Teaching in an independent school

[NotElizabethAllen]

I’m an academic and have, for a long time, been considering moving into teaching in the private sector (no PGCE). I love teaching, I'm good at it and I'd like to do more of it. However, I never attended a private school myself and I definitely don’t fit in to the boarding school culture that I witnessed when I had interviews at these schools previously (actually, I had a pretty rough experience being patronised and belittled by one of the teachers). I’ve ruled out boarding schools and am looking at day schools. But - apart from the fact that I’m not sure I can even make this move - I am still worried about the culture shock. I’m used to the students but staff seem to be products of private schools themselves: I have a regional accent, was educated in a fairly rough state school and…I’m worried about it. I’m also used to relating to students on a very relaxed and informal level so I guess this would need tightening up!

I was hoping to hear from teachers working in these schools about their thoughts on this. Or from other academics that have made this move? Is it even possible? I'm talking about a huge career change here so I'm painfully aware of how much I don't know.

Many thanks :-)

I work in a private prep school and I would say well over 50% of the staff were not educated in the independent sector- it couldn’t be more down to Earth.

My two eldest children attend a very old, prestigious boarding school and I would say the way the staff relate to the children is incredibly relaxed and informal. It feels very much like university for young people rather than some of the state schools I have been in with super strict regulations.

It will differ hugely between schools (as it will in state)

From your post (apologies at me only going by that) you are hugely lacking in confidence. I would say that most of the teachers I have come across in the independent sector have bags of confidence... I would say the same of all the brilliant state school teachers I’ve met too... lots of confidence in their subject knowledge and personal abilities.

In case it’s relevant, I was raised on a council estate and attended state school all the way. Taught for eight years in the London state school sector - only moved to private when I returned to work after maternity to work in the school my children attended.

Thanks, that's really helpful and I'm so glad to hear what you say about your school. Ha, if you met me in person you wouldn't think I was unconfident - I am letting the mask slip for mumsnet! I can certainly perform confidence and I am very confident in my subject area - I know I'm a good teacher. It's more the broader culture that has me worried.To be fair, this worry only came about after a bad experience with one single teacher so I really need to move on!

I teach in an independent (with boarding), went to a shitty comp and have a regional accent. It's fine. There are a mix of people working there. A PGCE is becoming more of an expectation at independent schools, however.

Like most things relating to Private schools it really depends on the school. Big difference between a top Southern Boarding school and a Day school in Yorkshire for example
My DC are at the latter and while I dont know where any of their teachers went to school for certain they are all pretty down to earth. Some of them are proper lefties!

Ha I was going to say the same as petit donkey, you did come across as lacking confidence (who gives a shit about accents these days ) and if I’m paying for my kids education then I want confident able teachers.

You will be expected to give your pound of flesh, but if you enjoy the job as much as you say, then you will be fine.

@Hoppinggreen - yes, I completely get that. It is down South that I'm thinking of moving to so that's definitely part of it

@Katinthedoghouse Thank you! I'm giving about two pounds of flesh in my job at the moment so that doesn't worry me :-)

Most of my colleagues are very down-to-earth. Some are from privileged backgrounds but wear it lightly. The school ethos is pretty relaxed. Pandemic notwithstanding, it’s been a very pleasant place to work.

I think the bigger issue is that you’re not a qualified teacher rather than what school you went to. I think you will find it harder to get a job without a teaching qualification than you think.

Also, just because you are good at teaching 21 year olds doesn’t mean you can teach 11 year olds. It’s a whole different ball game.

@PotteringAlong yes, this is something I'm very aware of. I do have a teaching qualification but it relates to HE and I also have experience teaching A-level and GCSE (though the latter is at a private tuition level). I'm looking at jobs that want A-level teaching as part of the parcel. My hope would be that an employer would think I'm good enough to invest in - I'd need further training that's for sure. But when I've interviewed at schools before it's always been made clear to me that this could potentially be done 'on the job' so I guess that's what I'm hoping for 😬

My DP works in an independent school in the SE - one of the Mumsnet 'favourites' in fact (think annual threads about the admissions process) - working class, state-educated, non-RG first degree, a very very strong 'regional' accent and virtually a Marxist too

He does have bags of confidence in his ability as a teacher and a PGDE from a very good uni though. I agree with a PP who says that not having a teaching qualification will be more of an issue these days - most good independent schools will want you to have one.

Many of the kids will be extremely confident regardless of their actual abilities so you need to be able to meet and match that!

I know it sounds stupid, but it might be worth doing some work experience to check that you actually enjoy KS3 - unless your subject is a niche one that only ks4 / 5 take then a large proportion of your teaching time will be lower down the school. I teach gcse and a level and I reckon that it’s about 50% of my teaching time, with the rest being years 7-9.

There was one academic that came to teach at the DC school, lasted a term
She was very well qualified and published but couldn’t deal with a group of (pretty well behaved) 11-16 year olds
I’m not saying this will be the case for you OP but the Uni teaching experience doesn’t always translate

cross-post!

