I’m a teacher wanting to become a TA

[TeacherWantingAChange]

Teaching assistant (TA). Really excited about applying for this but my sister whose also a teacher has said TA’s are not treated very well. I have personally always treated TA’s with respect and courtesy but I am a secondary teacher, the job I will be applying for is a primary teacher assistant. Am I making a huge mistake? The pay will be half what I’m getting but zero stress and no working on weekends (or so I’m led to believe).

Is it really £21/22k salary? Pro rata? Have you worked out what you’ll take home each month?

I recommend joining the FB group Exit The Classroom and Thrive. It gave me the confidence I needed to leave teaching. Now work in education for my local LA for more money with greater flexibility (home working ,leave when I want it, etc)

Go for the TA job it will be a picnic compared to what you have been dealing with. Financially with the money off your sons education it will lessen the burden. You will have emotional energy, time and space for your kids both in term time and the holidays. Good luck. Schools will jump to have you back when you are ready if you want to in the future.

Are you really querying if this is how little TAs earn? 😆

If you can really afford it, the prep school sounds less stress. Assuming they have offered you the post, if so bear in mind they will be interested in your teaching qualms and you may have an opportunity to increase to teaching in the future

I took that to mean will OP actually get £21/22k or will it be less as pro rata.

TA ads are very confusing as they almost always quote a 52 week salary, yet only pay for 39 weeks.

Based on the information you have given here I would go for it. Makes sense with the fee reduction and the extra holidays.

The single sex prep school element makes me think it might be okay but otherwise, as a primary teacher, I'd not tough the role with a barge pole. Would much sooner work in retail which I've done before. I can never understand when teachers work 5 days a week as a TA when they could just do something like 1.5 days as a teacher and earn the same. Any teacher who works less than 0.2 seems very chilled to me! They tend to not have any of the extra responsibilities that most primary teachers have, even down to being responsible for displays etc. Primary PPA/job share roles can be quite pleasant for a day or 2 a week.

I work in a prep school as a TA. I absolutely love it. My time is split with most time in the classroom supporting Maths and English across the whole class or in small groups, then some interventions/supporting children with additional needs and reading 1-1s and some admin/displays and marking. I think it’s how a TA job used to be years ago. No one has ever hurt me or spat at me. The children tell me stuff they are scared to tell their teachers. I don’t have to do any planning. The only bad thing is the dreadful pay.

No-I am a teacher and know our TAs are on a lower wage than that. Once the holidays and the ‘short’ days are taken into account, the actual take home wage can sometimes be much lower than you’d think. I know of two teachers who left to become a TA and were horrified by the monthly pay-it was lower than they’d worked it out to be (it was Co fusing, hence me asking!). Both went back to teaching 2 days as it was more money.

£10.70 ph at my school for TA. HLTA around £13ph

We get paid for about 43 weeks so some of the holidays.

It will be a massive salary cut. Can you afford it? I think you would be better working 2 or 3 days as a teacher for equal money for a TA. TA contracts in my LA are usually temporary contracts, renewed each year.