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AIBU?

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Original poster

To assume teachers will leave private schools

83 replies

BagGreen24 · 17/02/2025 00:03

I'm a teacher and looking at new jobs. A job in a local independent school has come up. When I looked in to it the salary is the same as the local comp but the pension offer is much much lower as they are no longer in the teacher pension scheme.

Am I being unreasonable to think it'll be difficult to attract, recruit and retain staff now independent schools? I get behaviour will probably be significantly better and classe sizes smaller etc but I imagine it's still a difficult job and the pressure for results will be the same if not worse.

OP posts:
Genevieva · 17/02/2025 01:29

I’ve done both. It’s a different lifestyle. Some private school teachers want to be involved in lots of extracurricular activities. Especially sports. Some prefer longer days in term time and shorter terms. For some it’s just job availability at the time.

JoyousGreyOrca · 17/02/2025 01:20

Mumsie2024 · 17/02/2025 00:55

You can always top up your own private pension as an option. It doesn’t just have to come from your salary. This is what I do (work in NHS).

Show quote history

You would have to pay a lot to get the equivalent in a private pension.
But people choose jobs for other reasons than the pension.

wooliegloves · 17/02/2025 00:55

Some schools are still in it, I know 2 teachers who left state for lower salary & reduced pension but got fee discounts.

Mumsie2024 · 17/02/2025 00:55

BagGreen24 · 17/02/2025 00:03

I'm a teacher and looking at new jobs. A job in a local independent school has come up. When I looked in to it the salary is the same as the local comp but the pension offer is much much lower as they are no longer in the teacher pension scheme.

Am I being unreasonable to think it'll be difficult to attract, recruit and retain staff now independent schools? I get behaviour will probably be significantly better and classe sizes smaller etc but I imagine it's still a difficult job and the pressure for results will be the same if not worse.

You can always top up your own private pension as an option. It doesn’t just have to come from your salary. This is what I do (work in NHS).

JoyousGreyOrca · 17/02/2025 00:52

Private hospitals usually do not offer pensions anywhere near as good as NHS pensions, but you still get staff like nurses working in them.

EBearhug · 17/02/2025 00:43

Depends on the school. A friend is at a boarding school and has a tied house with it, so it's not just about the pension.

He is considering leaving, but if he does, he will leave the profession entirely.

JoyousGreyOrca · 17/02/2025 00:38

Private schools have been offering pensions outside the teachers pension scheme for many years. If they have difficulty attracting teachers, they will increase the pay. If they have not, I assume they are happy with the applicants they get.

RandomButtons · 17/02/2025 00:06

Lots of people leave lots of jobs for lots of reasons.

Can’t imagine a mass exodus here.