Which Way Now?

The average life expectancy of a Head of Department or mainstream classroom teacher retiring at 65 is 18 months.[/QUOTE]

Not criticising the general tone...but where the last fact came from I'm not sure,I know dozens and dozens of teachers,my own cousin was a Head Teacher,and to be honest I've only known one who has worked past 59 and not gone back on supply

 

The problem is a human one...

Communism failed due to greed, capitalism is failing due to greed. Both systems would probably work in an ideal society where people settled for what they got, but at the same time if we were happy with the status quo we'd all be living in huts on the barter system.

 

Yes teachers CANretire after 55 but in reality the actuarial adjustments reduce the payout by thousands even when retiring a couple of years early. There are two schemes running parallel as well. Up to a few years ago the TP retirement age was 60 but around 2007-8? the scheme closed and all new joiners had to accept a 65 retirement age. This was done to make the scheme sustainable (how ironic!!) NOW the govt want that to increase to 67 and ultimately 68. How many teachers will live long enough to enjoy a reasonable retirement if they have to work to 67 or 68? So they work longer, pay more but live only a short time to collect their retirement pension so its WIN WIN WIN for the government. YES we are (on average) living longer but that will NOT continue if people work to 68 in stress jobs. Incidentally the '18 months' fact comes from the actuary figures from the fund mananagent data as well as the fact that last year and prior to that more was paid in contributions than paid out in pensions /lump sums. The current Govt (and I am NOT being party [political here as they are all as bad) are - and not being in Parliament i can say this - LIARS! Unfortunately, the public is falling for the propoganda hook, line and sinker.

When You know about a particular area and knowe waht lies they tell it makes you wonder if what they say about other areas can be believed. An average classrom teacher does NOT earn 40k+ per year and does NOT get £30k+ pension. An NQT starts on 21k and my wife who is a classroom teacher with 36 years service and maximum enhancements earns less than 37k. Whilst she could have earned more had she sought promotion to management, she did NOT want to become a deputy head or head as she preferred to teach rather than go into management/administration (which is all Heads do nowadays due to the beaurocracy involved in running a school).