Any teachers taught their own children?

[bibbetybobbityboo]

I am a reception teacher and will have to start thinking about a school for my DD soon who is due to start reception in sept 2014. The school I teach at is a small primary about 25 mins away. Other staff have had their children go through school and some have their children there now. The school is currently undersubscribed but in my opinion a good school. Te head is fine with teachers teaching their own children. Our local catchment school I have heard mixed reviews about and 'requires improvement' but I haven't actually been and looked round yet. I am totally torn about what to do. On the one hand I think DD deserves a 'normal' childhood and a life away from me as she grows up. Also she would probably end up going to a separate secondary to the rest of her friends. On the other hand it would be massively convenient in that childcare would be minimal if needed at all (meeting days only really), it would be lovely to be able to see her sports days, assemblies, nativities etc. DH have talked about this lots but don't seem to be able to make a decision. Of course the school may not be able to take her anyway when the time comes but it has been undersubscribed for a while so chances are it will. Just interested in any opinions about this either way really. I'm inclined to think teaching her during her reception year rather than higher up the school would probably work out ok and personality wise I think she could cope with that. Aaaah someone make the decision for me by the time I have to decide!!

[MrsLukeDanes]

Sorry, no advice but watching with interest! I teach p/t (Juniors) at one of 3 local schools and am having to decide now if I want DD in the feeder Infant and ultimately my Junior school. (I have no plans to leave the Juniors and the infant and juniors would be my preferred choice as an 'outsider'). Yours is a slightly different situation in that my school is one of several in our immediate catchment, but I am still undecided if I want the crossover of personal/public life. I'd love to hear from someone who has experienced this with regards to the DCs friends - did it affect them to have 'Miss' when they went to visit and could they easily make friends with other parents without having teacher hat on? Hope someone more knowledgeable comes along for you! :o)

[numbum]

Is there any way you could move out of reception for a year, maybe teach y1? I dont think having your DD in your class is a good idea (personally). A friend did exactly that and found it very hard. Parents accused her of favourtism whenever her DS was chosen for anything (star of the week, main parts in assembly etc) and it became very awkward for her when she had to discipline her DS at school. He massively resented her for it and fought against her for months which then carried through to their home life

[Theas18]

I was a teachers kid, though never taught by my mum. It was the best way I think at least in primary..

A friend ( who's kids are friends with my kids ) taught prep so inevitably taught her kids (they had subject specialist teachers) and in fact her husband teachers their boys at A2 now. They survived but it's easier with teens I think.

[OldBeanbagz]

At my DC's school the teachers have always moved classes to ensure they don't teach their own children. Thankfully there haven't been too many moves as only 3-4 children of teachers at any one time.

[bibbetybobbityboo]

Moving year groups will not be an option unfortunately, that would have made things much easier. So she would definitely be in my class for a year. Thanks for the comments so far, it seems like a huge decision at the moment but I guess it's just the first of many!

[sheridand]

I am an (ex) teacher, currently HLTA at my kids school, I really enjoy it, although I don't cover their classes. I'm currently thinking about returning full-time to teaching proper, and I agree it wouldn't be a problem for the kids to have you there, if the intake is large enough you are unlikely to have to teach them anyway.

However, be aware that you don't actually get to see their stuff necessarily! I have to leave the assembly and not stay for biscuits, etc, and my (KS2) sports day was in the afternoon, theirs was in the morning. I miss out on just as much, really! However, the lack of childcare is fab, I can let them "hang" with me a bit before and after school while I prepare for the day/ next day.

I think it would be worse if they were secondary, far more cringe factor there having a teacher mum!

[Morgause]

I was a teachers' child. Both my parents made sure they never taught me and I made sure I never taught my DCs.

[eddiemairswife]

I taught my younger daughter's class for 6 weeks when I did supply at her middle school,Y7. It worked out OK. She just treated me like any other teacher, and i treated her like any other pupil. She was the only one of my children I would have been happy to teach though.

[psynl]

I taught my son in KS1 and due to a move, I will teach him again in KS2.
We have had no problems at all - I treat him like any other child and he mainly ignores me if he can! He's not clingy at all and very independent.
There have been no issues with friends and the other parents have been great - I've even socialised with them on occasion.
I love being able to be present for school events. However, only you will know whether it will work in the context of your school and with your child.

[bibbetybobbityboo]

Seems to be a 50/50 split speaking to people generally. I'm leaning towards sending her to my school at the moment. I could do with writing a pro/con list but I'm not sure they are equally weighted!

[AbbyR1973]

I was taught by my Mum some 30 odd years ago and she taught both DB's at all. It didn't affect any of us negatively, neither did we get any special favours. DB2 even called my Mum Mrs R in school- I didn't as I thought it was just wierd to do that. DB1 tried playing up a bit I remember but he didn't get away with it.
The only downside I remember was having to wait AGES for mum to finish all the work/marking/preparation she had to get done after school. I got to be pretty good at removing staples from walls though!!

[morethanpotatoprints]

There was a Y5 teacher at dds last school who taught both of her dds with 2 years between them.
My dd is now H.ed and I am QTLS (Post Compulsory) qualified, but obviously don't have other parents to contend with.

Anyway it was a small school and she didn't seem to have any problem with the parents tbh. Her dds were accepted the same as other dc and not looked at any differently. The Y6 male teacher also taught his own dd with the same results.
I wouldn't worry, if your HT thinks it is ok then they will have thought about the environment of the school and if this could be managed.

