Teachers - Do you teach in a state or private school?

[MeantToStopAtTwo]

How did you end up in that sector? Was it an active choice? If so, why? Would you consider working in the other sector?

[cece]

State - never occured to me to look for a job in a Private school.

[mrz]

State

not now as I prefer where I am

[scurryfunge]

Used to teach in a state school. At teaching college only those who got poor degree results went on to teach in private schools as you didn't need to be qualified.

[RupertTheBear]

State
Never considered anything else.

[meditrina]

Not a teacher, but my SIL who is has had all her permanent contracts in state schools. But she worked supply for a while when her DCs were small in both state and private and AFAIK had good experiences in both. She also did a stint in a prison - and said the prisoners were generally a far easier bunch to teach (attitude, behaviour) than many teenagers.

[MmeBlueberry]

Independent.

Yes, it was an active choice, primarily because I send my own children to independent schools.

I would not willingly move into the maintained sector.

[twinklypearls]

State- active choice. I have been offered positions in the private sector but it did not feel right at the time.

[TheMonster]

State. I always said I would work in a state school. However, I did some supply work in a private school and liked it, so it is something I would consider if the opportunity arose.

[Hulababy]

When I was still teaching I always taught in state ed. I wouldn'thave ruled out private though, not if there was a job advertised that I fancied.

At all the local private schools here the ads all state you need to be fully qualiied as a teacher. All the teachers at DD's school are fully qualified. Very very few these days would accept non qualified teachers ime.

[pinkgirlythoughts]

State. I needed to be in a state school to complete my induction year, and the position was made permanent after I completed induction. Before my PGCE, I worked as a teaching assistant in a private school and absolutely loved it, so if a teaching job came up I might go for it, but for now I'm happy to stay where I am.

[cazzybabs]

independent - just happened to get a job there as a NQT ... am unlikely to get a job anywhere else.
I was never going to teach in the independent sector - but hey now I do! But it isn't always the bed of roses people seem to think it is

[MmeBlueberry]

I agree, crazybabs. There are challenges, but different ones - especially helicopter parents and saying 'how high' when the head says 'jump'.

But I love my job. I don't ever worry about whether a particular class is going to kick-off. No butterflies in my stomach.

[twinklypearls]

I would imagine the divide is not between state and independent but school intakes. I am in the state sector my concerns are much the same as those of MmeBlueberry with the added challenge of results.

[missmiss]

Independent. Having been to a pretty poor state school and seen what my teachers went through, I would be reluctant to teach in the maintained sector.

[twinklypearls]

Surely you would make a judgement on each school, all schools vary wildly.

[missmiss]

That's true. I'm limited by the subject that I teach anyway, as it isn't offered in the majority of state schools. Also, in my experience, the pay and holidays are much better in the private sector, which is an important consideration for me.

[teacherwith2kids]

State. I agree with above posters that the experience is going to vary more between individual schools than it does between sectors.

[TeamDamon]

I didn't make an active, informed choice between the two - having finished my PGCE, I applied for a job in an area of the country I liked. The school turned out to be a bit of an oddity - a state grammar school with boarding facilities (which of course parents had to pay for, although day students attended free of charge). I didn't really think it through at the time - I loved the school and was relieved to get a job. But as it turned out, it was too 'private' despite being a state school for state schools to consider my application when I applied for subsequent posts. So I am in the private sector by default really. But I do love it!

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

Same as cazzybabs - I got a job in an independent school as an NQT. At the time, I was applying for jobs in both sectors, so it was just luck really. I had no previous experience of independent schools as I went to a state comprehensive myself.

I disagree with missmiss that the pay is better, I do not get paid as much as I would in the state sector. The holidays are longer, but so are the working days, along with evening and weekend commitments.

I would not rule out moving to the state sector, although I am very happy where I am for now. To be honest I doubt they'd have me after so long out of the system. I'd be out of date.

[twinklypearls]

I was offered less money to work in the independent sector, again it varies from school to school.

[Jonnyfan]

Independent.
Did ten years in state (at the time you had to do a year to qualify), then took time out as DP was taking job abroad and we had twins, then went into Ind school.

Would NOT go back. EVER.

DD is now a teacher and she was able to do her first year in an Independent. I doubt she will ever teach in a state school, although she did her teaching prac. in stste schools.

[Jonnyfan]

Oh, and there are no unqualified teachers in either school.

[ja9]

I have taught in both. Am in a state school just now. When I finished my probation year I applied to a private school at the same time as the other council schools. It was the private one that offered me a job at that time. When i started teaching there I told myself I would only do it for a few years... But if I hadn't have moved away for dhs work, I think I would still be there now. It was a lovely environment to work in... Able, motivated pupils and plentiful resources.

[twinklypearls]

I find it quite sad that people would never work in a sector. You can get able motivated pupils n state schools. I accept that plentiful resources may be an issue but it depends on your defintion of plentiful.

[sillybillies]

both, started in state school then worked in independent school abroad and then went back into state schools in UK.
pros and cons in both types. However I saw better quality teaching in the state system but probably because they have to be better.