Maths is NOT a shortage subject!

I know a Maths teacher who only ever gets day to day supply teaching in any subject but his own. He meets design technology teachers/cover supervisors and P.E teachers all teaching maths lessons but never actually gets to teach it himself! Supply co-ordinators in secondary schools really need to "co-ordinate" their lessons to match with a teachers specialism. It might be difficult but surely it is a massive waste of money and time if a Maths teacher is covering lessons in say French or Geography when in the exact same school, Maths classes are being taken by non-specialists! If I were the parent of a child having lessons in this way I would be very upset!

 

Think this is very subjective. I've seen a massive demand in maths for supply. A good maths teacher should be ok

Hope.his situation improves

 

Sometimes it's more to do with timetabling issues...We have had times where we have a full team of Maths teachers but when you factor in sixth form etc. A food tech teacher and a science teacher still had to teach a maths lesson each week. Also depends on area....outer London has a problem recruiting as 10mins down the road your get inner london pay.

 

It is a shortage subject. Your fascinating anecdote does not address the gigantic recruitment issues every school in the country is facing.

 

Also different teachers like different things. A science teacher I know that on supply prefers to cover non science lessons as she gets to cover different lessons and finds that more stimulating.

 

I would argue that where I am maths teachers are in HUGE demand. 59 maths jobs appeared on tes within a 10 mile radius of my postcode at one point, I currently work in a department with 23 hours being taken by non specialists and long term supply and that's with us reducing sets and increasing all classes to average of 30. Next year I move to a new school and even they with the excellent reputation they have are having to use non specialist teachers to cover the timetable.