teachers...

[picniclady]

I have a two year old ds. I'm new to schooling as he's my first. I've read a lot in the news and on Aibu etc where teachers seem to be fed up and demotivated, strikes etc.

I am wondering whether teachers in private schools are better paid and have better working conditions than in the state sector? We may be able to afford to send ds to private school, if the teachers are happier and more motivated then that could be a big factor in our decision.

I don't think you can judge a school on teachers' pay and working conditions. Some of the best teachers I've come across have been in the state system, some have been in the private system. All you can do is have a really good look round when the time comes and decide which is the best school for your child.

Teachers in private schools often have longer contact hours (I did NOT say working hours), and seem to be more responsible for more things (displays, duties, assemblies) than in state schools, but that might just be the teachers I know. Benefits often come in the form of eg, discounted fees for their children rather than massively inflated pay.

Better working conditions? Class sizes are smaller (generally) - that probably counts as a better working condition. In lots of private schools I've come across the staff eat lunch with the children - this is good, obviously, but I've had really busy, stressful mornings or days where I feel a bit under the weather where I really value being able to be 'off duty' and just curl up in the staff room with a mug of tea and would not want to spend twenty minutes making chit chat with the children. Swings and roundabouts I suppose.

Totally agree that you have to just take the situation as it comes though.