Do you work in a private primary school?

[elephanto]

Tell me about your job...

I was a teacher for a long time and I burnt out!! I miss the job (and the money and holidays) but I'm not sure I could go back into the state sector!

[42isthemeaning]

Yes, as part of my job I work in primary, but they're threatening to remove us from the TPS, so I'd do my homework and check the school accounts at companies house before agreeing to work in any independent school.

Like in the state system, the pressures are still there, but are different. Parent pressure and longer hours, extra curricular activities, fixtures and open days at weekends and in our case, for less pay and perhaps no teachers' pension. I've never worked as hard when I worked in the state sector (I have over twenty years experience)

[elephanto]

@42isthemeaning

Thank you so much! This is so helpful to know!

[tomhazard]

I work in a private school. Less pay and No TPS is completely true in my case.

Offset to some extent by smaller classes, less pressure from SLT. Still a pretty good pension scheme but not as good as TPS. Days are longer, but so are holidays.

Swings and roundabouts but on balance I'll probably not return to the state sector.

[Fizzyhedgehog]

I work in a private primary school. My hours are shorter. I generally teach classes of 12-14. I don't take work home in the evenings or on weekends and we finish at lunchtime on Fridays. Pay is the same as I got as UPS1+TLR for phase leadership at a previous state school. However, I'm currently only working four days per week.
Sounds lovely, although I have to admit that I'm a little bit bored. We have a lot of playtime and I'm usually teaching about 3 hours per day. Everything else is playtime supervision.
However, I am at an alternative curriculum school abroad. Our kids tend to be rather high maintenance. :)

[MrsZola]

I do. Like you, I was totally burnt out after 30 years. No TPS ( not such a worry for me, my TPS has built up a decent amount), and less pay. However, I work 8 to 1pm, 4 days a week and get £100 a day after deductions. Tiny school - I have 6 in my class. Pros and cons to this, but nothing could drag me back into the state sector again. After this year, I have 3 left and then I'll probably retire. As everyone has said, check it all out carefully - at the end of the day, only you know if it'll work for you.

[elephanto]

Thanks so much everyone!! I'm still weighing up the pros and cons. This has been so helpful though - I now have lots of questions to ask the head when I meet with her this week

[BackforGood]

Thing is, there are private schools and then there are private schools - they really aren't all the same.
My friend moved over and does love it, but there are 20 in her classes, not this 6 or 7. (but obvs better than 30).
She was on top of pay scale and transferred over on same salary.
Less nonsence about jumping through every government generated hoop.
In KS1 and foundations hours are the same as state, but in KS2, directed hours are a longer day (includes supporting the dcs' prep time and compulsory extra curricular) but against that terms are always shorter by AT LEAST a week, usually more.
She likes the fact they get real coffee and don't pay into a tea fund

[millimat]

Is live to go into the private sector but how do I find our about these jobs? I've been looking and have never found any for primary. Is that because they're in such demand?

[millimat]

Is live = I'd love

[shishnfips]

I do and I love it Though it's a large 2-18 school. Classes are small but not tiny as some others have suggested. I have 14. I will never ever return to state.

[happymum12345]

I teach in a beautiful private school with a class of 11 well behaved children. We’re not normally payed if were off sick & pressures to ‘keep’ children from moving to different schools is a stress, but other than that, the freedom to teach what you like & have children who want to learn, is a dream!

[millimat]

I've just found a job advertised in a nearby local school. I currently teach 0.6 in a class of 31 children.
Would I find it a massive jump to go to a private school full time if class sizes are nearer 20?

[jamtart30]

Go for it @millimat you'll never go back to state, I promise!

[millimat]

OK so I'm going to go and visit. What do I need to ask?
I know about pay and conditions. Will ask about use of schemes for planning. Private schools don't have sats do they? Do teachers get ppa?What is the inspection system as they don't have ofsted do they?----
I've just realised how clueless I am about the private sector

[tomhazard]

Private schools don't have sats do they?
No but they will likely have their own testing at this age which you should ask about

Do teachers get ppa?
Sometimes, but it's not protected.

What is the inspection system as they don't have ofsted do they?
It's called the ISI. They do full inspections including teaching and learning, and they also do separate compliance and regulation inspections. It's less stressful than ofsted but a similar idea.

Check the pension scheme in detail- they should offer you something good even if it's not TPS. Check if there are any opportunities for CPD/Training, Check what expectations exist for evenings and weekends during the year