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Original poster

If I became a teacher, would I be able to not need childcare during school holidays?

188 replies

Twiglett · 13/01/2008 09:46

or is that naive?

(assuming I work in the same LEA as my children's school .. I understand I would need before and after-school care)

OP posts:
Quattrocento · 13/01/2008 20:31

I think that teaching is more family friendly than most jobs tbh - despite all the naysaying from the teachers on this thread. Try living in a world where you get four weeks' paid holidays a year to cover 14 weeks of school holidays ...

inamuckingfuddle · 13/01/2008 20:33

I've always wanted to teach, but am really disillusioned by it now, I have a good job in a high performing school that's jsut been graded outstanding by Ofsted, I earn very good money that I woudl struggle to match outside of teaching, and I still want to quit...so if you don't think you have a 'vocation' my advice would be don't do it.

inamuckingfuddle · 13/01/2008 20:33

also to get round to doing supply you woudl still have to train and complete NQT induction

Blandmum · 13/01/2008 20:34

Oh it is good re holidays.

the one down side is that you can't really get to see your own child in plays etc. This isn;t an issue so much in Secondary, but missing your own child in a nativity play can be sad.

and the holidays, while great, are fixed. So you can't take a day when the plumber needs to call etc

MicrowaveOnly · 13/01/2008 20:36

I hate it when people go "ooh you're so lucky you get long holidays"

You really should NOT focus on the holidays - that's the bit where you are NOT doing your job. Look at when you do work, what is it like? how stressful? what hours? and how tires can yu be and still cope with your domestic life.

twinsetandpearls · 13/01/2008 20:46

Teaching is a family friendly career if you can manage it part time, otherwise it can take over your whole life. If you are a perfectionist like me it can be a nightmare, i am in middle management and arrive for work at about six am. Most middle managers are in by seven. I rarely leave before six and will then have a few hours to do at home. This is the norm in middle management in our school. Most mainscale teachers are in by half seven and leave around five taking work home.

clam · 13/01/2008 20:47

Exactly, Martianbishop. Not to mention not being able to take advantage of off-peak holiday prices!

Reallytired · 13/01/2008 20:47

Quattrocento, I have worked in industry, I briefly tried teaching, but absolutely hated it with a passion.

Unless you have tried teaching, how on earth can you comment on the workload. Its not just the workload, but the associated stress that teachers have to put up with. It eats up your life and personally I wanted a life.

My job is brilliant, it gives me the holidays and I only work 37 hours a week.

inamuckingfuddle · 13/01/2008 20:49

yes, hols are great, its the job that's not!

Quattrocento · 13/01/2008 20:51

I did not make any comment on workload.

The question was about holidays. If your point is that the holidays are solely to catch up on work, then I understand that point but clearly if you are not required to be at the school then you have the opportunity to do a chunk of it after your children have gone to bed etc.

clam · 13/01/2008 20:54

Actually, I just did 2 years' 'floating' in my school i.e. no class responsibility, but just relieving other teachers for their non-contact time. It was heaven! I reckon my workload was halved (but same salary). No displays, parents' evenings, IEPs, target setting, assessments....... Aah! But now I'm back in Year 6, preparing for both SATs and OFSTED.

twinsetandpearls · 13/01/2008 20:56

I think if you are a dedicated teacher the holidays are enough of a sweetner to keep you in post and balance out the stresses of term time. I love my job but the demands have driven me close to a breakdown a number of times. However if i did not fundamentally love my job the holidays would not be enough of a perk to keep me in my job. I have only ever worked in tough comprehensives however, if you choose your school wisely you will have a different experience.

clam · 13/01/2008 20:57

And Quattrocento... I don't think there are many teachers denying the perk of long holidays. We're just trying to settle the misconception that we all nip off home at 3.30 during term-time to sort our own kids out. In that respect, it is NOT a family-friendly job. At all.

Quattrocento · 13/01/2008 21:00

Don't get defensive - the question was about HOLIDAYS and really and truly - teaching has to be a better job than anything else for holidays - except perhaps lecturing.

inamuckingfuddle · 13/01/2008 21:03

it is great for holidays yes, noone is denying that - but to do the job because of the hols alone is not a good enough reason to sustain your interest and motivation through the rest of the year

Tnog · 13/01/2008 21:04

I only teach part-time and it's art to adults, so I'm not sure if I'm qualified to post on this thread...but, yes the holidays are a wonderful perk and I'm fortunate that I get to spend the whole summer with my ds.

We get 2 months off here in Ireland for the summer hols.

Quattrocento · 13/01/2008 21:04

Yes, Twiglett was questioning her own vocation earlier on in the thread. Can't answer that one.

clam · 13/01/2008 21:04

Actually, my DH has recently switched from teaching to lecturing and the holidays are worse. 7 weeks a year. Still better than most, I grant you, but a bit of a shock to the system for him. He was under the impression that if the students were off, so would he be. Not so!

Quattrocento · 13/01/2008 21:05
Tnog · 13/01/2008 21:11

< Q - I love you. You're totally fab >

twinsetandpearls · 13/01/2008 21:11

It does all depend on the culture of your school to be honest. I have always been given time off to see plays etc and no inset days i bring dd into school and she plays with the other kids. Many of our staff have kids at private schools so there kids are no holiday during out term time and again depending on what classes we have our kids come in. My dd gains a lot from my teaching as she has become part of the school community and the kids adore her. Often when i am working late dd comes into school

lilolilmanchester · 13/01/2008 21:13

My DH is a lecturer too, Clam. He takes Christmas and the weeks we go away - usually 4 - 5 in total. Our teacher friends claim to have just as few holidays and work 60+ hour weeks in term time (DH doesn't routinely, does occasionally when marking) . I could cope with the long hours during term time, if I could really take the 13 week hols. But couldn't do 60 hour weeks and only take 4 -5 week hols. Hence staying in industry (part time otherwise it would be the same) and not moving to teaching, which was always my plan. Sad, I'd love to teach but conditions are so bad it puts you off.

twinsetandpearls · 13/01/2008 21:18

Sorry am typing on my phone as in hospital and cant do long messages. As was saying dd will come into school if i am working late and join in with a club or sit and do homework in the library, she could not do that if i worked in an office. But there are periods when i will not have any real time with dd during the week as i am at my desk before she gets up and sometimes as work after she has home to bed. For example at the moment reports are being written and if i were not off sick i would be in until 9pm

lilolilmanchester · 13/01/2008 21:23
clam · 13/01/2008 21:25

Sorry to hear you're in hosp. Hope speedy recovery