As Romania and Bulgaria become the latest countries to be welcomed into the European Union, Penny Cottee explores what impact teachers from the European Economic Area (EEA) are having on English classrooms.
The first thing to strike Polish teacher Justyna Wilczewska about English schools was the wealth of resources. 'Pencils, rubbers, shelves of books – all provided free,' she remarks. 'In Poland, parents buy their children’s school equipment, and if I wanted to use nice resources with a class, I had to buy them myself.'
Justyna started teaching three years ago in Poland. She has been working in England since June 2006, when she came to extend her teaching experience. Currently, she works as an English as an additional language (EAL) teacher, spending three days a week at Tinsley junior school in Sheffield, and one day a week in two schools for the city’s Ethnic Minority Achievement Service.
As well as teaching an ‘English for speakers of other languages’ evening class at local Castle college, Justyna also does interpreting work part-time. 'Teaching students from five countries, in three primary schools and a college, and interpreting is just fantastic experience,' she says. 'In Poland I didn’t have the opportunity to develop in these ways.'
Justyna with pupils at Tinsley junor school.
Another Polish teacher, Marcin Laczek, has been working in England as a supply teacher since April 2006. He says: 'I was shocked by the differences between the Polish and English education systems when I first arrived. For example, we have no learning support assistants, and no concept of supply teachers. And our high pupil numbers are a challenge for teachers and classroom space alike. Schools are open from 7am to 9pm, running three shifts.'
Marcin and Justyna are two of more than 2,800 teachers from the EEA who are registered with the GTC, of which some 374 are from Poland.
Back home, pay is low – a teacher with the highest qualifications earns just £350 a month. But there is avid interest in continuing professional development (CPD). 'Many seminars and workshops are available,' says Marcin. 'I started teaching in 2001 and now have 30 certificates and diplomas in teaching practice.'
Justyna’s skills are proving extremely useful at Tinsley, where she has 23 Polish, Slovakian, Czech and Lithuanian students. 'The school was struggling, as no teachers could understand them,' she explains. 'Many are Slovakian Travellers’ children, who were not used to education. They didn’t understand why they had to sit in class all day!' Justyna understands Slavic languages and can communicate well with them. 'They are making good progress now,' she says.
Justyna enjoys her work here: 'I’m very happy. The other teachers give me great support and advice. I’m learning about how to manage the class, new activities, and so on. It’s nice to earn good money, but money isn’t everything. It’s the experience I want to acquire and that’s just what I’m getting.'
* Penny Cottee is a freelance journalist specialising in education and business.
