to ask if there are any private school teachers here and if there are

[COCKadoodledooo]

how your salary compares with the state sector?

I'm absolutely not asking for specifics.

Dh is currently state, in his second year as a teacher and is also subject lead for both chemistry and physics, giving his pay more than a bit of a boost.

He has an interview tomorrow at a private school and whilst they say salary will be discussed, it would be helpful to know at what sort of level to pitch things from his side, if indeed he can. I'm assuming the pay level will be higher than the state system?

If he's offered this job he'd love to take it, but it would mean me giving up my pt job, at least for the time being to help the dc settle in a new area (yes it would mean relocating - any chance of help with those costs?!) plus also the area we'd be moving to has much higher housing costs than here.

I dunno. Would be helpful to know just how these things work really. If anyone is able to tell me I'd be most grateful.

YABU ? education

I always thought pay was less in the private sector? No idea really but I do have a friend who works similar hours to me and gets similar pay to me. She works in a private school and I work in state school. I think the main problem is the pensiom contributions isn't it?

Depends on the school, I suspect. Anecdotally, the people I know who've gone private get paid generally less than state.

I work in a private school, not a teacher though, and their pay structure is linked to the public sector, if public gets a pay rise they do too, etc. Their pensions are also paid into the same pot as the state sector, hence some have recently been striking. However, there are other benefits, such as free school meals, gym facilities, (modest) bonuses, significant discounts on school fees for their children..

Ooh, that's interesting. And contrary to what I've heard elsewhere. Crap. He'll be gutted if he's offered it and can't afford to take it.

Thanks olivia, cross-posted. School fees would have to be vv heavily discounted for that to be viable then!

I've worked in both private and state, not as a teacher but in education, and I get paid more in the state school.

As far as I know it is less than state, but there is usually a discount for children of staff to attend the school.

yeah, still too expensive for me even with a 66% discount!

I thought the pay was a bit less in private but conditions better (eg smaller classes) and longer holidays!

A friend of mine worked in a private boys' school, and was paid quite a bit less than a comparable post in a state school.

My DD's friend's mum teaches at their school. She is paid a but less than the state sector but she gets one free place and one half fee place. That's worth about £15k in our case.

teach in state but plenty of friends who teach in private - varies from same as state to about a 10% uplift (but with quite a lot of extra expected hours)
Don't know personally anyone who earns less but have heard of it.

I used to and my salary matched state. It depends on the school.

Must depend on the school - there are private then there are public.

A close friend of mine has jumped to independent private school; marginally over 10K payrise, longer holidays, slightly shorter teaching week (16 actual teaching hours) plus all found accomodation. Downside is: he is employed as a maths teacher but he has a BA in physics, an MA in maths and has unwittingly become the subject leader for A level physics due to an unforeseen change in structure - he didnt envisage that. On the plus side he deals with civilised parents.

Husband of a collegue teaches in a public school. 30K more than state sector.

My understanding is that private schools can often pay less than state. Teachers' pay isn't standardised in the private sector in the way it is in the public sector.

Of course, if a school is doing well they might pay a fair bit more, or offer other perks, but it's the same as all private companies I'd imagine, it depends on the size of the school, the fees, the other overheads etc.

I worked in a private school in scotland about seven years ago. At that time I was paid more than the state sector (think 6% more but cannot be sure), and would have ben eligible for 80% discount in the school fees for my own children.

A friend works privately. She gets exactly the same pay, but also gets :
Reduced private healthcare fees
75% off school fees (currently works out cheaper than sending state and using a cm before and after school

house with no council tax or water rates
But much longer hours plus weekends.

Private schools can pick their own payscales. I teach in one and earn less than I would in state BUT I get a house and 90% off fees so I actually get paid more in reality.

So, it seems clear that private is better than public.At least for staff.

Are these benefits taxable (e.g like private healthcare, company cars)?

Tres garçons? Civilised parents??!

I do love a sweeping generalisation.

Remember pensionable service is really important in the long term. The perks such as free meals, reduced fees etc may be great in feeling you have more immediate money in your pocket- but if your base salary is lower, your pension will be significantly Lower than if your career is in the state sector

Idontthinkso- yes; that made me laugh! I know from friends who teach in private that some of the parents are an utter nightmare!