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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is it best to work in a school when you have kids?

70 replies

Lovealazysunday · 13/08/2023 11:34

I have 3 dc’s all under 6 I currently work within Human Resources I’m working 40+ hours a week. I’m missing out so much on my kids. I enjoy my job, but would rather see my kids more in all honesty. I’ve barely seem
them in this 6 weeks holiday.

My kids are in school now for the next 15 years and I want to be able to be there for them which I don’t feel like I am at the moment.

Is this is an unrealistic expectation? It seems like this is the only way I will ever be happy.

OP posts:
bluetongue · 13/08/2023 11:59

Do fathers need a job at a school too or it is just for women?

Krystall · 13/08/2023 12:01

magicalkitty · 13/08/2023 11:42

Not all school jobs are just term time only though are they? For example office/marketing/ admin roles which can continue all year. I've seen ads for these jobs in schools (usually private ones though) and you still only get 4-5 weeks holiday, and you are expected to take this in the school holidays too.

Agree, I work in a school and other than teaching staff, I think nearly everybody is all year round. The annual leave is generous though and can be taken whenever, probably not school holidays though because it is quite busy during the holidays.

Original poster
Lovealazysunday · 13/08/2023 12:02

I have looked in to becoming a a teaching assistant but think I need to do a placement in a school? I’m not to fussed about the money in all honesty I’m quite happy to loose a few hundred if I can just have my life back.

I do WFH but my job is full on I barely leave my desk all day and it’s hard to get time off and my other colleagues have kids too.

OP posts:
funinthesun19 · 13/08/2023 12:03

I wouldn’t like not being able to see my children in their school plays and things like that. I also wouldn’t like the rigid times I’m allowed to be off work.

Sure the school holidays would be easily sorted as I would be home. But the rest of the year would be stressful in lots of ways and to me it’s just not worth it. I would rather have to worry childcare than commit to everything to do with working in a school.

Plus I want to do do a job that I enjoy. And working in a school would make me so miserable.

MarciaSaysANumber · 13/08/2023 12:04

bluetongue · 13/08/2023 11:59

Do fathers need a job at a school too or it is just for women?

Indeed …

I’m struggling to understand the logic of this thread.

Are you saying that all the lawyers, engineers, surgeons, artists, airline pilots or whatever should give up their jobs and become dinner ladies / dinner gentlemen so they can spend more time with their children?

liveforsummer · 13/08/2023 12:06

It's not a bad idea but be prepared for a huge wage drop. The salary advertised is pro rata in most cases both for the part time hours and the fact you don't get paid for over half of the holidays. My 20k salary works out at about 12

Grimbleton · 13/08/2023 12:06

Universities have generous annual leave (especially on the higher management tiers) and can offer flexible working/wfh. Another option to consider that may offer better career progression than a school based role.

Also whilst your DC may have another 15 hrs in education, they will not want/need you around for every day of the holidays. Mine are now just leaving primary and they are rapidly becoming more independent (and doing their own things).

DarkForces · 13/08/2023 12:06

I suspect it'll be more than a few hundred you have to give up

Bananasplitlady · 13/08/2023 12:07

I missed dd's first day at school, I never picked her up or dropped her off, I didn't see nativities, or plays, or music recitals, or assemblies or sports day. On inset days I had to find childcare. Working in school is not anywhere near as flexible as people think, it just means the school holidays are largely covered, but you still get to miss out on lots of the lovely bits.

CloudyMcCloud · 13/08/2023 12:08

I’m not a teacher but work allows me to be with dc during holidays

I’ve found it pretty good and I don’t mean just when they’re little. I did work ft then and childcare was easier in a way

Being around more has been good lately

liveforsummer · 13/08/2023 12:10

Fwiw our school is really flexible and lets you off for things like sports day or plays where at all possible. We can save up toil from training courses/ trips etc

DiaNaranja · 13/08/2023 12:16

I don't think you necessarily have to work in a school to get a level of flexibility during the school holidays. Also you may find the inflexibility of working term time even more frustrating such as not being able to attend sports days, school concerts, work showcases, parent volunteering etc at your own children's school. I work as a book keeper, and usually work Monday to Friday, but during the holidays I condense my work into three days, so I have an extra two days off with the kids. I would also hate to not see my kids through the holidays, and when I took this job I made my expectations clear with regards to school holidays etc. My manager is really flexible, and so long as the job gets done by the end of the financial week, she doesn't mind when or how I do it. I think you're better off looking for a job with a flexible working agreement, potentially one you can do from home too, rather than focus just on a school job, as the reality of that can actually give you less flexibility than alot of other jobs, and for a lot less pay.

WhoopsyDaisySugar · 13/08/2023 12:17

Working term-time in schools would be great for being off with the kids, although the salaries are not good. An average of 2 hours 5 days pw if you’re a Lunchtime Supervisor. More hours if you become a TA. Even more hours (FT) and slightly higher salary if you work in the school office.

