Michael Gove and the teachers

[El Presidente]

No - I'm saying the opposite. 17% of school leavers are illiterate and innumerate under the present system so other ideas should be tried. What's to lose?

Out of interest, where do you get this figure of 17% from?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Out of interest, where do you get this figure of 17% from?

http://www.teachingtimes.com/articles/school-leavers-functionally-illiterate.htm

 

[Wilko]

You're right on the issue of holidays. My next door neighbour teaches primary school children at a private school in mid-Sussex for a very reasonable salary. I've no doubt that he works hard (he claims he does and is always moaning about the long hours) but the holidays that he enjoys each year have to be seen to be believed.

Autumn Term - 2 inset days
Half Term - 2 weeks
End of Term - 3 weeks

Spring Term - 1 inset day
Half Term - 1 week
End of Term - 4 weeks

Summer Term - 1 inset day
Half Term - 1 week
End of Term - 9 weeks

Total holidays - 20 weeks a year.

What other profession provides such generous holidays? I count myself lucky if I get 4 weeks a year. Effectively, my neighbour only works for around two-thirds of the year. Nice work if you can get it although I do recognise that there is a big difference in terms of pressure between teaching primary school children in a private school and teaching maths in a state secondary school.

An inset day is a training day. So, in other jobs if you are on a training day that is a day off yeah?