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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

As a parent, what would you honestly think if your child's primary teacher said they were going job share?

114 replies

Caz10 · 14/05/2008 21:24

I always thought I was going back FT but now it looks like PT may be an option...due to various things like long term sick, NQTs etc our school staff has been a bit unstable for a few years - I feel guilty in adding to that and I got the impression it wasn't popular with the parents when it was announced I was pg. I know it shouldn't be my concern, but it is a worry to me...if your child's teacher changed to a job-share set up, what would you honestly think?

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Original poster

Caz10 · 14/05/2008 21:34

frumpygrumpy i think that primary classes are different now...even with a FT teacher the class will also see visiting specialists, have PPA cover teachers etc...honestly I think the days are gone of having Mrs X all day every day

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Quattrocento · 14/05/2008 21:34

One of mine has a job share

It works really really well

I was a bit sceptical tbh but the teachers are so entirely professional - for example both of them have turned up to every parents evening, and handle the handovers so well

KerryMum · 14/05/2008 21:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

donbean · 14/05/2008 21:34

agree about consistency however they can still have consistency with job share teachers if they communicate well dont you think?

frumpygrumpy · 14/05/2008 21:36

I'm cross posting too

I just mean that, at a young age, kids (some) rely and trust their teacher implicitly. One teacher. Even if he/she changes, one teacher. Two teachers and they don't know whats happening next. Kids like routine IMHO.

Original poster

Caz10 · 14/05/2008 21:36

I have actually been job share before - we agreed on class rules, homework, sanctions etc etc and would fully expect to do that again. Different styles - yes - but I saw that as a bonus, eg my partner was stronger on sciences, I'm more artsy etc

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frumpygrumpy · 14/05/2008 21:37

My DT2 is up, sorry, have to go, will come back if I can........

tortoise · 14/05/2008 21:37

Wouldn't bother me at all as long as both teachers communicated well.
Reception class a few years ago had 2 teachers on job share when my DS2 was in the class. It worked out well. Now one has retired and other has taken over full time.

Original poster

Caz10 · 14/05/2008 21:38

cross posting again sorry!

Fg do your dcs not see more than one teacher for PPA time, expressive arts subjects etc anyway?

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Heated · 14/05/2008 21:38

I am part time but teach whole classes iyswim.

When my ds starts school he'll be taught by 2 class-teachers in a job share.

If I'm honest, in that first year only, I'd prefer him to be taught by one teacher who really gets to know him and we her, rather than forging 2 separate relationships with two differing styles of teacher. However, we've yet to experience it yet and it might work fabulously, especially if they teach to their different strengths. Once he were older and more self sufficient I would not have those same concerns.

There are also stats that show that part time teachers are better teachers for being part time.

Original poster

Caz10 · 14/05/2008 21:39

So do people see a difference between job sharing in the infant stages as opposed to further up the school?

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morocco · 14/05/2008 21:40

I'd be quite happy about it, sounds a nice idea.

Blandmum · 14/05/2008 21:40

My two have about 8 different teachers, as they get taught by subject specialists for ICT, science, french, music, DT and sport. This starts in year 3 and they have both coped very well.

frumpygrumpy · 14/05/2008 21:40

My DD1 does see other teachers, a variety. She is also a tiny bit of a worrier and needs to have solidity in there too. I understand the need to job share but I truly would be furious if it happened to us.

frumpygrumpy · 14/05/2008 21:41

I think job sharing for kids say, age 10 up might work.

onlygirlinthehouse · 14/05/2008 21:42

in our school around a third of the classes are run on a job share basis, sometimes it works brilliantly sometimes not so well, but on the whole i think its fine. My kids have been in job share classes four times and its always been ok, sometimes they prefer one teacher to another but that can be a good thing, at least they are not stuck with a teacher they dislike for the whole week!

LynetteScavo · 14/05/2008 21:44

Caz10, I think people do see job sharing in a more possitive light at junior age than infants. I wouldn't be so happy with my Dc going into reception with a job share, but having said that, DS2 teacher seems to be constantly liasing with local nursarys or on courses or PPP, so there is often the same "floating" teacher taking his class, and he's surviving.

Mercy · 14/05/2008 21:44

Kerrymum, children don't get confused (as long as they know in advance)

In fact they like the different approach of different teachers!

ChasingSquirrels · 14/05/2008 21:44

my dc (reception) has 2 job-sharers, they do 3.5 and 1.5 days respectively with the class but are in school 4 and 2 days each.
I was very sceptical, but there haven't been any problems.

Original poster

Caz10 · 14/05/2008 21:44

oh goodness I'm so torn...never thought this would be such a hard decision...also never thought I'd actually NOT jump at the chance of PT...think I am just a wimp...

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SugaryBits · 14/05/2008 21:46

Lots of classes at my DC school have 2 teachers doing 2 or 3 days each. I have never heard parents complaining.

Original poster

Caz10 · 14/05/2008 21:46

Have to say all the feedback from my last job share post was v positive, for all the reasons people have mentioned here - but it is different to be the one who actually instigates it

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aintnomountainhighenough · 14/05/2008 21:46

Personally I dont't like job share, especially in teaching and I would not be happy if my DD's school announced this for her class. I think children and parents need consistency which you do not get with job share. That said I think in the modern world we have to accept that this will happen and in many ways has to happen so in reality it has to be made to work. The success I think will depend on how your school handle it. My DDs school is terrible at communication, if you don't communicate with people in my experienc they loose trust. If the school is a good school and you are a good teacher then it will work out. I do think as well that you need to think about yourself. If you want to go back to work after you have your baby then do it and make it work. Remember there will always be people/parents who will complain but if you are giving your all and the children you teach are happy that is what counts. Good luck.

frumpygrumpy · 14/05/2008 21:46

You are not a wimp, you are a mum that wants the best for her child.......

ChasingSquirrels · 14/05/2008 21:48

tbh it isn't really an issue what the parents think - as long as you and your job-sharer make it work for the kids, the parents will be happy (and those that aren't you could do without anyway!).
As I said when I learnt that dc's class was job-shared "I would much prefer that there was a single teacher - but I defend the decision made by those teachers to be PT" (after all I am PT myself, not a teacher, how could I think otherwise).

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