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Original poster

Teachers - Do you teach in a state or private school?

125 replies

MeantToStopAtTwo · 19/06/2011 12:26

How did you end up in that sector? Was it an active choice? If so, why? Would you consider working in the other sector?

OP posts:
bulby · 19/06/2011 16:44

Sillybillies, I could have written your post! Although I would also add that if my child was to go private ( she won't) I would worry about her been taught by some of these people who refuse to teach state, what sort of an attitude is that!

MigratingCoconuts · 19/06/2011 16:47

state. I would consider a job in an indep school if it was the right sort of school for me offering the right kind of job.

However, state is my default position. Its where I was educated and I have generally really enjoyed the many varied people I have met and taught. State schools are great places! I especially like the sense of local community you get at the country state I am at now. Everyone lives in the community and so there is a strong sense of understanding from that

bulby · 19/06/2011 16:50

Sorry just realised my last post reads badly. What I mean is that I would be unhappy with dd being taught by someone who assumes state children are somehow not as bright and automatically must be naughty, Boone had actually stared this and for all I know those people may only want to work private due to pay and conditions.
One thing though, the private school teaching day maybe longer but when you factor in all the extra classes ( work shops etc) at state schools the actual day worked is no shorter

balia · 19/06/2011 16:55

State - active choice for lots of reasons - I worked in a private school before I was a teacher and the level of emotional deprivation was appalling, followed up with quite sickening behaviour from older students. I now work in an incredibly deprived area in a very challenging school - vast majority of kids are lovely and it has sharpened up my practice hugely. But then I didn't get into teaching to have an easy life!

sillybillies · 19/06/2011 16:59

Bulby - totally agree. I wouldn't dream of sending my DD to a private school in England although I am lucky to have good primary and secondary schools locally.

However, loved my time in the international school and would consider that for DD as the exposure to the different cultures and languages was amazing, plus they were lovely kids (not that my state kids aren't!)

As for resources, I think you will find many state schools are well funded. In my limited experience, the science departments are much better resourced in the state system due to the greater number of children so more money to buy different resources etc.

Oh crap - should have said, we have no money in the state system, please give us more!

twinklypearls · 19/06/2011 17:03

Emotional deprivation happens in all schools.

MmeBlueberry · 19/06/2011 17:05

As for pay, I get paid according to the public pay award, right down to the penny.

I have both departmental, whole school, and pastoral responsibility, but I don't get anything extra for these. I think I would in the state sector. If I want more pay, I have to get off my backside and do UPS.

I like independent for the easier discipline issues, but also love working in a small school. State secondaries are so large. In my tiny school, I get to teach my subject but also be involved in the full life of the school. A lot of what I do in my school, would have a dedicated person in a 1500+ comp. I don't want to be someone who just teaches Science and spends all their breaks in the prep room.

balia · 19/06/2011 17:13

twinklypearls I agree - I was talking about a personal experience that had a huge impact on me at an impressionable age! It was a huge shock to my teenage self that 5-year olds didn't see their parents for weeks and were 'cared' for by a bunch of clueless teenagers on less than minimum wage. I've seen emotional deprivation in the state sector but on an individual basis, rather than an institutional one, IYSWIM.

MigratingCoconuts · 19/06/2011 17:34

I don't want to be someone who just teaches Science and spends all their breaks in the prep room

I'm sure you didn't mean that to come across as patronising as it did to me on first reading!!

As a general comment I would say you have had a strange experience of comprehensives based on what you have said in this post. I guess our individual experiences have a tendancy to cloud out whole judgments about a sector (state or private)..which is a shame.

MigratingCoconuts · 19/06/2011 17:34

sorry, 'our' not 'out'

jetgirl · 19/06/2011 17:39

State, although it's very unusual for a state comp. to offer my subject. I did part of my pgce in a top private girls' school, which I enjoyed much more than I thought I would, but when I entered teaching, I did so because I wanted to keep my subject alive in the state sector. The challenges are immense, but I love it.

MmeBlueberry · 19/06/2011 17:41

Mc, I said what I wanted to say. I don't see anything patronising - just realistic.

twinklypearls · 19/06/2011 17:41

I agree migrating, my subject teaching is only a part of what I do at work.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 19/06/2011 17:41

I spend all my breaks in the prep room. We have our own supply of tea and biscuits.

twinklypearls · 19/06/2011 17:42

I spend quite a few of my breaks in the prep room which is an achievement as I do not teach science.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 19/06/2011 17:43

Twinklypearls - science teachers have the best biscuits, maybe?

MmeBlueberry · 19/06/2011 17:44

They have cakes in the staff room and real coffee.

Abra1d · 19/06/2011 17:48

twinklypearls: are you the same person as as another Mner who was also a teacher posting under a similar name? Think she taught RS or philosophy...?

EndoplasmicReticulum · 19/06/2011 17:55

MmeBlueberry - yes, here too. But our break is 20 minutes. By the time I've cleared away the practical and talked to students who didn't quite get something, or want me to explain the homework, it's down to about 10. Then I need to make sure I've got everything I need for the next lesson. Staff room is five minutes walk away. So I only get cakes if I'm free before or after break (a rare treat!)

MigratingCoconuts · 19/06/2011 18:06

I don't see anything patronising - just realistic.

in your experience!

MigratingCoconuts · 19/06/2011 18:07

My experience is more like ER's up there..

(btw, are you rough or smooth??)

MmeBlueberry · 19/06/2011 18:24

Endo,

I make sure we are cleared up and lined up 2 minutes before the bell on cake day! Priorities!

For most of my practicals, we have a good 15 minutes for the students to write up where I can potter about and clean up. I try to get them to clean up too as it is a good laboratory practice.

I also have a totally fab technician who reads my mind, even if I can't.

bamboostalks · 19/06/2011 18:31

Twp of my friends teach in very well regarded London preps and neither has QTS. One was recruited at a drinks party and the other through the first. Both are graduates. I was most surprised although I know it is commonplace a secondary level.

holls2000 · 19/06/2011 18:32

Private. I went to boarding school and it just seemed natural for me to go into it; I was a housemistress and have been a house tutor, I think mainly I wanted to do it because my house staff were so amazing to me at school that I wanted to pass it forward in someway. The school I'm in now is not as well resourced as state schools but I love it. I had interviews for state sector but have been in private so long they told me that was against me now.

TheFlyingOnion · 19/06/2011 18:37

private

After 12 months applying for jobs, it was the first one I got offered.

Would happily work in state or private, as long as I liked the school.