Jobs within a school setting

[nannynewo]

Hi everyone!

Am looking at getting a job in a Primary school soon. Are teaching assistants the closest paid workers to teachers in a school? Basically, to put it another way, is there any higher paid jobs than teaching assistants that is not being the actual teacher?

Also any advice on yearly salary in different areas of the UK would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[MimsyBorogroves]

Specialists - behaviour support, senco, educational psychologist, education welfare and Connexions (where the latter 2 are still available) will all pay more than a TA, but usually require more qualification-wise.

[Fallenangle]

School Business Manager or Bursar if you have accountancy qualifications. Some schools have their own HR. there are different levels of TA - higher levels have qualifications. There are also cover supervisors which is paid more than a lower level TA. School jobs are sought after. Pay varies. Where abouts do you expect to work?

[nannynewo]

Thanks for the suggestions. Am graduating this year. No little qualifications as such. Just my degree (Education Studies)!
Hoping to work anywhere down south really, maybe the south west. Bristol/ Exeter. I am pretty open to suggestions.
Currently studying at Bristol so happy to stay here.
What sort of qualifications would I be looking at for behaviour support/ senco/ educational psychologist, please?

[noisytoys]

If hog are looking at closest pay to teaching, why not study for an extra year and become a teacher?

[Judyandherdreamofhorses]

Teaching assistants are poorly paid, yet often highly skilled and experienced. It's not an easy field to get into.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

You'd need specialist psychology qualifications to become an Ed.Psych. Probably a PhD. I'm not sure, but my friend needed a degree in psychology and a PhD to become a clinical psychologist.

[pinkdelight]

Bit strange to have studied education and not know any of this, esp things like what an ed psych is. Can your tutor or someone at your uni/college give you some advice on post-graduate career paths?

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

What are all the other people on your course planning to do after graduation? I only know one person with a degree in Education Studies, she worked in the local authority for years, then in the charitable sector and is now a TA but it's part time, low paid and she is on fixed term contracts.

[nannynewo]

Going to try and answer some of the questions:

Noisytoys my plan is to become a teacher in the future, but not yet. I'd like a few years out of university as I went straight from school to University.

Judy I know they are poorly paid which is why I was hoping there may something a little higher. I currently volunteer at a school and I know that I can basically walk out of Uni with a guaranteed job at this school, but wanted to see what my other options would be.

Pinkdelight There is nothing strange about it at all. I am studying education, which focuses mainly on the importance for inclusion within schooling, alternative educational settings, such as, free schools, or forest schools and so on. Our course is very geared towards leaving university and completing the PGCE. Although most people I have spoken to are not going to do this anymore!

Whoknows thank you, that information is helpful. To be honest, I don't really know what everyone else is doing, I know some are doing PGCE because the interviews are happening at the moment so I hear them talking about it. A couple of my closest friends aren't sure and then there is one who I know is doing speech and language therapy, I tried looking into that but I think I will have to do another 3 years at university, which I do not want to do and wouldn't be able to afford.


I really would like to work with children with disabilities. That is my dream, but I really don't know what highish paid jobs you can do for this field of work.

[Fallenangle]

TAs in special schools get paid more. EPs need a teaching qualification - I think, then an additional qualification on top. Why not go and see the Uni careers adviser?

[rollonthesummer]

To be honest, I don't think your degree will offer you more chance to earn a 'highish paid job' that anyone else.

Most new TAs have qualifications. Office staff are paid varying amounts but will be qualified in book-keeping, accounts/spreadsheets etc S+L therapists will have a S+L degree. EPs used to have to have a psych degree, do a PGCE, be a teacher for 2 years, then gain an MSc, but now I'm pretty sure they don't have to be a teacher first, just go straight to the MSc then a 3-5 y doctorate. Either way, that's a lot of years!

If there were lots of jobs that were higher paid than a TA within a school, I would imagine most of the TAs would apply for them as they get paid a pittance!

[nannynewo]

I think I will just be a TA for a year or so and then look at applying for the PGCE. I would like more experience within a school setting, gaining more subject knowledge and confidence to lead the class.

I know TAs are very underpaid BUT at least I know I can definitely get a TA job because of my experience within a Primary School and this will be the easiest way to improve my knowledge on the national curriculum!

I may do it and find I would like to go down another route, but at least I won't have wasted my time doing absolutely nothing.

[temporarilyjerry]

As well as being underpaid, jobs are very difficult to secure. There were over 100 applicants for a job at the school in which I work. This included three people who were volunteering in the school.

[nannynewo]

I know they are difficult to secure. But as mentioned above, I have already been guaranteed a position!

I just wrote this post to see what other options there are.

[olibeansmummy]

There are higher paid jobs: HTLA, learning mentor etc but without loads of experience ( not just placements) you have next to no chance of getting one of these jobs. I'd take the TA job for the experience definitely.

[Judyandherdreamofhorses]

Guaranteed, really? That's nice then. Lucky you. You'd better snap it up. Good luck.

[nannynewo]

I do sense a little sarcasm in some of the comments on this post, but I really am just a normal young person, about to start out on a career path, looking for some advice about which routes to take.

I started this post to get some advice and different perspectives on things. I am very happy with some of the replies and I thank you so much for this, it has made some things a lot clearer.

I am looking forward to my next adventure. I already have in place summer teaching jobs (which will boost my experiences even more) but was just a bit stuck for September.

Thanks for the replies :)

[MrsCakesPremonition]

Competition for non-teaching jobs in schools is incredibly fierce. There are vast numbers of massively qualified and experienced women looking for jobs which are local and approx. fit with their children's school hours and holidays.

[tethersend]

Learning mentors and, in secondary schools, heads of year get paid more than TAs.

[RiversideMum]

A school secretary or admin person would get paid more than an entry level TA.

[icklekid]

Start as Ta to give you experience in school before applying for teacher training. See if school willing to train you as hlta which would give you more responsibility and pay. Teacher training schemes like school direct are worth looking into as well as pgce especially those thay are salaried.

[nannynewo]

Thanks icklekid

I think I would do my teacher training through school direct, but unfortunately, I already know that the school I will be at doesn't do it! Maybe it will change in the future! But yes I would definitely find schools that do that. Thanks for tips :)