More of a WWYD - Teacher in a prison (NOMS) or PRU - are they good jobs?

[wantmorenow]

Just that, just been made unexpectedly redundant. No traditional teaching jobs currently advertised wrong time of year in UK. Two jobs I can apply for are PRU secondary and teacher/advisor in a man's prison.

Don't know much about either environment. What should I consider?

No long-term supply available at all?

I wouldn't want to do either of those jobs, but would do either if I had to.

I would do a PRU. Small groups, limited marking- behaviour management the big thing but lots of suppkrt

I wouldn't want to do those jobs, either!

I shadowed a woman in the library at a women's prison - she was running a creative writing group there. She said that every week she'd get a different set of prisoners in her group, making it almost impossible to get anything done. Women would be moved on, would be ill, not allowed to come to class etc - if that was the case in the men's prison it would make teaching extremely difficult. And there's the fear factor, too - having so many locked doors, so many men there who might not have the best attitude towards women.

The PRU unit would be a better place to work, I think, but I bet it's really hard at first.

Ive worked in both prisons and PRU, but not as teaching staff.

I'd personally go for the prison. Generally education is a decent environment within the prisons (the ones I've been in). It's also an excellent thing to have on your CV.

I’m not a teacher but my sister worked in a PRU
She liked it, liked the challenges, liked that the politics and cash flow weren’t restrictive like mainstream. She had always had a SENCO back ground which helped.
However, some of the stories make my bloody run cold. I’m not sure how she did it.
She ended up back in mainstream as a senior leadership teacher after 2 years

Not a teacher, but I have been through redundancy. I would apply for both and see how far you get. Easier to get a job when you already have one. Good luck! 'What's for you won't go by you'

I work in a PRU. Depends on the PRU. I love it, am well supported and the payoff between less marking and more challenging behaviour is great for me. Not all PRUs are the same, and not all teachers find it is for them. The children are very vulnerable and it is emotionally tough as well as challenging in terms of managing behaviour. But I feel I have really honed my teaching skills which, if I am honest, I had neglected a little in the 20 odd years I had in mainstream before making the move.

I'm a teacher.
I've never heard of a teacher being made unexpectedly made redundant from a permanent job.
Capabilitied out, yes. Disaplined out, yes. Made redundant yes....but after a long period of time never out the blue.
Were you in an academy?

I worked in an all boy’s PRU. It was blooming hard and I wanted to leave for ages but stuck it out. After two terms - once I started forging positive relationships, it got better, but certainly not easy, then I really loved working there. I was even there while pregnant with DS1. The students were very protective and would make playful jokes about my ever expanding belly. There was one memorable occasion when two boys stopped being aggressive toward each other in the hall to wait for me to waddle past only to continue.

I think I’d be too scared to work in a prison

I teach in YOI. Negatives - Constant abuse, very high turnover of staff so often working alone. Having to cover lessons constantly due to absence and not enough staff. No equipment, not even rulers, no internet, no videos, makes it hard to interest the learners. Constant interruption during lessons as learners have appointments all the time. High turnover of students means I never know who I’m going to get.
All the learners have traumatic stories and it can be very hard not to think about it at home. I’ve never been deliberately attacked but have been injured during the crossfire of fights.
Positives - I have helped many kids a little bit and seen a few really spark and aim for a new life with ambitions. These things make it worthwhile, and some days I absolutely love it.

I am looking to leave though, it’s exhausting, and I find it hard not to get attached. You can’t show it when they hurt you, and I am a very open book. It has given me a totally different perspective on issues like London stabbings, mugging, racism within authorities etc.

PRU - I've taught in a prison, it can be great, but the prison education service has recently acquired quite a reputation for stupidly unrealistic targets, and harsh consequences for not meeting them.

In other words, stress, stress, stress, over something you are caught up in but can do nothing what soever about, taking away from teaching and education, all the time, on every level....

the faking of results a lot worse than in schools, and to everybody's detriment

Should add, as far as I know most educational programs in prisons run all year round, so no summer off, and no real Christmas break either!

I'd go prison. My dad is in the prison service (Scotland), so if you have any questions (from a prison staff POV), just ask!

And I'm a teacher, but not in a prison!

I worked in FE. Redundancy common. Go quietly with a voluntary enhanced package or fight and get statutory and shit reference. My face didn't fit. Will apply for both. At least I'm available immediately. Been out of comps for a while but have my QTS and was top of MP scale. I teach a compulsory subject too which doesn't help in PRU. Not as much fun as some subjects.

I have registered with the main supply agency here. They offered me £85 per day. I previously worked for them on £90 in 2011! Supply is poorly paid and soul destroying but will obviously do it until I get a job.

I teach Maths in a PRU. Not popular, no, but a core subject so everyone does it. Our teachers are trained in Maths, English, Science, PE, ICT and Art. I am UPS3.

@wantmorenow where are you?! That's so slow. Supply here is 130!

south wales

If you find that the 'challenging behaviour' environment is for you, you will never look back.

I LOVE it and there is no way on this earth you would ever catch me in mainstream. I work, and have worked, with plenty of people who feel just the same.

However, it is not for everybody. Some people come for less marking, find it incredibly stressful and leave again very quickly.

Having worked supply and in some very challenging schools I'd like to think I'm cut out for it. Challenging here is more about deprivation, drugs and dysfunctional families rather than knives, extreme violence and gangs in my experience. Will get application done. Can't believe how much of my time is spent job hunting and form filling. It's a full time job in itself now. was so looking forward to my hols.

Yep, I echo your sentiments Harken53rig, I’m never going back to mainstream!

I couldn't work in a prison, but would work in a PRU.
I have friends that have done both.
The one who worked in a Prison spent half her time buzzing for back up, rather than teaching. She had a panic button in every room she worked.