Australia's Science Forum

Hi everyone!

Welcome to the new school year

I need your help!

At my high school our student numbers have increased + I have 17 senior classes this year (we have NEVER had that many!!) I need to discuss with my Principal about getting help, but I would like to do some comparisons between other DET high schools.

So...could you please let me know the following;

1. How many students are at your school?
2. How many junior classes do you have this year?
3. How many senior classes do you have this year?
4. Do you get any help to manage your workload, and if so, how many hours a week?
5. Do you perform any other 'school' tasks outside of your science role (eg. I do the big laminating for the whole school)? If yes, how many hours or minutes would you spend on those tasks per week or fortnight?
6. Are you in a DET high school?

I really appreciate if you could respond. I will also post the results back on this thread once I have compiled them.

My responses;

1. 1200
2. 29
3. 17 (and this includes 3 x Yr and 3 x Yr 12 Bio!!)
4. No
5. Yes...laminating for the whole school. 10 minutes a fortnight.
6. Yes

Thank you so much!!
Kris

I cannot help much as I am in Tasmania, but wow that sounds like a huge job for just 1 lab tech. I can tell you I have previously done tasks outside my science role (cooking bbqs, repairing lockers, cutting locker keys and cutting locks when students lose their keys) but eventually, I said enough was enough that was taking more time than I was actually spending in the science area.

1. 1000
2. 27
3. 15
4. No but, with notice, a helper for the day can be organised at crazy times. SLSOs offer a few hours when they are not busy. But nearly always on my own.
5. No
6. Yes

865
28
8
no
no, thou do get called on to help in other areas for an hour, but all support staff do this
no

>1200
30
17
Yes, 2 days a week
No
Yes

1.>1100
2.44
3.0 ( 7 - 10 college)
4. Yes
5. No - used to do first aid but have dropped it this year as it was no much.
6. Yes

1. 730
2. 24
3. 9
4. No
5. Yes - half day / week doing WHS inspections and paperwork
6. Yes

Additional info - I have to look after 11 teachers, 6 labs, 3 prep rooms and 1 storeroom.

I hope you have sorted this out by now but as a comparison (non DET, independant Tassie school)

1. 1300 (k-12)
2.16 (7-10)
3. 21 (11-12)
4.No although I could ask for a gap year student (we have overseas gap year students for 6 months at a time)
5.yes, one day a week I do whole organisation chemical safety (school plus 3 external businesses and boarding house) but I am covered by a lab tech for that day.
6. No.

I handle the 21 senior classes and we have another labbie to handle the 16 junior classes. He has a couple of hours a week help plus gap year student time.