I am not too much up on State school rules, but I think you are employed as a teacher, rather than a teacher of a subject. Therefore the school is well within its rights to assign you classes, whether you like it or not.

However, in your position I would say ( assuming that there was no indication during the interview that such an event as this may happen ) that this is not the job that I applied for and withdraw my acceptance.

However, legally, you would have to check with more knowledgeable persons as to whether or not there could be any consequences to this.

Is there absolutely no way you could teach the other subjects? Has support been offered with regards to planning for them?

 I could teach the other subject I just feel like I have been screwed over a little bit. I trained to teach my subject and this is what I assumed I was going to be teaching. There was nothing on the interview day, job description that would indicate otherwise. 

 

Its very frustrating because many other potential jobs have come and gone in the time I have been unaware of this. 

 

Might just have to put up with it now!

Hello

This happened to me in my NQT year. I applied for an English teaching position and was offered it and it was mentioned it might involve "some" drama at the interview. I withdrew very politely at that point because I really don't like teaching drama. They then asked if I would accept a post teaching just English and I said that I would. That was then offered to me.

I got my timetable a few weeks later and I only had three English classes (all bottom sets.) I was really upset. I ended up working there for a year and I left after that to a post teaching only English. I wish now in hindsight I'd pulled out because I had a horrible year. It isn't just the teaching of other subjects but in my experience schools that aren't honest at interview often have other skeletons that subsequently emerge from the closet. Depending on what the jobs market is like in your area I'd seriously consider stating that the post offered is not the one you accepted and you are therefore withdrawing. x

 Thats the problem, there were jobs 2 weeks a go but they have come and gone.... very very frustrated. I will email the school after getting some advice after the bank holiday to state my concerns.

 

very frustrated!

There will be quite a few more, especially this month, so don't abandon hope just yet.

Remember as well you can always leave at Christmas and start a new post inJanuary -just stae your reason as being that you want to teach the subject you trained in and presumably have a degree in. Good luck x

Teach the other subject and be happy you have a job! You will probably teach all sorts over a long career in the business and I wouldn't get precious about two lessons on your timetable - the fact is you'll be employed as a teacher at the school, and be expected to be deployed where the headteacher and governors want and need you.

newposter

Teach the other subject and be happy you have a job!

I don't think it is as simple as that, newposter.

Taking a post that you are unhappy with can have hugely detrimental effects on someone's career, wellbeing and finances as unfortunately I have found out to my cost. I'm massively out of pocket because of my last post.

That said, for two lessons a week and if everything else is OK I wouldn't worry too much about that. x

 Its not 2 lessons, its 2 btec classes. 10 lessons over 2 weeks.

 The flipside of this is that when you do apply for other jobs you can use the fact that you've taught another subject outside your specialism as evidence of your flexibilty, committment etc..

I would definitely talk to them about it.  It is in their interests to have a new starter who is teaching things she is comfortable with and can teach well.  On the positive side, I had a situation when I started in my first school where I was asked to teach another subject. I was initially reluctant, but actually it was fantastic as being a non-specialist, the HOD gave me all her lesson plans and so much support that those lessons ended up being the easiest part of my timetable!

I thought it was fairly standard in humanities that, whilst you specialise in one area, you are expected to teach across the range of subjects. In all three schools I have worked in exam classes have been taught by specialists but lower down the school it can be very diffcult to timetable a geographer on every geography group.

I don't believe that you have been "screwed over" deliberately by the school. It is much more likely that they assumed you knew this. My second subject when I trained was history but I taught geography and RE in both placement schools. Perhaps the OP might have asked some more questions about how the department / curriculum is organised before accepting the job.

 I think that's pretty standard, but yeah I'd speak to the school about it if you're not happy. I'd have assumed it would be talked about at interview. Teachers in my department have been timetabled without asking to teach IT, MFL, and Geography. My subject? Maths! 

I started my NQT year believing I would teach one subject, I now teach 4. I love it because it has given me another string to my bow, and no in an ideal world I wouldn't want to teach anything else other than what I trained in, but I have a job at a school I love, have got loads of support in other subjects, and I'm happy. If you like the school and were excited about starting there in September doing 'just' your subject, then I would ask to meet your induction mentor to discuss what support will be put in place, and express your concerns.

Fairly unusual in my experience to teach humanities and get away with only teaching one subject

san38

Fairly unusual in my experience to teach humanities and get away with only teaching one subject

 

I agree.  And what got me promoted so quickly was having taught and being able to teach a wide range of subjects.

 Thanks for all the comments folks.

 

You are all probably right, I think I am just having a bit of a near the end of PGCE stress time at the moment, workload has finally caught up with me i think! :)

 

I am lucky to have a job, and the school is great. Its just that I am having to move away for the job because there a very few opportunities where I live. Once I start I am sure it will be fine, and I can always move next year if being away from family and friends becomes a bit of a grind.

 

Thankyou for all your responses!

Our music teacher is being made to teach A level statistics!!!!

 Thats insane! I guess its realistic nowadays with cutbacks etc....

jdl11

I am lucky to have a job, and the school is great. Its just that I am having to move away for the job because there a very few opportunities where I live. Once I start I am sure it will be fine, and I can always move next year if being away from family and friends becomes a bit of a grind.

 

 

That's a good attitude to have. Its not easy getting a job at the moment, have a word with whoever is in charge of the second subject and say you need more support to be able to teach it. You may even love it! 

All the best and well done on getting a job in a great school!