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Question
1 - What are your
views on whether there is a prevalence in the use of supply
teachers on a planned and unplanned basis?
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As xxxxxxxxxxx has 550 pupils and 26
teachers, our use of supply teachers can appear to be high.
Despite this, staff attendance rates are high – see below
Teacher sickness absences during academic year
– 122 days lost
Teacher attendance – 97%
The
situation is different regarding courses and training as we are
able to plan ahead and prepare for these. Periods of illness
and unplanned absences are extremely challenging and we sometimes
have to use our HLTA staff.
At
times there are not enough supply teachers available especially
when training courses are held on county level or for large groups
when all schools in the area need supply teachers on the same
day.
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If you believe that this results in problems
(for example, for schools, pupils or teachers), how do you think
they could be resolved?
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When no supply teachers are available this
naturally affects the running of the school and although we can use
HLTA staff, they are taken away from their usual duties.
Our solution to the problem is to use HLTA staff
but the situation is not ideal.
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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§
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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2
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§
3 – This is a minor
problem
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§
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4 – Not a problem.
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§
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Question 2
- What are your
views on the circumstances in which supply teachers are used for
example, the types of classes they cover; the types of learning
activities which take place under the supervision of supply
teachers; whether they are qualified to teach relevant
subjects?
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The quality of
supply teachers varies considerably but they are teachers, not
carers. We provide clear guidelines to supply staff setting
out our expectations. If
they do not meet our expectations, we will not use them
again.
In a non-Welsh
area such as Rhyl, it is difficult to recruit staff who speak Welsh
to a high standard and the pool of staff, therefore, is
small.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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??
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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§
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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2
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§
3 – This is a minor
problem
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§
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4 – Not a problem.
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§
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Question 3
- What are your
views on the impact of the use of supply teachers on the outcomes
for pupils (including any impact on pupil behaviour)?
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This depends a
great deal on the quality of the supply teachers. There is
less impact if teacher is used to working at the
school.
The impact is
greatest when we use staff who are new to the school. Consistency
is a problem especially when using a number of supply teachers over
different periods.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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Induction arrangements for supply
teachers
Handbook for Supply Teachers
Careful monitoring
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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§
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
2
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§
3 – This is a minor
problem
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§
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4 – Not a problem.
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§
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Question 4
- What are your
views on the Continuous Professional Development of supply teachers
and the potential impact of the National Professional Learning
Model?
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Very few supply
teachers receive adequate personal development. At times, we
have to use supply teachers who have retired and who are therefore
unaware of the latest developments in education.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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Supply teachers should be required to attend a
series of INSET days, like permanent members of staff, as part of
their contract / right to work.
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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§
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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2
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§
3 – This is a minor
problem
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§
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4 – Not a problem.
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Question 5
- What are your
views on performance management arrangements for supply
teachers?
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Very few supply
teachers receive Performance Management – as they are not at
school regularly it is difficult to set targets for
them.
Schools and supply
teachers need a clearer structure and guidance to develop
this.
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If you think there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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A national system of performance management for
supply teachers which meet national needs.
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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§
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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2
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§
3 – This is a minor
problem
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§
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4 – Not a problem.
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§
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Question 6
- Do you consider
that local authorities and regional consortia have sufficient
oversight of the use of supply teachers?
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There is hardly
any oversight but I believe that more should be done.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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§
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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2
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§
3 – This is a minor
problem
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§
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4 – Not a problem.
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§
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Question 7
- Are you aware of
any local and regional variation in the use of supply teachers and
if so, are there any reasons for this?
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N/A
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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§
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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2
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§
3 – This is a minor
problem
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§
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4 – Not a problem.
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§
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Question 8
- Do you have any
views on supply agencies and their quality assurance
arrangements?
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At times we have
to use supply agencies to meet the needs of the school.
Although there is some amount of quality assurance
arrangements in place, this cannot be accomplished fully without
observing staff in the classroom.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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Supply agencies should be required to take
responsibility for the professional development, performance
management and quality of their staff.
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This is a key, urgent
problem.
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§
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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2
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3 – This is a minor
problem
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§
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4 – Not a problem.
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§
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Question 9
- Are you aware of
any specific issues relating to Welsh medium education? If so, what
are they?
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In the Rhyl area,
it is extremely difficult to attract Welsh-speaking staff and,
usually, only a few applicants reply to advertisements. Compared to
English-medium schools in the town, the number who apply for
positions in the Welsh-medium sector is far lower and that places
us at a disadvantage.
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If you believe there are problems in this area,
how do you think they could be resolved?
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Schemes to attract teachers into the
Welsh-medium sector in deprived areas e.g.
bursaries
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How significant is this issue? (Please select
one option)
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1 – This
is a key, urgent problem.
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§
1
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2 – This is a problem that
needs to be addressed.
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§
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§
3 – This is a minor
problem
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§
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4 – Not a problem.
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§
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Question
10 - If you had to
make one recommendation to the Welsh Government from all the points
you have made, what would that recommendation be?
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Ensure that there are more systems in place to
attract high quality supply staff to the Welsh-medium
sector.
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Question
11 - Do you have any
other comments or issues you wish to raise that have not been
covered by the specific questions?
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