Would you choose to work in a rough school?

[twinsetandpearls]

I was flicking through the jobs section of our local paper when I saw what I thought would be my dream job, two days a week teaching in a local secondary school.

I won't financially be much better of as out of my wages I will ahve to pay for childcare but I do miss teaching so as long as I do not end up worse off I don;t care. I could combine the work with my other job in early years so I can be in the fourtunate position of having two jobs I am passionate about and still having the majority of the week at home with dd.

But.. and there always is a but!! This school is notorious, it came off special measures a few years ago but is still the worst perfoming school in the area. I have never heard a good word said about the school, it is domintated by boys with severe behavioural problems and as it is never full it ends up with the kids no one else wants.

I have taught in tough schools before and did thrive on the challenge but found it emotionally draining. I would imagine it would be even more so now when I have a family to look after as well - but it is only two days.

Dp isn't keen on me taking the job, especially as I have a lot on already and he is worried about the violence in the school. This hasn't been helped my my darling sister saying over lunch isn't that the school where the head was stabbed?!

After being very ill after the birth of dd I may have to face the fact that I may have to take any teaching post that is offered me due to my health record.

The other negative to taking this job is that my dd would have to leave the nursery that she loves and that is attached to her primaary school as they have no vacancies for the days I would need. But I could make arrangements for her friends to come and play on a regular basis. Dd also starts school in september so she would only be in a new nursery/childminder until the end of july. But then again am I being selfish wanting to do a job that will cause dd so much upheaval when in a few months i could work full time without her needing to leave her friends and familar surroundings.

I hate making decisions, particularly when they affect others around me.

[sassy]

Not sure I'd take this, TBH.

A well-run school with reasonably low levels of discipline probs is worth a lot to me.

(I travel 12 miles each way to such a school 2 days a week. Have thought about looking for onw nearer home but don't want to risk finding myself in a behavioural nightmare!)

[polly28]

are you quite confident you'd get the job?

[twinsetandpearls]

I don;t drive, so to manage dropping dd at nursery/childminder and then getting to work it would need to be local. I also want to be able to work part time if I am to take another part time post as I know that I have workaholic tendenacies. So if I was to take on a post for two days I would probably end up working the equivalent of four. Part time posts are so rare up here.

[Chandra]

I think that taking this position requires much more from you (in terms of what you and your family need to change, what means to work in a place where other staff may be demoralised, etc.) than what you would get in return. I would wait to see if another more suitable position becomes available.

[twinsetandpearls]

If get the interview I think I would get it, I have never had an interview that has failed to get me a job. I have already spoken to someone in the local education department and they seemed very keen to have me. I ahve done posts in school at a more senior level in the past than solely being a classroom teacher so I come with a lot of experience. The school does have a bad reputation which will put of many candidates as will the offer of 2 days work I would imagine.

[twinsetandpearls]

I haven been here four years, this is the first post in that time and this has only come upo because of an expansion in the school. With pupil numbers falling here and the fcat that teachers rarely leave posts here the jobs just don't come up that often.

[paolosgirl]

If I were you, I wouldn't take it. If your DD is going to school in September, it might be an extra upheavel for her just before a huge change in her life. Alos - whilst I'm full of admiration for teachers that do teach in the kind of school you've described, it's maybe not the best thing to go back to after you've been off for a while. Why not just wait till DD is at school, and then you can look at more jobs. Could you maybe do some tutoring til then to earn some cash and keep your hand in?

[twinsetandpearls]

There are only two well run schools locally with little discipline problems and those staff won;t be moving until they retire or die!

The others are all similar to the one in question.

[Chandra]

I think you are already convinced about what you want to do... Go for it

[twinsetandpearls]

I teach religiou studies so tutoring isn't an option to me, money isn't really the issue either , not beacause we don't need the money but simply because I am motivated to go back into work because I miss it rather than wanting more money

[paolosgirl]

Could you do a sort of trial run at the school - sort of supply? See if you like it? It might not be as bad as it's been painted - and then again it might be worse!

[twinsetandpearls]

I am convinced, everyone else around me just seems to think that I need my head checking.

I am waiting for the school to get back to me about an informal visit, having taught in rough schools before I know what to look for and what questions to ask.

[sassy]

f you do decide to apply, don't forget you can always withdraw at any point before they ask that "If we do offer you the job.." question. So if you are on interview and you suddenly get the heebie-jeebies/see a child waving a sharpened screwdriver at the dep head etc, you can leave!

[sammac]

Have you had a chance to actually see round the school and talk to other members of staff?
Sometimes you can get a better picture on the 'inside' than by observing from outside IYKWIM.
Also working in that type of environment can be, and I'm carefully watching what I'm saying, more satisfying than in a 'better' school.
I have only primary experience, but much prefer this type of school.

[roisin]

What do you really know about the school beyond hearsay? Worst performing does not necessarily mean it's a dreadful place to work. One of our local schools gets pretty hideous results, but they do have 45% free school meals, 47% on SEN register, and generally catchment area with huge deprivation and few employment prospects.

The people I know who work there really like it.

I don't think I could do it, but it doesn't make it a bad place.

Do you know anything about the Head?

[twinsetandpearls]

lol sassy. That was why I am visiting the school, I am hoping they will let me have at least half a day there so I can get a feel for the place and know if it is right.

I get the impression that the school has had tough times but is slowly improving, most of my expereinces have been of schools in decline so I may not find this as demoralising as others. Infact one of my favourite teaching experinces was in a school that was coming out of special measures as I loved the feeling of being part of the change.

[twinsetandpearls]

When I say worst performing there are only a few points separating it from a few other schools. There are about four schools here with results of about 30-27% 5 A-C. the results don't bother me to be honest, i have always specialised in teaching low ability boys so in many ways the post would suit me.

I have heard a lot about bullying, drugs and violence in the school - and that does worry me - but I have dealt with that before. But I think the pressure of doing that was a factor in my failed marriage - but that was in a management position full time, I will only be a classroom teacher for two days.

It is in catchment area of high deprivation little stabilty. I am associated with a primary school in the area that is a feeder to the school which has an awful reputation. I love working in there - but again everyone thinks I am bonkers.

[twinsetandpearls]

30 - 37 that shoud be below.

[twinsetandpearls]

I don't know much about the head, have done some research about him and he seems quite visionary, thinking outside of the box. He seems to be trying to deal with the problems of the school, so involved in schemes to deal with truancy, non attenders and bullying.

[twinsetandpearls]

I have decided not to apply, mainly because I don;t want to pull dd out of nursery and will stick to my childminding. Not a decision I ma happy with but such are the joys of motherhood!

[roisin]

I'm sure something right up your street will come along when you're really ready for it - when dd is well settled in school. I hope so!

[bambi06]

what about volunteering in local schools just to get your face known and maybe do some supply work on ay two days a week that you choose ..arrange childcare for two days a week for sure and wait and see although i was in the same boat recently and decided to wait till at least jan when my dd goes to school and i can do more hours etc.. i was actually offered a job as a support worker but turned it down two weeks before as reality suddenly hit what i would have to do in the way of childcare for my poor dd who would be at different places each day in order to juggle it..it really wasnt worth it..and those last few months with your dd will fly by..

[twinsetandpearls]

I am actually visiting the school tomorrow, becuase I know I will feel better if I turn the job down because the school isn;t right rather than because of dd.

[twinsetandpearls]

Well i visited the school and it does have problems but I fell in love with it, I fitted in so well. I may have even worked out a solution so that I can go to work and dd can stay at her pre school.

[greenbean]

well no one can say you haven't given the job any thought twinset! good luck with the interview.