I'm a private school teacher - AMA

[timetohavesomefun]

As the title says really...I teach at a well known private all girls school in the South of England. I also have a position of responsibility that puts me at senior management level. Ask away...

I read somewhere that the Independent Schools Indoection system is changing, moving towards Ofsted. How do you think this will change things in the private sector?

Inspection!

How long have you been teaching in the private sector, and what was your route into the job? Do you have formal teaching qualifications?

www.tes.com/news/need-know-independent-school-inspections-under-scrutiny

I read somewhere that the Independent Schools Indoection system is changing, moving towards Ofsted. How do you think this will change things in the private sector?

I think it will definitely change things. I have taught in comp, as well as private, and ISI are nowhere near as hardcore or as stressful as Ofsted. If/when this happens it is going to quadruple teacher workload once again, and the workload here is definitely no less than a comp school day to day.

How long have you been teaching in the private sector, and what was your route into the job? Do you have formal teaching qualifications?

I have been teaching in the private sector for 8 years, and 3 years before that at a mixed comprehensive. I did my degree at a red brick uni, worked in London for a year and then did my PGCE at another red brick uni.

What's the most annoying thing about teaching in independent versus state? How demanding can parents be? Have you ever had the 'my parents pay you' attitude from students? Anything shocking happened? Do spill 😀

Is it a boarding school?

Are private schools worth the fees paid?

What's the most annoying thing about teaching in independent versus state? How demanding can parents be? Have you ever had the 'my parents pay you' attitude from students? Anything shocking happened? Do spill 😀

The most annoying thing without a doubt is the parents. I have had 'we pay for this' attitude from parents and students. Parents genuinely think that their children should get top grades regardless of effort or ability and if they don't it is all our fault. The pressure on staff is crazy. I have seen several teachers get fired (or jump before you are pushed), in my time here all because of student/parent complaints. If you get on the bad side of a student who has a parent on the board of governors then your days are numbered. I have overheard girls bragging about how they have had teachers fired and laughing about it, and they are exaggerating.

Is it a boarding school?

It is, but not fully.

Are private schools worth the fees paid?

I don't think I will be sending my children to private school unless they have SEN. Does that answer your question?

Sounds like a tough environment for a teacher. Would you consider returning to a state (in a leafy neighbourhood)?

Sounds like a tough environment for a teacher. Would you consider returning to a state (in a leafy neighbourhood)?

It can be tough!! I would consider state if it was in the countryside somewhere. To be honest I would be worried about my behaviour management skills being too rusty. There are lots of pressures at the school I am at but behaviour isn't one of them! Also, often stare schools don't want private sector teachers so not sure I would be accepted back from the dark side.

How have you found the route to senior management? Do you think it is easier/harder to progress in a private school?

How have you found the route to senior management? Do you think it is easier/harder to progress in a private school?

I have found the route quite easy but I am a special case. I have found myself in the right place at the right time, my face fits (if that makes sense), and I am well liked by colleagues. I haven't stepped on any toes or been particularly ambitious. I don't think it would be any harder or easier in the state sector. I have seen colleagues struggle though, as their face doesn't fit. The school want the right kind of person in this kind of role as they will be so parent facing. So my university background certainly helps. Not sure if that would matter in a state school so much.

I sometimes go into all kinds of schools as a part of my job (creative industry) however I get just a daily snapshot of the school.

In the private schools I've been too I've had many older pupils (Y9 onwards) tell me they want to pursue a creative career (Art, Film, Animation) however their parents won't allow it.
(I've often felt quite sorry for some pupils who are often very talented).
Do you find huge parental pressure towards potentially high earning areas such as Medicine, Law and Finance?

In the private schools I've been too I've had many older pupils (Y9 onwards) tell me they want to pursue a creative career (Art, Film, Animation) however their parents won't allow it.
(I've often felt quite sorry for some pupils who are often very talented).
Do you find huge parental pressure towards potentially high earning areas such as Medicine, Law and Finance?

Completely!!! And it breaks my heart. I have seen a few incredibly talented musicians (think diploma level at age 15), who refuse to do music any further. One girl went in to do maths because then she could be an accountant. A lot of students are all about jobs that will earn them money, and no matter what advice I give they don't hear it.

1. How many hours do you teach in the classroom per day and what is the rest of the time made up of ie do you get good research and prep time?

1. Do you have to do much pastoral care and extracurricular activity, especially on the boarding side? I'm wondering if day schools have less of that.

Oh, and what are the major pressures (as mentioned up thread)? Thank you :-)

1. How many hours do you teach in the classroom per day and what is the rest of the time made up of ie do you get good research and prep time?

My day officially started at 7.45. I had at least 2 staff meetings before the day even started for the students. Teacher timetables were 45 hours per fortnight for teaching and 15 hours prep time a fortnight. However, several of those prep times would be taken up with meetings and anytime a student wants to meet to go through any work you have to fit them in. I never took a lunch break, I would eat at my desk whilst working or seeing students. Marking load is huge, as you would expect with a private school so it is difficult to fit everything in. In my management role, my teaching schedule was less but my meeting schedule was huge. Every other slot I had was filled with seeing students for pastoral issue or academic issues linked to my subject. I never had time to plan, mark or write reports during the school day. That would all have to be done before or after work, or at weekends. There were also often functions, shows, plays etc that I would be expected to go to during the week. At least one a fortnight. Term time is very very full on!

1. Do you have to do much pastoral care and extracurricular activity, especially on the boarding side? I'm wondering if day schools have less of that.

I had to do a lot of pastoral and all teachers have a form group so definitely a pastors element involved.

Most staff wouldn't have to get involved with boarding unless they were hired as boarding staff, but I did in my extra role.

I always did extracurricular, and school does expect you to take part in or lead at least one activity. Subject specific help clubs are also expected at lunch time and after school. On the lead up to exam time you can expect most lunch times to be taken up seeing students for extra help. Students are often forced to go to these if their grades are not hitting top level, so often their usefulness is questionable...

Do you know how many applicants for sixth form place per place at Marlborough?

Oh, and what are the major pressures (as mentioned up thread)? Thank you :-)

As I said one of the major pressures come from parent expectations. You have to constantly watch your back and question every email you send out as you know that the minute you do a less than perfect job (by their standards), you are targeted. Some of the emails I have received have been vicious. Senior colleagues do not have your back with this, not really.

Also the sheer volume of emails. If I left my inbox without checking it for two hours, I would come back to approx. 30 emails to deal with. I am constantly on call. We are told not to bother looking at our emails over the weekend etc, but if I did that I would have to come into school at 5am on Monday morning just to have the time to deal with the fallout. It is pretty unmanageable and isn't getting any better.

Do you know how many applicants for sixth form place per place at Marlborough?

No?