Am I mad to consider a kitchen assistant job?

[TheFairyOnTopOfTheTree]

I am (in a past life) a qualified primary teacher, have had my DCs, who are now at school. My life is so busy after 3.15 with all the clubs/lessons/activities they do, plus I love the chance to cook meals from scratch,and to spend evenings together, so really want a job I can leave at work. There is a kitchen assistant post at a nearby school, and we could use the extra money. Am I crazy not to use my qualifications? I just don't want to teach again, certainly at the moment, it's too involved and my life is so different now. What would you do?

The money is not great, but it fits in with your life, so why not? You can always give it a go, you can stop if you don't enjoy it or it gets in the way of your life. Nothing to lose really.

I think that is the conclusion I made when out with the dog this aft.
Thanks for answering!

Go for the job, it will give you a change of scenery.

There are loads of jobs in schools that arent teaching where your experience would be useful and revelent. For example the libarian at the school I work at is an ex primary teacher. You might get a job as a learning mentor where you deal with naughty kids in a secondary school so that the teachers can get on with their jobs. Or you might consider becoming an educational welfare officer.

If you want some casual work you might consider exam invigulation in secondary schools.

I worked as a kitchen assistant in a local school for 7 months. Most people dont last that long. Please dont underestimate how exhausting it will be. Its slave labour for lower than minimum wage. (You almost always end up going over your time & get no extra pay for it) Looking on the bright side though I lost half a stone in 2 weeks. Its much cheaper than going to they Gym.
I now do cleaning work at a time to suit me & make much more per hour than I did at the school. Miss the kids though.

I did some tutoring for the OU which fitted in around family life, kept my mind active and looks good on the old CV if I want to go back to teaching. Am now considering supply work in schools as I enjoyed this in the past and there was little expectation that you would do anything after the end of school.