Yes some places may offer to train you on the job. My experience of HE-related teaching qualifications is that they're woefully lacking in the useful stuff like classroom management, lesson planning etc (I have one!) but it's a start.

What's your subject?

@PotteringAlong I think that's great advice, I just need to work out how to get it!

@HensInTheSkirtingBoard He sounds great! I am very well-versed in students like that (I've taught for the RG unis as well as at the other end of the spectrum) - you do need confidence!

@Hoppinggreen argh, although I must say that a lot of academics aren't great teachers and are not always the most socially gifted so this doesn't surprise me :-) I'm not like that (I hope!) but my lack of experience does worry me: however, I'm not in a position to take time out eg to do a PGCE now (full time job, toddlers). It would be a leap of faith in some ways.

@HensInTheSkirtingBoard you're totally right. I am definitely not trained in those essential skills at all. Classroom management is the area I'm most worried about there. And I'm very aware that for this very reason I might not be likely to even be considered for a job. My subject is English.

English is likely to be a big department too - if you were in charge of that department you’re not giving your a level classes to an unqualified and unknown new teacher. It might be a good 5 years before you see a pupil over the age of 15 in your classroom.

I’ve just come back to say that I’m not trying to put you off - I’m a secondary teacher and I love my job and I genuinely wouldn’t do anything else. But I don’t think the job you have in your head (teaching A-level to bright eyed 18 year olds) or even to high flying year 11’s) is the job you are actually going to have and, if you are going to do it, you need to do so with your eyes wide open.

The majority of my teaching has been in the independent sector. I have had a few stints in state schools which validated my reasons for putting my own children through private.

Good choice to stay away from boarding if you do not want to live and breathe this life style. It is exhausting.

Don't worry about a regional accent.

Building good relationships with students is ideal, so if you want this informal style, you will be well suited.

The fantastic thing about the independent sector is that you don't have to follow all the initiatives that state school teachers are perennially burdened with.

I have done the career change you are thinking of, but I did do a PGCE. Round here all the private schools ( or at least all the ones I checked prior to my move did) expect a PGCE as well as state schools.
Behaviour management is definitely an acquired skill.
I have never regretted the jump, yes the PGCE year cost me a lot ( despite a bursary as a science teacher) and was annoying ( folk running the course were rubbish lecturers ), my NQT year was a baptism of fire, then moved to my current school and have been there ten years plus.

IME of working in various independent schools, accent, background etc are irrelevant. What matters is your teaching ability- you may well have to teach a lesson at interview. I don’t think many schools would want an English teacher with no school experience, it’s too important! I can imagine psychology or something similar that is only taught at a level might be ok.

I teach in a big, urban, high flying independent day school and would say you’d like it. Staff come from a huge range of backgrounds. In terms of respect, the kids respect academic knowledge and confident teaching; I’ve never felt people are judged for regional accents. I’m also an English teacher and I love the really high level of our A Level literature classes - it’s certainly intellectually satisfying. I also love the variety created by teaching everyone from eleven years old upwards. My school don’t require a PGCE, but I wouldn’t rule out doing one.

Disagree, by the way, that schools will demand school experience. My own department would be very open minded about the skills applicants might bring from their different experiences. Apply for some positions and see what happens!

Id agree about the importance of meeting and chatting to some teachers about how they find the job and also doing some observations/work experience. Some people take a job as a classroom assistant for a short while before training to get a feel of it.

All this stuff about not fitting in, is going to be an issue for you rather than for the school. Schools want well qualified people (which usually includes qualified as a teacher....you'd benefit a lot from doing this) who can teach well and deliver what is required to get their students to the next stage their fee paying parents want for them. They need staff with a a sympathy for independent education and people who are willing to throw themselves into the huge numbers of required hours of extra curricular activities and who support the whole ethos, rather than people who have all attended such schools themselves.

You sound like you have a bit if a chip on your shoulder....a prejudice against Independnet schools, against their staff and some kind of complex about yourself. These things can be a big barrier and will likely come across. That's why you need to become more informed and visit some schools so you can see the reality of them and whether it is for you or not. Certainly, stay open minded to actually qualifying. Lots of schools will help fund teachers to do it in the job. It will make you a better teacher and also make you more employable if you are very willing to train on the job, or for further jobs later on. These days, fewer teachers in the Independnet sector lack teaching qualifications.

Is it only Independents you are considering, because you dont need to be qualified? Is there a reason to not consider state schools? All of your prejudices against independents might mean state schools would be a better fit for you.

Or are you looking for what you think might be an easier life, with a job which can be gained unqualified? Academic and highly successful schools will want qualifications generally, plus although there might not be huge behavioural issues, behaviour management will always be an issue and something which needs to be good, plus remember the vast number of extra hours such schools expect as a matter of course.