Teaching job at a private prep vs state?

[DodgerJam]

I am currently working at a state primary in an area with a lot of social deprivation. I love it but it is REALLY hard work. I know teaching is hard generally but would love to hear from someone who has switched sectors?
What are the different challenges and pros/cons?
A job has come up in a prep school near my house. It is all girls which I am interested in. I am generally interested in having a new experience and change rather than the fact it is private and expectations it will be an 'easier life' (I don't expect that - I am aware there will be other pressures). My DC went to private school so I know what it is like, just not from the teacher perspective!

A good friend of mine works at a pre prep and moved from state and we've talked about this a lot. Pluses - longer holidays, specialist staff means free time during the week, smaller classes mean less marking, fewer reports, fewer parents evening appointments, reduced fees for her kids. Minuses - has to be on site 8-6 and run after school supervision on a rota, smaller classes not as dynamic, less well qualified support staff, specialist staff means she's becoming deskilled in some subject areas, lack of budget. Funnily enough she also misses the challenge of a range of SEN, working with S&L, and all the complex stuff that comes with having a mixed catchment.

I have only ever taught private but reasons for me:

discount on fees
small class sizes
tea after work :)
less paper work (but has gradually increased over the years)

but I have do an after school activity, longer parents evening and reports (although for less children), more contact with parents, pushy parents

My SIL works in a private school (having moved from state) and the big differences she has talked about are;

• general behaviour from pupils is better
• better resources
• longer holidays/better pay
• smaller class size
• if you have children in the school you have their fees subsidised (this varies with the school)
• longer working days
• more extra curricular work (running after school activities and weekend activities)
• more contact with parents. Not necessarily pushy, but parents expect to be listened to and if they want feedback or clarification on something they want it the same day.

Another con is that it could be hard to move back to the state sector at a later date.

Why would it be harder to 'move back'? And I would not in any case try to second -guess 'moving back' - no-one can predict the future. All through my career at every move, people scared of change have warned me not to move, but have never had a problem finding new and interesting challenges. All prep schools (much like all schools generally) are different - don't make assumptions on others' experiences of other schools. Research the condition in the specific school, and make decision based on that... The parents can be pushy or placid or indifferent or supportive... like in any state school, but indie schools recruit the type of confident, assertive people who are not intimidated by parents. From what I have seen, indie teachers consider themselves professionals who will push back, courteously, when challenged by parents. If you have been able to deal with difficult parents in other schools, you will have no problem. If you are a shrinking violet, you not make the cut anyway.

Thanks all.

Has anyone got an opinion on which they preferred? Not necessarily in terms of work load but general happiness/job satisfaction?

I prefer working in a prep school, I don't have to change what I do at the whim of a politician in Whitehall. I also am far more involved in what children do other than just making them make enough academic progress in English and Maths.

In many ways, you might get a more pleasant working environment in private. Ie you get smaller classes and less disruption. Facilities are also good. In return you probably need to be there for longer hours in term time (although term times are longer) and there is a high expectation of wider involvement. Staff are expected to be fully committed beyond classroom teaching.

Private schools differ widely. Some are well funded with fab facilities, good fee discounts, high wages,plenty of on going investment and small classes,making with opportunities for promotion. These tend to be the more prosperous,larger schools.
Others are clinging on, close to closing down, especially some prep and pre-preps. The facilities can be outdated with no signs of investment for many years, no or very limited fee discounts, and poor salaries. Some have peculiar owners with no sense of current educational thinking, or no real plan for the future.

Look out especially for the very small school that has falling numbers, requiring year groups to be combined and people to teach far beyond their area of expertise. Look out too, for those with no affiliation to a bigger group of schools. Ask about 5 year plans for building work and other investment....quite telling about the financial position of a school.

So private can be a great place to work, or it can be worse and more insecure that state. Make sure you understand the sector fully and know exactly what kind of school you are considering working in.

