Calling State school teachers with DC in private schools

[zanzibarmum]

State school teachers with your own children in private schools -what is is about state schools that isn't right for your child (this is a question to those state teachers who have actively and positively chosen private schools for thie own children)

I've taught in both sectors and DC have experienced both as well, at different times for different reasons. When it comes down to it, you are most interested in giving your child what you hope is the best you can manage at that time, be it state or independent. You can't be sure if it was the right choice until later and even then there may be uncertainty.

It's complete rubbish to imply that - as the Times Ed. article does - choosing an independent for your child whilst teaching in the state sector is some sort of 'sell-out'. There are too many variables in it.

Fine if you can get your own child into a good state school which meets his needs and not so fine if, for whatever reason, schools available don't.

I do suspect that the writer of the Times Ed. article hasn't been there and done that - yet!

I have never had an interview in the state sector and not been asked about wht extra cuuricular activity I provide.

Of course there are state school which provide very few extra curricular activities but many will offer much better choice. The state school I teach at runs lots of activities from debating to sailing to duke of edinburgh to ball room dancing. There is something on here every lunch and every evening.

I did consider a private education for my dd, mainly at dp's insistence. I taught in a sink school at the time and dp was very worried about discipline in schools thinking that my experience was the norm.

I also wanted dd to have a Catholic education. We also had friends with children at the school who were very happy there, some of them boarded and dd was and still is quite interested in boarding.

I now teach in a good state school and would be over the moon if dd could get a place, dp is now much happier now he can see a good state education in practice.

I've never been asked about extra curricular provision in an interview. Probably because I teach a shortage subject, always in inner city schools or school in deprived areas, and therefore don't have much competition to beat

I offer it though...

I think my only exception was at my previous school which was in a deprived area. But only because I was not really interviewed, they offered me the job as I walked in the door!

But every proper interview I have had I have been asked about extra curricular activities and trips.

Interestingly it can go both ways. My dc has gone both private and state and at the private school there were a number of children whose Mum's taught in state schools. Also in the state school there are a number of children whose Mum's teach in privates schools and even though they would get a staff discount at their school did not want this for their children.

I'd like to point out that independent school teachers ALSO have to spend an awful lot of their own time catching up on the "basics". I worked five solid weeks during my summer holidays. I work a six-day week and I nearly always have work to do in the evenings. And my colleagues also work very hard. So any idea that independent school teachers have oodles more time on their hands is rubbish.

Messalina, I don't think anyone is suggesting anything about 'oodles' of time. As I said there are different pressures. Teacher at my dcs' school get at least 2 more weeks holidays a year (this is hugely significant as it means they can benefit from cheaper holiday deals etc on an already very generous holiday amount and I speak as a teacher) and usually smaller classes and less discipline issues but they are expected to give up evenings and weekends for open days, extra curricular stuff etc, etc and have parental pressure and exam results pressure which is not comparable with that in state schools really. Obviously, teachers in the private system accept the advantages v the disadvantages or they wouldn't be there.

But I also wanted to repeat that the extra curricular stuff which is where this discussion has led was really not a motivating force for choosing private education for my dcs more a much appreciated bonus.

Well this state school teacher rarely works in the holidays and tries hard not to do a six day week. Some independent schools, especially boarding schools work their staff like dogs.

The school I teach in now is viewed by some of my older colleagues as a soft option as the discipline demands are much fewer and I don't have to spend a lot of time chasing homework. In that manner it is easy but my marking load is much heavier as the students work harder and the lessons require more prep.

..cos their kids cant hack it

Do you think the lessons require more prep in a 'better' school? I do far more for my bottom sets than my top sets, and most of all for my 'challenging' sets.

That is a touch uncalled for Alaska.

For me they do as I have not taught A Level for almost a decade before taking this post last year. I now teach AS and A2. I also teach the tops sets for GCSE in which, although I have taught GCSE before it is a diferent syllabus and a different religion. In my previous school we woudl be lucky to get more than 1 or 2 A, you were very much teaching to the C/D borderline. AT my present school almost all of my two top sets are targetted A, it is a very different way of teaching.

Even in key stage 3 I did last year have a year 7 grammar stream for humanities, again teaching outside of my subject expertise as I had to teach history and geography. This again took extra prep.

At my old school almost every class was working at the lower end of the ability spectrum, I have resources and ideas coming out of every orifice so I can put a lesson together quite quickly for that kind of class.

Because the kids are generally more academic and want to know more and make connections between their lessons I also spend a lot of time reading articles, journals and books to keep my subject knowledge up to date - that is the only work I do during the holidays. Sadly I never really had to do that at my previous school and after a while I stopped. I do feel reinvigorated as a teacher.

alaska you are provocatively posting your way aroud MN.

you do love a good scrap.and no one else cares...so you must post on and on

Ah now I'm teaching A level for the first time in 6 years (in fact, after not teaching at all for 5 years), and it's in a subject I've never taught before (did another degree during my time out) so have no resources for it at all, and I still find it easier than keeping my year 10s productively occupied for a double lesson

lol, now I really like all my year 10 classes but would not want a double.

I think it is getting used to teaching in a different way, throughout my teaching career I have probably taught lots of lower ability sets and middle groups so it almost comes naturally.

The school's targets and focus is very much on our A^ students, my time probably reflects that.

I also know that my school took a huge gamble appointing me with relatively little A Level experience so I probably overplan knowing that.

I worry a bit that I'm too slack with my planning for A level. 'Cos it's so easy. I really do find my other classes much more tricky. But never dull...

I do sometimes wonder about going for a job in a really high-achieving school. My academic qualifications are good, and I've been a very successful A level teacher in the past. There are lots of 'good' schools in the town nearest me, as opposed to the town where I work. At the moment though, I'm on a 'socially useful' kick. I reckon it'll get knocked out of me before long though. National Challenge is tough on teachers. All of them.

Yes the school I left became a national challenge school, I know the staff are finding it hard especially in the core subjects where the focus is. I loved the socially useful kick, before I taught in the school I did a community support role in the same community which is why, in part, they were so keen for me to teach there. I lasted 3 years and truly slogged my guts out but it was really taking it's toll on my health which is not perfect. I am so much happier now. You are still socially useful. My school is a comp, we take in all types of families from those living in temporary accomodation to millionaires.

Yes. I used to teach in a big city comp and there we really did have everything. To extremes. It was really rather fab. No big cities around here though. Small to middling towns very very different.

I have also taught in private as well as the state sector. The workload is similar, but the discipline was so much easier in the private sector; the students were motivated and you had setting, and could teach the top sets the basics and then extend them. I found that as the school day went on to about 1630/1700, I had more time to do my marking during the day, rather than my frees being taken for cover. I didn't have a tutor group either which helped, but did a duty in a boarding house on a Friday night.

I really enjoyed it, but I enjoyed the state sector teaching too.