a SL, or at most a VP. Because Ps are generally identified early and take on first sch posting as P as young as 39 yo or early 40s. Though recently there was a first-time P who just hit 50 yo. If you’re 36 yo now, your likelihood to become P is lower, but you might become a VP. Note that there are many VPs who never become P and simply remain stagnant.

Thank you for the reply, I guess so too. So I am now just considering options to try out different portfolios. If it comes, it comes. If not, as least I will not feel so stagnated.

Trying out different portfolios may actually develop your skills, knowledge and thinking in a way that makes you appear suitable to move up to school leadership. That is if you have the interest and energy to learn. It does take a lot of motivation and commitment to go from IP HOD to YH, for example, but it really enriches your perspective on school work and management.

Given your relatively young age, sub-grade and portfolio, you might want to apply to HQ to see if you like specialist work. In fact, several specialists who I know share similar background with you when they are first appointed (typically in their late 30s or early 40s).

Connect plan
 

Is there such a thing where they’ll claw back my connect plan? And if yes, then when should I tender? Thanks!

If you decided to quit, then dun look at short term gains for long term benefits

Those in schools still at the initial stage of FSBB, you're still lucky. What I've heard from schools with all 4 levels on FSBB - manpower shortage and maximum packing of timetables.

A lot of teachers are already gearing up to leave. If they can't afford to resign, they'll scramble for NPL, ML, HL and FAJT conversion.

This year already had 2 people from my dept leaving. Next year 1 rage-leaving, 1 resigning, 1 applying for some leave. The only FAJT our dept has, struggled to stay for 1 semester, and will not be renewing for next year either. There have been no replacements this year. Next year - probably not too. Remaining FAJT quota has also been taken up by more "important" departments. And I'm talking about a STEM department here - supposedly always in excess according to the Ministry, but apparently not on reality.

Anyone facing similar situations?

May I know what are the challenges teachers face in fsbb schools? I’m currently teaching in an independent school and will need to go back to a mainstream school soon. Checking out my options.

May I know what are the challenges faced by teachers in fsbb schools? I’m finishing my stint in an independent school and will need to return to a mainstream school soon. Exploring my options now.

Anyone with experience of getting a C- or lower grade? Will your Ro actually inform you during mid year and place you on some sort of performance plan before giving you that grade?

Might be worth considering a school that has run fSBB for four levels - likely stabilised already v.s. one that has just started the journey - the transition phase is the hardest.

Challenges include more periods - more "teaching groups" after SBB. Harder to chase with work since students in a teaching group can come from various classes. You are also unlikely to teach all your students in your form class yet expected to provide them pastoral care.

FSBB schools have figured out some systems to cope with these.

Yeps I'm in a school where our first batch of FSBB kids are sitting for their National Exams this year (so 4 years liao).

The number of teaching groups is insane, the timetable is very long drawn (esp for the 8 sub kids) and hence the teachers' timetables are also very packed.

The environment in our school has always been kind and considerate, but people are leaving cuz they think it's too shiong. I'm starting to think it's going to be the same everywhere as all schools officially start FSBB frm 2024 onwards.

Rocky road ahead!

Thank you. I am considering that,but I am not sure if I can get my SLs to recommend me for HQ stint (2 years) instead of applying for it myself (3 years). I am also trying to find out the division which would provide me with greater exposure. Wondering if anyone has any recommendations for IP and non-IP division in HQ? CCE branch? Student dev div? SEN div? CPDD? Any thoughts about them? Thank you!

performance plan is for D and below.

won't be considered for promotion for three years for C-, but there is MI, PB.
D no MI, PB, connect plan (? can't remember, can check intranet)

The ridiculous thing about C- is that some SLs justify giving it to officers who already reached the top of their substantiative grade since they cannot be promoted ...

C- is not an adverse grade and is still considered as within the large ‘C’ band of ‘C+, C, C-‘.
Hence it will not be communicated during mid-year review period

Only for those at-risk of getting a D/E grade will have to be communicated about it by mid-year.

At the end of the year, ROs need to comms to those officers getting C- and below that they are getting these grades. Even though C- is not considered adverse, officers are communicated about it because they need to close their gaps in following year to avoid falling into the D grade.

Does it surprise you that there are ROs who do not inform the officer about the C- grade the year before or worse, during work review, the only criticism about the officer's work is so minor and the officer does not even know that he or she will get a C- grade the next year.

If you are unlucky to get a crappy RO, who gaslights you to fill a quota for C-, then prepare to lan lan suk thumb, or find a better RO.

C means no connect plan deposit for that year. No promotion for the next few years. Even though C- is technically not an adverse grade but it's a below average grade that comes with consequences. The PB is also drastically reduced.

You also can't apply for things with this grade.

Yup. With FSBB comes a much higher degree of flexibility for the students in terms of subject combination. It becomes more similar to how a JC works. The price of high flexibility is that timetables will no longer mesh together very nicely, there will be gaps, and it will be drawn out till much later in the day.

pre-COVID promotion criteria
 

pre-COVID times:

Promotion Criteria (within GEO grades)
• Consistently good performance
*Minimum 2Bs & 1C including B for the latest year
*Delay of 1 - 2 or more years for "C+/C graders
*C-/D/E graders not eligible for promotion
• CEP is higher than officers current substantive grade
• Progression based on latest 2 CEPs
• Meet time norms for YIG or Eff YIS

not sure if this is a good reference since its just for pre covid lol

does it mean that for post covid expectations are even higher now?

Outdated already. Nowadays it's less deterministic. No more time norms, no more "complete checklist then confirm promote". Pros: genuine high performers, scholars and ball-carriers potentially promote even faster than pre-covid. Cons: the average teacher gets promoted MUCH slower

Hi can I check if any officers here received C- and was not told about it by your RO? I made a mistake during exam period and I am wondering if I should change job. But I have a bond to clear.

make mistake during exam?
what u mean?

care to elaborate?

if u were to terminate your bond prematurely, how many years b4 expiry?

This will probably depend on how big of an issue it is. If you don't mind elaborating, those with similar experiences will be able to share :)

Pls try to finish your bond at least. It will look bad and if u are looking for a govt job, there may be a record in the system

I am the OP who want to quit. I had one missing page in my exam paper and it was discovered during the paper.

I lived with a C- :(
Got a C+ next year and B next next year the following year but still cannot promote and stuck at Geo 3

sometimes its like that- if u still like the job can stay on la.

I feel the missing page is not just on you, I tot the whole unit will sit together and check the printer copy etc before locking and launching on exam date

Speaking as a hod in a sch, this kind of mistake, hod / subject head head will roll, not yours. Especially since you are still within bind and quite new. So just stay.

If you're the exam setter, this is not on you, unless you forgot to submit or forgot to set one page worth of questions. If you're the HOD/SH and the bond is because you recently promoted, then yeah you're it. I am guessing you're the latter since it's quite unlikely new officers with bond will be responsible for checking through the papers before and after printing.

But regardless, finish serving the bond first. Even if it means C- again etc.

Can make your plans to go during this period

Just missing one page, no one’s head will roll lah. You can still get C grade or better one if you have done well overall. Unless you made a boo-boo regarding exam integrity, they are not big issue. A number of teachers made such mistakes. Like typo, wrong phrasing…