What job to take?

[professionalnomad]

I have been very luckily to offered the vice principal position in a pretty prestigious international school for next year. The money is fabulous. I'm close to the UK which is ideal for visiting ailing parents and as we're planning to start a family, I like the idea my mum is nearby. The school itself hires really good teachers and has excellent PD provision. I am ambitious and I feel I have really grown professionally.

However, the school is definitely having a hard time of it. We have had a very tough year with dropping enrollment, redundancies, contractual issues and other dramas. Morale in the staff is low and the students are out of control. I relish the idea of a challenge but I know it will be emotionally tough. Especially since I have no principal to guide me through my first year of SLT (we are trying to find an interim as we speak). Additionally, although I like living here, I'm not totally in love with it.

I've been offered an amazing job at a school I left to come here. Same position. A whole lot less money. Much much easier. However, it is on the other side of the world. My husband really wants to move back. I also have a solid social circle with people I love dearly waiting for me to return. I am TOTALLY in love with country and helpfully speak the language so it makes life easier. Our quality of life was definitely fantastic when we lived there previously.

I'm worried I'm idealising my time there and I don't know if moving to a very small, selective 6th form college is going to give me the same professional experience as a medium size inclusive and diverse school. The school tends to hire young, new teachers. It is not as well established as the school I am at now. The PD provision is not as good and I do not have the same level of expertise from my colleagues to help my own PD. Instead, I will be giving most of the PD as part of my role. I'm worried I'll be bored with no challenge and it will be harder for me to move on with this on my resume.

I am so split 50/50.

WWYD?

I'd take job 1.

I think, deep down, you want job 1 as well.

Agree, job 1 sounds like the one you want!

I'm worried I'm being selfish choosing my career over everything else.
Because genuinely, everything else in better in my old school. Nicer kids, great colleagues. Amazing country. Being fluent in the language. We have always discussed going back and I would defnitely prefer to raise a kid there.

But, the job is really straightforward. And the school just isn't as good in terms of my growth.

I don't really have a great social circle here (even after 5 years). I have an amazing group of friends there that I still miss dearly.

I love how much I get paid here but isn't that terribly shallow?

I’d go against the grain and base the decision on where you want to live, rather than which job. If you want to move back to other country, i’d take job 2 in a heartbeat. Surely there is other schools there where you could look for jobs if/when you feel you’ve outgrown the role 2?

Is job 2 in your dh's home country? If you have kids there and then split up, you are stuck there.

Is job 2 in your dh's home country? If you have kids there and then split up, you are stuck there.

This

No. We're both from the UK.

We've been living abroad for the last 10 years.
5 years in job 2 country (hence why were are so well established there)
5 years in this country
I agree if I could have job 1 in job 2's country that would be the ideal.

I definitely prefer job 2 country.

I prefer job 1 as a job

BTW -thank you so much to everyone that has given me the time to help me rationalise my decision. I really appreciate everyone's input.