[icemaiden]

I just had what I thought was a really negative email from Oasis Education informing me that they only place one or two people each year in Christchurch and certainly not for English posts. They also told me of an English teacher based in Christchurch who didn't get a single interview in 6 months and ended up in Auckland.

I need some feedback please on your views here. I have read many posts recommending Oasis although perhaps they are not well represented in Christchurch and mainly concentrate on Auckland.

We've really got our hearts set on Christchurch but there obviously has to be a degree of flexibility. Is the picture as bleak as Oasis paints it for teachers in the area?

Also, when do most teachers leaving the Uk begin their NZ employment?

[R&A]

Hello,
Now I am a primary school teacher but I think that to an extent the situation for teachers in Christchurch is pretty similar regardless of the age group you teach. I have been here since last August and I have been doing relief teaching since Christmas and I have just secured my first fulltime position which is fixed term until Christmas. I applied for around 20 jobs (there were more advertised but was reasonably content doing supply) and I got one interview - I wasn't sucessful. The position I was finally offered was at a school I had been relieving at. Christchurch is a desirable location for people to live and stay and unfortunately that translates to difficulty securing permanent teaching jobs as people are often happy to stay put! I know 2 teachers who applied for over 40 jobs (Primary) before getting an interview and one teacher who gave up and moved to Auckland (Secondary English/Drama). Like I said, my experience was of primary job hunting, you may have a different experience and I hope you do, but teaching jobs in Christchurch at least can be a very competetive business. I think perseverance is the key to sucess and relief teaching is the way to get your foot in the door- of course that is only really an option if your vise doesn't rely on having a job offer.

Good luck with your job hunting - I hope you do find a job quickly. Apply apply apply!!!

[rew1971]

Hi there
I was led to believe that there are a shortage of teachers in NZ and I am thinking of applying to teacher training once settled. Is this the case? Looking more towards secondary in Wellington area.
Thanks:)

[lockstock]

Left at the end of the AUtumne term to start here in January. Check out the Education Gazette for jobs. The January ones start cropping up at the end of September so don't start panicking just yet. There's plenty of English jobs everywhere. A word of advice though - do some research on the NCEA qualifications adn the NZ Curriculum - NZQA site has details. It's all credits and Units. Good luck

[icemaiden]

Thank you all for your replies. I get notifications through from the Ed Gazette for whatever comes up so will continue keeping my eye on that. It has started me thinking though that if the jobs in Christchurch are difficult to come by through lack of movement, then promoted posts may be equally difficult to obtain. I spent six years teaching in Jersey and it was really 'dead man's shoes' kind of thing there in terms of promotion! I'm not sure I want to do that again.

I'm keeping a fairly open mind at present but will also look at Wellington. My OH (as I knew he would) is now talking about getting a job in NZ instead of retiring and taking things slightly easier and as he is in IT/Change Management consultancy, then Wellington might be better for him. Lots to think about really.

In the meantime, we submitted our EOI yesterday a few months earlier than we thought we would. I was hanging on for an extra 5 points for length of service which would have come about on 1st September but, hey ... Looking now at a possible move next summer but term dates are a bit iffy and I'm not sure I want to jump straight from the end of one year here into the next one there with only a few days off to settle in. Any thoughts on that one?