[bibbetybobbityboo]

Thanks all, really useful to get other people's perspective. On this one. Weighing things up I think I will probably go for it. You watch school have loads of people apply next year now!

[breward]

I taught both my DC. I am the Reception teacher of a one-form entry school, so I was their very first teacher. Like you, I chose my school rather than their catchment school, because of its excellent reputation and it just made sense for our family.

I have no regrets teaching my own children. Actually, I found it fascinating! My DD (now Y8) was always very lively and a bit of a know-it-all at home, was so quiet and conscientious at school, she rarely put her hand up even when I knew she knew the answer. My DS (now just finished at OUR school and going into Y7) was very quiet at home, however in class turned into the class-clown and just wanted to amuse everyone... I certainly did not see that one coming! So when parents say "They are not like that at home.." I can now empathise!

It worked out brilliantly for our family. I never missed an assembly, sports day or other special moment. When I had a staff meeting after school, an ex-pupil (a 6th form girl) would pick them up and take them back to her house to baby-sit for 90 minutes. This went on until she went to univ, then her friend took over for the next 2 years.

My HT was absolutely fine with me teaching my own DC. However, he did write to me before my DD started to say, in his experience, teachers tend not to favour their own children, on the contrary they go out of their way not to show favouritism. He reminded me that my DD needs to be 'star of the week' if she deserves it, just like any other child.

The parents were always lovely about me teaching my own children. Most were new parents to the school and they just accepted it. Both my DC were reprimanded or praised, just like any other child.

Good luck in whatever decision you make. I have no regrets and really enjoyed being such an integral part of my DC education. It was certainly a special time for all of us.

[bibbetybobbityboo]

Thank you so much for that breward! Lovely to hear such a positive story :)

[DalekInAFestiveJumper]

I teach several kids whose parents also teach at the school. When it works, it works very, very well. When it doesn't, it's horrid.

One big problem I've run into several times is that the parent teacher is fairly informal with his/her colleagues, and discusses said colleagues at home and so on. DC tend to pick up on this, and some of them think they can behave informally as well. But it seems like that would be an avoidable trap, IYSWIM?

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

There is a teacher at our school who has 2 children in the school but she has never actually taught them. It seems to work fine though. My sense is that it would be good for your DD to be at the same school as you. My main concern would be what if you wanted to leave your job before your DD (and any younger children you may go on to have) has left school. She won't be at your school nor one near to home. Would that be a problem to you?

[wine0]

This is an interesting thread. I have just moved my DS from his crap local school to my school. He will be entering Y4 in September. He is very excited at seeing his mum daily around school. I am a little nervous. I know I've made the right decision for him academically but I worry about him making friends and him leaving some of his really good friends he made at his previous school. I am an Assistant Headteacher so will not have to teach him and not sure I would want to.

I am looking forward to seeing him more though.

Many positives IMO but scary at the same time iykwim.

I'd go for it. I thought about moving my DS for ages and decided right at the end if term when I didn't have time to change my mind.

I'll let you know how things go over the first few months.

[PatTheHammer]

This may not be that helpful to you since I teach at a secondary school but the school I work at has a large majority of teachers living within catchment. As a result over the last decade I have seen many teachers offspring come through the school, often taught by their own parent in certain subjects as it's a small school.
I cannot think of one case where it has negatively affected the child, in fact the children have all done well and been popular with their peers.
In my recent y11 top set their were 3 staff children, made parents evenings a bit easier for me as I could just give them a quick update after school!

I don't think I would like to teach my primary aged DD though, she really idolises her teachers and I think she would be possessive of my relationships with other children. She is bad enough with her own brother at home, he doesn't get a look in!

[MidniteScribbler]

I've got a few years to go yet, but I intend on DS coming to my school. It's the school I would want to send him to anyway, and fortunately DS is guaranteed a place with the added benefit of not having to pay fees. We have multiple classes in each year level though, so I will never have to teach him. As a single parent, it's going to mean a lot less juggling for me when he starts school. I'd say go for it.

[Arisbottle]

I teach secondary , two of my children and my stepson have attended my school, one was excluded which made life slightly difficult and we ended up on a managed move. The second child has had no problems and the third is coming up this September.

I have not yet taught any of them, but they have attended clubs or revision classes I have run and the teaching side of it has never been an issue.

I have has to learn to be careful discussing work at home and assuming they are responsible enough to keep things confidential.

[bibbetybobbityboo]

Thanks everyone, feeling quite positive about it now. WineO please do let me know :)

[silhouette]

Interesting thread - looking at it from another point of view - in a small school with several teachers' children, it can be difficult having children in school ALL the time - ie. hanging around during every meeting, in earshot of every bit of small talk, and their parents forgetting that their children are not members of staff & should not be privy to their conversations......... I think that the children also need a break from school and their parents - no other job has children in tow!!

[thegreylady]

I taught my ds in a class at secondary school and it was fine. He was reasonably good at my subject and kept a low profile. He wasn't teased at all. My dd was in the school but not in my class. She was picked on by one girl and "teacher's kid" was a problem but she had good friends and lots of support. She dealt with it herself. I probably wouldn't choose to do it at that level but primary would be fine.

[hels71]

Also think about what it will be like having your DD in a different school. They will do things differently to your school.......all very well and good if it is "better" different or "as good" different..........but very frustrating if it is "not as good" different...............Although my DD has enjoyed her reception year at her school and done well I know she would have had a much better reception experience at the school I work in.....