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What would you do, in my position? Job hunting related.

15 replies

sky1010 · 03/02/2016 00:52

On another thread, I stated that I had made the decision to leave my current employer. I have been in talks with an agency that I have contact at who I am friends with they have asked me about where I would like to work. In particular, what sector/area/role.

I can't be attending loads of interviews so I need to take every application seriously. Right now, my reasons are leaving school are a 'change of scenery' and disliking being part of a training school (I have visitors in and out of my classroom every single day!)

I am primary. My short term (3 year) career goal is to be working overseas in an international school in a middle leader position.

Here are my 'options'

  1. Stay in state sector but move to a more central location. At the moment I work in a far-flung area of the greater London ring. Challenges would be the same, but hoping fresh new location, being able to meet friends in the city for a drink now and again after work and being on the inner London payscale would break my slump a bit.

  2. International school, to build up some experience prior to moving overseas.

  3. Search for a subject/year lead vacancy to gain some managerial experience.

  4. Also, private sector is on the cards. I know nothing about working in a private school, so I would be interested in hearing pros and cons.

    Thank you so much for reading this. I would love to use you lot as a sounding board as all of my teacher mates are at the same school, and no one else in my life is able to help me navigate this minefield!
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PenelopePitstops · 03/02/2016 06:49

You can take as much time as you like for interviews.

The rest you need to think about personal pros and cons of each.

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FishWithABicycle · 03/02/2016 07:14

I'm not in the teaching profession at all, just found this thread in Active Convs - but my 1.5p worth is that (2) is the best next step and keep quiet in interviews/app forms about not liking being in a training school - it comes across badly to say that, and could lose you a job that might otherwise be offered. Much better to give a reason for leaving that's all about a burning ambition to teach in an international environment and working in an international school has always been your goal.

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sky1010 · 03/02/2016 07:36

Fish- the realities of being in a training school ate low staff retention from teacher training dropouts, visitors in and out of the classroom and the struggle of having to support unqualified and training staff when you have only been qualified in the profession for 2 years yourself and are still developing. I may not say in interview 'ughh I hate being in a training school' but I will say that I 'relish the opportunity to develop my skills surrounded by an experienced team'.

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sky1010 · 03/02/2016 07:37

Penelope- employer will not be accommodating for lots of interviews, I am afraid.

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PurpleDaisies · 03/02/2016 07:38

+employer will not be accommodating for lots of interviews, I am afraid.*

Legally they have to let you go don't they? That's always been my understanding.

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FinallyHere · 03/02/2016 07:53

Good luck in your search for a new position, Sky.

What is it about an international school which is so attractive to you? I don't think that came out in your post. Being able to articulate this would be important to the success of your plans. What is the market like, for teachers in international schools and is it different in different countries? All the best.

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PenelopePitstops · 05/02/2016 07:51

Legally they have to let you go.

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GinandJag · 05/02/2016 16:34

Always be positive about the role you want to move to rather than the negatives of the one you are in.

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Sparklycat · 05/02/2016 16:39

Legally the school have to give you time off for interviews. You also need to tell your head that you are actively looking, I've known many teachers in many schools who have not and have received the reference of 'I can come from that xxxx has worked here for 5 years' and nothing more - I.e xxxx has done something wrong and as you cannot write a bad reference I am giving the briefest one possible which will ring major alarm bells with prospective employers. Apologies if you've already let them know but it's very important!

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Sparklycat · 05/02/2016 16:41

Confirm not come from....stupid auto correct

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MaybeDoctor · 05/02/2016 17:07

I am an ex-teacher and have been through lots of recruitment processes, up to SLT level.

My two-penneth is:

Option 1) is quite a good one. You will be doing the same job, but on the inner London pay scale - what's not to like?! I remember changing over to a school in the inner London zone (I lived on the border) and wondering why on earth I hadn't done it before! If you are in a really central school the downsides are that you have to contend with a normal commute - no chance of bringing loads of resources in your car, as there might be no parking at all.

2) Don't bother - wait until you are likely to go abroad. Keep your pay scale, pension contributions and all the advantages of continued service.

3) Good option if you are talking about a TLR2 position - but I found this the hardest jump to make. In retrospect this was harder than when I applied for phase leadership or even SLT posts. You have to be able to show that you have contributed to teaching and learning on a whole-school level, which might be tricky to do from a standard classroom teaching post if you have no existing subject responsibility.

4) Could be good, but your working conditions will be very, very dependent on the school. Inner London private schools are some of the most competitive environments around. If you do this, consider heading out rather than in to London and picking older/historic schools for nicer grounds, more facilities and probably more generous funding. Some inner-London schools are in hugely expensive rented accommodation the size of a postage stamp.

Hope that helps.

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sky1010 · 05/02/2016 17:36

So so helpful, maybe.

Thank you.

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toomuchicecream · 05/02/2016 22:08

So from your messages I assume that this is your first teaching post, the school where you did your NQT year and you've only been teaching a couple of years? And you are in a school with a very high turnover of staff?

I too think your best option is a. It's completely normal and reasonable to move on from your NQT school after 2 or 3 years - no one will think you at all strange for doing this. I also think that you will have no problems whatsoever finding a new job, given the current recruitment climate so you need to do some careful thinking about what it is you are looking for in a job.

Personally, in your position I would be looking for a class teacher role that enables you to broaden your class teaching experience - the more of that you have, the better placed you will be to develop your career in leadership in the future.

Do you want to go to a school that is similar in size and ethos to your current one (albeit not a teaching school), or do you want to try something completely different? What about trying something smaller (or larger) as a contrast? Faith/non-faith? What is important to you about the school you work in? To use the National College for School Leadership jargon, what is your core moral purpose? Try mind mapping all the things you like about your current school and would like to replicate elsewhere, and then do the same with all the things you would like to change. What about moving to a different key stage?

Given the high number of vacancies out there, you need to start to narrow down what it is you are looking for. You are in a very strong position - I think that for many schools you represent the ideal applicant - a couple of years experience so you won't need too much support but still comparatively cheap. We'd employ you!! You could start off my leading a non-core subject but let them know that you would be interested in taking on a core subject in the near future - perhaps shadowing a core subject leader.

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SawdustInMyHair · 05/02/2016 22:34

Penelope - you're not legally entitled to time off for interviews unless you've been made redundant and have been working for your employer for a certain (not sure) time.

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PenelopePitstops · 07/02/2016 18:20

Sawdust. In schools you are.

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