Chocolate Wombat - round here terms are shorter.
Also in my DC school the staff do clubs etc some lunchtimes - there is a very long lunchtime for that reason, but rarely after school, and weekends apart form sporting fixtures. They do not do break or lunch duties, there are staff employed to do that, so they do get proper breaks, which is an advantage. There are school trips in most holidays, but it is usually the younger staff without families who run those, some choose not to and are not compelled..

I think the main difference I have seen, although all schools vary, is that in the indie sector, teachers are employed to teach, and not expected to be policemen or social workers, or entertainers.

I've taught in both sectors. Private is much easier, longer holidays, nicer lunch etc.
However in terms of professional development and job satisfaction state wins hands down.

You work longer hours, but get more holidays. There is a lot of pressure to get results and give parents value for money and a good 'customer service.' If you are a good teacher however then you gave nothing to worry about. I have switched between the 2 sectors several times, but prefer independent and have always got on better in those schools.

Thanks all. I think I will apply, have a look at the school and see how I feel about it all.
I think for me, I am not young and energetic anymore but still have 17 years of work to go. I have done state in all positions from class teacher, subject leader, SENCO to deputy head. I love the challenge, but I want a change and a different type of challenge.
What has got me thinking about this is my DD. She is just beginning the journey, 4 weeks into her school-based teaching training and loving it despite working her socks off. It is people like her with boundless energy, enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and commitment that can serve state well. Once she is trained and has a few years behind her she will make a brilliant teacher.
For me, I know I am not energetic enough anymore to motive my children who sadly don't have much aspiration and to drive them to make the 'expected' progress. Maybe it is time for me to help other children who (generally) will do well whether it is me or someone else teaching them but I can bring experience and an eagerness to not just focus on children getting their 4bs or 'expected' progress.
We will see!

I'd always taught in the state sector, in inner-London until very recently when I switched to teaching at a small prep school.

It's a lovely school, non-selective and fairly low budget which means the intake is far more mixed than I'd imagined it might be but also seems to have resulted in a number of families selecting the school because they are trying to minimise/hide their child's special needs.

Differences I'm aware of so far:
salary: prep school = significantly lower than state
duties: none in state school, play and lunch duties at prep
resources: state = better resourced and more up-to-date
CPD: state = more readily available, prep = doesn't appear to offer any
teaching methods: state = more varied methods and more interesting lessons
holidays: prep = two weeks more per year than state (but expected to work at school holiday clubs for at least part of those)
parents: prep = more confident at coming to discuss child's learning with me
opportunities for children: far greater at the prep, especially sport, music and languages
SEN support: prep = far less able to support in-house due to lack of access to LA services (but massively willing to try anything that might help)

All in all, I think the biggest factor for me is that at the prep school I am trusted to teach. Trust won't pay the mortgage but it's helping with my sanity!

For me, I know I am not energetic enough anymore to motive my children who sadly don't have much aspiration and to drive them to make the 'expected' progress. Maybe it is time for me to help other children who (generally) will do well whether it is me or someone else teaching them

This isn't terribly encouraging.....

Zero, I agree!
OP, you really can't see Private school as the easy option to go and work in, when you are feeling a bit weary and need an easier ride!

I'm sure that at interview you will need to teach a lesson and they will be looking for energy, vibrancy and enthusiasm. They will be looking for a commitment to be in school running extra curricular activities several evening a week and probably weekends too. The challenges are different, but there are still challenges. It might not be about keeping bums sat on seats and policing them or achieving Level 4s, but you will be required to get them through difficult entrance exams into selective secondaries and to provide the education that people expect when they are paying.

Zero indeed. Definitely not a winding-down option. Different challenges.
Particularly since the HMC announced last week that they are launching a teacher training route, like School Direct PGCE, as they see a drying up of teachers of suitable calibre coming through the trad PGCE route. This will be real top flight grads, with energy, enthusiasm, drive... so any tired-of-the-rat-race candidates will not be shortlisted.