Would you rather work as a GP receptionist or a teaching assistant?

[Whitefeather13]

I have had two job offers and I cannot decide which one to accept.

A receptionist at a doctors surgery or a Teaching Assistant at a small village primary school.

Do you have experience in either? Which would you rather?

AIBU - GP surgery
YANBU - Teaching assistant

Thank you!

Yep, check the TA actual pay. I am top of my pay scale at £11 per hour (that's with a masters degree and 10 years experience). Works out about £15k pa as we only get paid for hours worked (i.e. 32hrs a week, 38 weeks a year). I don't think the general public realise quite how low the pay is..... However, I wouldn't stick at it if I didn't love it.

Definitely TA. As a receptionist you get so much abuse.

Teaching assistant. Being a GP receptionist is draining because you are kind of a gatekeeper-cum-triage nurse and Customer Services combined. Horrible. I'd rather participate in helping children look earn and enjoy learning tbh. Far more rewarding I think.

TA.

But I am a teacher so it is within my comfort zone. I worked as a TA for a year before my PGCE. The pay is terrible though - and will be even worse now than when I did it due to below inflation pay 'increases' year after years.

I am amazed at the people sating TA. I am assuming 90% of them have never worked in a school....

I said TA and I'm 51 and have been a (mostly secondary) teacher for 28 years! TA in an inner city comp - no way. TA in a little village primary is a different matter. My dc went to a little village primary, I have worked in several, and I know the TAs at my village school. It's hard work, but mostly ok!

2 jobs with the least thanks possible. Id rather work in Tesco than be abused by angry sick people or arsehole parents (and certain arsehole children too).

Good luck to you

I would go with TA job, you're saying money is better, you can work term time only, kids are hard work but more fun. GP receptionist you are going to come across so many twats! I've worked as a medical receptionist and at times it was horrendous and made me hate humans a bit 😄

TA for sure!! It's a vocation not a job.

Would you work with all kids or be assigned to just one as a one to one? If the latter I wouldnt do it

I'd find more joy in a school with kids learning and having fun than in a reception welcoming patients I think reception would be so boring but maybe less stressful

As a support assistant you will get even less respect than the teachers. Sad but true. You will be overworked and underpaid. The job is disgusting fly paid in my opinion as support assistants are invaluable. Sure the holidays are great but by God you will need them to recover and more than likely be ill from hanging on in there all term. The education system is a mess. Staffing is a major issue, behavioural problems too. You will more than likely be attacked, kicked, hit and verbally abused regularly. I love my job, I am there purely for the children but it has changed so much in my 18 years I cannot imagine doing another 25 or whatever it is.

@Whitefeather13 on catching up now realise it’s your children’s school which is even worse. Staff will be wary around you because you are a parent. I’ve been in 2 schools that a parent has been employed in and staff were not happy. Some absolutely furious. It has taken them much longer to settle in. Also I think you will be in for a shock at the reality of a school you are probably happy with as an outsider.

I honestly think most people saying TA have never actually done the job or it was quite some time ago.

TA. I am one.
The kids are so much fun - we have our trouble makers but I love spending time with them trying to figure out why they act up and then trying to develop a relationship so I can try and change the pattern.
I’ve done a lot of work on SEN. I get a buzz from spotting a potential concern and then working with the teacher to try and support the child as much as possible. (I also have a daughter with SEN and that’s helped massively in identifying others when Isee similar patterns.)
The children make me laugh, I love watching them achieve things, I am very proud of them. And I’m also in a small school. My colleagues are brilliant- I love working with my class teacher. We have developed a friendship as well as a great working relationship.
It could also go wrong very quickly in a small school, if you don’t like a colleague. But I love my job.

I'd go GP receptionist. Should have NHS benefits and longevity scheme (sick pay and such for back up if you need it)

Definitely GP receptionist unless you need term time only. But I really don't like other people's children so I could never work with them!

I couldn’t work with children all day - way too much noise. I’d be so stressed!

I've done both, TA was better (for me) but it's completely individual.

That is literally the same with me

Have you confirmed it will be an NHS pension ? Most GP surgeries are private businesses who contract their services to the NHS and your employment contract will be with the GP business.

I would choose a gp receptionist. 100%

I would defo be a general TA

I'm interested to hear what you decide!

I worked as a teaching assistant in a secondary school for 4 years and I actually loved it, I only left because the pay was so poor.

you couldn’t pay me millions to work in a GP reception! You will have people being shitty with you all day for reasons out of your control (I imagine)

TA would be easier for me to get into due to my qualifications and experience so I would 100% go for that.

LOL

Wanna bet?

As a teacher and previously a TA, I wouldn't advise anyone into working in schools at the moment.
12/13k pa to face daily abuse, physical harm, verbal abuse and barely 20mins at lunch to catch your breath/eat. Nope!