Teachers - how much does taking a career break blow a hole in your career?

[fuschiagroan]

I don't have any children yet - hoping to in a few years. I have no idea how I will feel when they arrive regarding going back to work/choosing childcare, but since I recently had a massive tearfest about leaving my cat in a cattery to go on holiday [irrational madwoman emoticon], I am anticipating that I may want to take some time out when they are tiny.

So what I want to know is, how much does a career break disadvantage you? Is it really hard to get back in or go part time?

Well no, present company is always excepted durga. IT is them, not us

Loosening the lockstep that national pay scales enforce and allowing differentials in pay scales for more competent and relevantly qualified teachers might go some way towards moving incompetent teachers out of the door. I agree that working with incompetent staff taking the same or higher pay is a huge de-motivator.

As for returning teachers being given options, I don't necessarily mean a total disregard of their previous experience (because there are parts which will still be relevant), but a discount for being out of work and not having current knowledge.

Are there more NQT teachers than there are posts? Can a school that will only hire NQTs (I take on board the costcutting pressures) realistically get away with it? I suppose if a school did not have to compete for students, it would not have an incentive to hire experienced competent teachers that parents prefer.

This year there has certainly been more NQTs than posts, many students have struggled to get jobs and have had to compromise with cover supervisor posts, part time, maternity covers or just accepting this year is not their year.

A school can get away with just recruiting NQTS, but it can end in chaos as you need a balance. I have worked in London schools which are packed with NQTs ( not just because they are cheaper to hire but more experienced teachers with families move out of inner London) and they were eternally optimistic but out of control.

The school I referred to above had no issue in attracting staff, it was a very successful comp that most teachers would love to work in. It always had many applicants even for shortage subjects but mostly would recruit NQTs if it was a standard teaching post.

Oh no TFM you are right teachers are an odd bunch and I certainly have my funny moments.

Part-timers are only complicated to timetable when they are not in jobshares. If teachers are in job shares timetabling is straightforward.

No it isn't Bonsoir. Because we see different classes every hour, several times a week, a standard 3 day, 2 day job share could lead to very uneven splits and inconsistent staffing for the students.

What is wrong with uneven splits? It's perfectly possible to have different teachers in the same subject for different parts of the week. I had it all the time at school (different school system) and it was fine - it meant that teachers got to teach the things they were really interested in.

Blueshoes - schools like may businesses rely on goodwill a lot of the time. As Maths I could get double what a geography teacher earns, but when I then need their help they are unlikely to give it. I am happy with the situation as it is fair. I don't know any teachers who aren't.

I teach one lesson a fortnight with three classes - one in year 7 and two in year 9. That isn't good at all.

The uneven split could mean one part of the jobshare gets all bottom sets with the other having all top sets or one having KS4/5 and the other KS3.

If they are both happy to accept splits like this then it can be easier!

Some subjects are probably harder than others to return to, but you can have a successful return to work.

I took 10 years off, not really intending to return. However, I got to a point where I did want to earn, and found it quite easy to return to teaching. I returned by doing supply and contract work, and started a full-time permanent job 2 years after putting my toes in the water.

At the time, I was gutted not to be just offered a job, but in retrospect, the supply and contract work was a fantastic way to re-enter the profession. I could experiment with my teaching styles and make mistakes that could be forgotten about. I experienced many different schools, which has made me appreciate the job I have now.

With teaching, you keep your salary point, so when you return after your break, you start off from where you finished. It is not back to square one. You can then move on at whatever pace you like. I wouldn't want to work part-time but most schools have significant numbers of part-time teachers.

When ds has gone to sixth form as a boarder in 2 years, then I will look at teaching again, but in an International School. I would presume that alongside the examining and an MA that would help CV wise.

My school is a coed senior school. All the SMT are male, all the HOF are male and there are only three female HODs. The HOY who are female do not have children.

If you are female but not young and childless, you can forget going for internal promotions.

It does seem as if my experience is not unique then,unfortunatley.

I have noticed as well that many of the men in senior positions have wives at home full time.

I think it does have an impact. I found that by the time I was ready to take on the responsibility after my kids started sleeping through the night and were at school then all the jobs were going to people younger and/or childless and/or male.

Blimey - where are you all teaching? In the 1950s?

I know very good comps with females as Senior Management. Some have teenage children, some young children.

I know tons of HODs who have fanjos too.

It hasn't been all of us, only 2. We have HOD and senior teachers with fanjos, they rarely have children though.

I went part time after having my DC. I found that by staying within the work force I have been able to be bit more flexible when the children were younger (over days I worked etc) and my timetable changed each year etc. Now that my children are older, I have got the good will to have a good timetable and I now work mostly mornings, which allows me to pick up my DDs 4 out of 5 days. This year, I even start late two mornings as well, so DD1 only goes to breakfast club three mornings a week.

I would never have got these hours if I had taken a career break, so for me it was a trade off - Yes, I worked when my Dds were little (but they spent two days a week with my mother, one day with a childminder), but now that they are older I work mostly 'school' hours, so they don't need to go to afterschool clubs when they are tired and irritable.

My school is an international British school in Asia. It does feel like I am living in the 1950s here but with mobile phones and internet.

It has been quite a shock coming from the UK system to this as a) I had been used to being quite senior in my last place and b) I have always worked with lots of female HODs/HOYs. Here the fact I have children and am here for DH's job mean I am finished career wise.

I like teaching though so it is fine. No paperwork and no extra responsibilities = being able to concentrate on the students and lesson preparation/marking = a good deal for the students.