It would also depend if you also have another decent salary coming in.

You could re-train to become a qualified Teacher. Salaries below are too low. You can dip in and out of teaching without losing too much of your earning power.

Look at working in independent schools. Pay is better. You could also get a discount off fees for your children, if you want to educate them privately.

Qilin · 13/08/2023 12:17

You don’t necessarilly need specific qualifications to be a TA, I teach at a special school where almost nobody we employ as a TA has related qualifications, we just would never be able to find enough staff if we insisted on only qualified people applying.

23 are the opposite. We have a fair number of TAs but almost all have either a fair number of relevant qualifications (ex teachers who have moved to being a TA, ones with teaching degrees who changes their mind and didn't do their nqt years, various TA qualifications, degrees in other areas, qualifications or training in specific intervention programmes, etc) or have years of relevant experience in schools. We always get a number of applicants so can pick and choose.
So it will very much depend on the school. In some schools there is an expectation you will be qualifiers and experienced, able to run your own interventions, take over a class, etc.

Our TAs are also classed as a proper part of the teaching staff so attend all meetings, INSET, go in training courses, etc so it isn't always just school hours. That will depend on the contract.

WeightoftheWorld · 13/08/2023 12:21

Different things work for different families really. I have two DC and eldest is about to start school. Neither me nor DH work in a school but we both do work part-time and there's only two days in each week when we are both at work, which certainly will help covering school hols.

liveforsummer · 13/08/2023 12:23

Our TAs are also classed as a proper part of the teaching staff so attend all meetings, INSET, go in training courses, etc so it isn't always just school hours. That will depend on the contract.

I'm glad I'm not expected to be part of the teaching staff on my TA salary. Is definitely not work at a school that expects this! Something to consider OP. Not all schools are the same

Sportycustard · 13/08/2023 12:26

A few things to think about:

The pay reduction won't be "a few hundred", school roles are notoriously poorly paid so it will be thousands - and thousands in pension contributions too which may affect when you can retire.

Teacher training days and even holidays may not line up between schools which might prove a problem as holiday clubs may not run when you need them to and you won't be able to take leave

Although your children are young now they won't always be. You could be stuck in a poorly paying job because it's not always easy to switch back to a corporate career after a time away from it. My youngest is now 17 and my friends with similar age children who moved into school based jobs are now desperate to get out of those jobs because they need to boost their earnings but they're finding they're being pigeonholed and can't even get interviews.

There are flexible employers out there and it might be better to see if you can use your skills in a similar role with one of those. That way you keep your skills and earning potential and still get to spend the time you want with your children. Charities, local authorities and some NHS trusts would be worth looking at as I know people in all of those who work term time only or term time plus a couple of weeks.

Multipleexclamationmarks · 13/08/2023 12:28

I'm a t.a.
I do the job so that I can have the holidays with the dc. Even now they're teens I like being off with them.
My school is flexible, I've never missed a sports day/school play for my own kids. Also doctors/dentist/hospital appointments are all fine.
The pay isn't great but I've never had childcare to pay for so swings and roundabouts.

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 13/08/2023 12:28

The Civil Service used to off term time only jobs, not sure if they still do. Or look for a term time admin / business role in a school, university or college

TheaBrandt · 13/08/2023 12:29

have you looked into unpaid parental leave from your job? My friend took a couple of Augusts off. They didn’t “need” her salary though. Also her employer was ok about it as august was quiet anyway didn’t cost them and was better than all the Mat leaves.

JennyForeigner · 13/08/2023 12:31

Lots of jobs in HR in academy trusts.

threeisacharm18 · 13/08/2023 12:32

There are some local authority jobs working in education that are term time. As others have said, the pay will not be great.

I have 3 under 5 and quite frankly, spending more time with them is not on my radar. Im actually a little jealous that you enjoy your kids company so much

itispersonal · 13/08/2023 12:32

As a TA/ teacher - the only upside is the same holidays. Even as a TA you won't be able to do pick ups/ drops off as you'll be in school at least 8.30- 3.30/4 flexibility isn't always there for coming in late/ going early. Going to sports days/ nativities/ assemblies etc can be tricky depending on school and location of children's school/ staffing etc.

fireflyloo · 13/08/2023 12:34

The more business/HR jobs in schools are often not term time.
Can you request a term time contract in your current role? Or take off unpaid parental leave for a few weeks in the summer. I e done this in both nhs and LA job.

WhoopsyDaisySugar · 13/08/2023 12:34

Also try other LA jobs. They tend to pay more than working in schools and you’ll have the ability to request for flexible working, including possible term-term working.

I work school hours for a LA. I earn well due to experience and because my role is quite niche, although fast paced. My PT salary is similar to both some public sector and private sector FT roles. I WFH, chose my office days if I want to work from the office and we have no childcare costs. WFH allows me the flexibility to manage school runs, reduce office commuting time and costs and, therefore, the pressures of the role.

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