| ATLSchools are getting teaching on the cheap and selling children short by using teaching assistants, cover supervisors and higher level teaching assistants to teach children on a regular basis rather than employing qualified teachers, according to an ATL survey. The sample – of more than 1,400 support staff working in state-funded schools in the UK – found nearly a third (32%) said they covered lessons for absent teachers, including a quarter of teaching assistants. More than a fifth (22%) of support staff said they covered more lessons in 2012/13 than the year before, a fifth (19%) of teaching assistants, nearly a third (31%) of higher level teaching assistants, rising to two-thirds (67%) of cover supervisors. One higher level teaching assistant at a secondary school in England said: “I prepare, teach and mark at least four lessons for two year 7 bottom-set classes, and a year 8 set 3 for at least three hours a week. It is teaching on the cheap!” A cover supervisor at a secondary school in England said: “We are expected to teach subjects, answer questions, supervise controlled GCSE coursework, and make up lessons on the spot. “I have even been asked to give copies of lessons I have prepared to members of teaching staff.” The survey found that among more than 400 staff who stand-in for the regular class teacher when they are off sick or on a training course, 60% said they did the same work as fully qualified teachers. Among teaching assistants the figure was 61% and for cover supervisors, 59%. More than 70% of these support staff said they delivered lessons when they supervised a class; 70% of teaching assistants and 72% of cover supervisors. Two-thirds of support staff covering classes said they have to prepare work for the children to do when they supervise lessons; 66% of teaching assistants and 64% of cover supervisors. In most instances, support staff only cover classes if the regular teacher is off sick, on training or unavailable for a few days, however, nearly a third (31%) of those used to cover lessons take classes for longer than three days. Nearly a third (31%) of the support staff who cover lessons look after a class of children at least part of most days, rising to 91% of cover supervisors. A third (32%) of teaching assistants do so once a week and just under two-thirds (61%) do so once or twice a term. Staff say some schools rely on tax credits to supplement their pay. Mary Bousted, ATL general secretary, said: “Schools are selling children short by using teaching assistants to teach classes when the regular teacher is unavailable. “We are totally opposed to this exploitation of support staff who are being used as a cheap option to teachers. It is grossly unfair on them and on the children and their parents who rightly expect their children to be taught by qualified teachers.” - See more at: http://union-news.co.uk/2013/10/schools-selling-children-short-supervisors-take-class-atl-survey/#sthash.TD6qHv2P.dpuf |