Working in a school where your DC is a pupil.

[KindergartenKop]

Is this a good idea? Is it too close for comfort? I've taught my colleagues' kids with no problems but what is it like for the child? Doesn't it make sleepovers and parties a bit weird? I'm talking secondary by the way and it could save us money, if that has an impact on the answer!

Yes it can make parties etc a bit weird but I actually preferred that as it meant I had an excuse for not having ‘cool’ house parties.

Teachers sometimes acted like they knew me because they knew my Dad or would have words with him in situations when they wouldn’t have rung home for another pupil. But he handled this well and recognised when to make a big deal or not.

I’d say if it will be a really good move in other ways then do it. If it’s just a run of the mill job with no other particular benefit then it’s not worth it.

I went to school with my Mum and it was really fine. It was a big enough school that we could keep well away from each other.

I did get on very well with my teachers, I suppose it could be difficult if you don't see eye to eye with your colleagues.

One thing I did really appreciate was that I was still allowed to make my own way there and back (although it was unspoken that I could have got a lift any time I wanted). It allowed me my independence and I think helped me fit in.

I did this and had a really hard time. I really wouldn't recommend it.

Good point about the 'cool parties' :)

I can see how it must be difficult actually. Is it worth doing to save £££?

Loads of parent teachers at my DC school. Only time it has been an issue is when the pastoral lead couldn’t accept it was their child that was the school bully.

I went to a girls school and my mum taught at the boys school over the road. It was bloody awful even though she was a popular teacher. I wouldn’t ever choose to teach at my son’s school - primary or secondary.

My DC attends the school I teach in. I agonised for the whole of his KS2 as to where to send him and was almost set on sending him elsewhere, until Open Evening when he knew almost every child helping out and all the others from his school of course who were all coming to my school. I just coukdn’t separate him from his friends like that so went for it with some trepidation. It’s been absolutely fine (so far-he’s yr8). The school’s plenty big enough for me not to come across him too much. The only issues I have is when he gets a teacher who doesn’t mark his book or doesn’t tell them they have a test, doesn’t deal with a bullying issue etc etc. In those cases his dad has got in touch so I’ve kept it completely separate in that respect. In my case, DS is quite sensitive and I believe it has been good for his confidence knowing I’m around, not that he’d EVER come to me, in fact he looks the other way when I see him in the corridor, just as it should be!

My mum taught at my secondary school and I bloody hated every minute of it. She had a tutor group in my school year from Year 7 through to Year 11.

Ours was a large school but she was a good teacher and taught in my year group and in every year group.

Personally if I was a teacher I’d never put my child through it, it shaped my school experience hugely