From Teacher to Cover Supervisor

[puddymuddles]

My DH is applying for Cover Supervisor roles after being a Secondary English Teacher for many years (he is in his 40s). He loves being in front of the class/the kids but doesn't want the marking, bureaucracy and all the other crap that come with being a teacher.

I am looking for tips to help him at interviews. He has so far had 2 interviews. The first interview they phoned him and said how great he was etc etc but there had been another wonderful candidate they gave the job to (I suspect it was a person already working at the school as a TA as aTA job immediately became available at same school!). The other interview was at a tough inner city school and they chose a guy who was an ex army type with no experience in education.

4 more local jobs have come up and DH is wondering if he will ever be able to get out of the box of being an English teacher (he is currently on day to day supply work). The school that rejected him offered him an English Teaching role but he doesn't want that.

Any advice from others who have changed roles like this? And is it harder for a man as I wonder if they think of cover supervisor as a 'Mum job' (horribly sexist I know).

[puddymuddles]

Forgot to say we have two young DDs and DH is amazingly helpful with them and looks after them some evenings while I tutor (I am a teacher too!) and he wouldn't have time/energy for this if he were a full time English teacher.

[TheLateMrsLizCromwell]

Sorry no advice, but watching with interest, as I also want to move form teaching to CS for the same reason - love the kids, even the challenging ones, hate the tyranny of data.

[Goblinchild]

Doesn't supply work free him from the things you mentioned?
The other thing is that you mentioned two interviews, but not how many jobs he's applied for, and cover supervisor is a very popular role round my way. Not seen as a female job either, your discipline strategies have to be fantastic if the children are to learn anything
He may just have to keep applying and be resilient.

[puddymuddles]

Goblin yes the supply is better but not regular and no holiday pay. Also he would like just one school instead of different ones. He has only applied for two so far and had interviews for both. There are three more out there and a possible fourth so hope he will find something soon

[puddymuddles]

Just an update, DH sent his CV to local good school where he would be keen on working. Met head, all good. Went in for a days supply to see how he got on with kids. All good, students well behaved, responded well to him. Head promised to 'get him in the following week' (ie this week) to chat about a perm role and no word from the Head yet and no pay as promised for the days supply. DH emailed Heads PA who said Head will call asap and does want him to come in. DH now wondering what is going on and will email Head directly next week if no word. Schools are odd places. Hope he gets this job.

[MaureenMLove]

Do you think the schools might feel he is overqualified for the job and maybe he'd change his mind and want to get back into teaching within a few years or so?

I interview for CS roles in a school and if I'm perfectly honest, this is a question I'd be asking myself. The whole point of a CS is continuity for the students over seeing a different supply teacher every other day and I think I'd be worried that he would go back to teaching after just a few years.

[puddymuddles]

Maureen I see your point, although he definitely does not want to return to teaching and makes this clear!