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Education

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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:

diabolo · 19/06/2011 19:17

Some of you have been very quick to criticize the teachers who say they would not want to work in the maintained sector.

There are an equal number of posters on Page 1 who say they would not dream of working in the independent system.

I don't see you being so quick to criticize those teachers. Why is that?

EndoplasmicReticulum · 19/06/2011 19:21

Diabolo - some people don't agree with the idea of independent schools. You will find the same on threads about school choices for children.

I'd be interested to know if teachers pick the same "sector" for their children as they teach in?

I teach in an independent school, my children go to local (state) primary and will go to state secondary too, probably.

twinklypearls · 19/06/2011 19:23

I said I felt sad for someone who definitely would not work in either sector.

Having said that I think there is a difference between not wanting to work in the independent sector because you want to give back to society or you want to teach kids from all economic backgrounds. And then saying that you don't want to teach kids in the state sector because they are not as clever, well behaved etc.

MigratingCoconuts · 19/06/2011 19:24

Diabolo, Sorry, I seemed to have missed those posts, could you point them out?

I've read a generally (apart from one sentence which I did find oddly attacking but have put this down to bad wording) very pleasant thread where people are giving the reasons they choose to work where they are, which is what the op ask for.

I am sorry to see that you have taken these so personally.

Jonnyfan · 19/06/2011 19:32

Ha, you folk make me laugh! Seen emotional deprivation in one school, (which sounds like a school where they board from 5 ???) - must be the same in all private schools. Don't agree with/ can't afford private-must therefore imply that those of us who do must not want to "give back". Some do, some don't. I just want to earn a living, teaching a subject I love, to pleasant, well behaved pupils who appreciate me! Oh, and of course there's cake...

diabolo · 19/06/2011 19:36

Migrating - yes - RuperttheBear's is the one I am referring to, and ScurryFunge's is rather insulting as well. (although I am sure it wasn't meant that way)

twinklypearls · 19/06/2011 19:37

if you just want to earn a living - and as you say there is nothing wrong with that - you won't have a strong feeling on which sector you teach in.

diabolo · 19/06/2011 19:39

also Migrating what on earth makes you think I have taken anything personally? I do work in a school and am interested in education. I asked a question. That's all.

Jonnyfan · 19/06/2011 19:39

Hmm what about "..pleasant, well behaved pupils..."?

basingstoke · 19/06/2011 19:40

State. Wouldn't want to work or send my children to an independent school, so didn't even look in that direction. I suppose were it a choice between not paying the mortgage and working in an independent, then I might. Possibly. But probably not.

twinklypearls · 19/06/2011 19:41

You find pleasant well behaved pupils in both sectors. I teach in the state sector and teach pleasant and well behaved pupils all day and every day. I assume they exist in state schools as well.

Feenie · 19/06/2011 19:42

State. Have done some Literacy consultant work for a nearby well known private school, with a promise of a job at the end, but was too horrified at the state of their teaching. The parents of that school pay for extra lots of extra adults in the classroom, so lots of one to one reading - and that's it, afaics.

MigratingCoconuts · 19/06/2011 19:45

Diabolo...I've seen far worse than those on MN in my time ...I think its easy when seeing a thread title like this to assume that it will get inflamatory and read too much into what people are typing.

I do agree that generally, teachers are in this job to teach children, where ever they maybe.
We all have our experiences that inform our opinions as to where we are best placed to do that.

For me it is State but I accept that for others it is different. The only thing I don't accept is wild sweeping statments about how dreadful the behaviour is in state schoold or how thick they all must be...or our sitting around doing nothing in the prep room at break time

Goldberry · 19/06/2011 19:48

Have taught in both. I have taught many very bright, pleasant pupils in both state and independent schools. However, the fairly numerous rude, offensive or violent pupils I have taught have all been in state schools. Having switched to private for the first time for my most recent job, I'm now not sure I could bear to go back.

Jonnyfan · 19/06/2011 19:55

" ..I'd ask students to do something and they would simply refuse. I had one class where no-one would sit in their seat the entire lesson......they'd be hitting each other...swearing." Quote from Peter Hyman in today's Sunday times. And no, I don't inagine it is like that in ALL secondary schools, in ALL classes. But it is like that in MANY classes, in MANY schools.People who tell you otherwise are lying.

Jonnyfan · 19/06/2011 19:56

State secondary, that is.

sillybillies · 19/06/2011 20:12

Jonnyfan - ' had one class where no-one would sit in their seat the entire lesson......they'd be hitting each other...swearing.' really? many classes many schools?
I've worked in 2 schools considered the bottom in the borough/town and known for their challenging behaviour and I can assure that that is not the case. You do get classes that with weak teachers can behave like that, but it is the exception not the rule even in difficult schools. Most classes are fine and most kids want to learn in state schools. I'm not saying its all plain sailing but its not as pessimistic as you make out.

balia · 19/06/2011 20:12

Jonnyfan I thought I had made it clear that the experience was personal to me, rather than a criticism of private generally. I was working in a school that had boarders age 5, in fact the littlest was 4. It was 20 years ago, mind. It just made a strong impression on me. There are lots of other reasons why I teach in the state sector.

Your assumption that there aren't pleasant, well-behaved pupils in the state sector is far more offensive.

MigratingCoconuts · 19/06/2011 20:15

tsk Jonny!! You are trying to wind people up for fun!! That's really not very nice.

Some people might actually take you seriously

sillybillies · 19/06/2011 20:16

also.... prep rooms are the place to be! Science departments are the most social in the school (however I may be bias). We do venture out when our biscuits run out to search out cake in the staff room.

As a science teacher in a state school I've certainly had plenty of variety in my job and i'm not just a science teacher. The same can be said of the majority of the dept. There's plenty of other jobs to do in big school.

Jonnyfan · 19/06/2011 20:19

"Your assumption that there aren't pleasant, well-behaved pupils in the state sector is far more offensive." Scuse me? Where have I said that? I am well aware that there are pleasant children in the state sector. I am also aware that I would be more likely to encounter unpleasant, badly behaved pupils in the state sector. I have taught in both sectors.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 19/06/2011 20:19

Jonnyfan - I had a class like that on my teaching practice. In fact the school had many classes like that, and not just with the inexperienced student teachers, it was a failing school that has since closed. I would like to think it wasn't a typical experience, though.

Jonnyfan · 19/06/2011 20:24

Sadly, quite typical, I think.

MigratingCoconuts · 19/06/2011 20:28

I imagine that you experience must be a great deal more extensive than mine then because in twenty years of teaching in state I have never seen anything like this.

If it was that bad I wouldn't be teaching in the state sector

Loshad · 19/06/2011 20:35

I taught for a year in a state school like that Jonnyfan - not a pleasant experience, consistently ebing told to f off, chairs thrown etc etc. It was just me being weak either, everyone had the same problems, the only teachers who did not were the heads of department who universally taught only y12 and 13 , and top set y10/11, and i kid you not!!
I now teach in outstanding state secondary and it's fab, adore the kids and love the job. Full of delightful students, and the hods/slt teach across the ability/age range.,
However our facilities are a long way behind those of the independent school 10 miles down the road (and they pay more). They do only employ qualified teachers, as does every indi in the area, some of the state schools towards the west of the area definately employ unqualified teachers - it is a perennial mumsnet myth to think indi sector = unqualified.
I would have worked there if a job had been available at the right time, however unlikely to move now, unless for hod or similar.

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