Teaching in the private sector

[sunshine75]

Has anyone moved from teaching in a state school to teaching in a private school? I'm thinking about applying for a job in a private school after 15 years in the state sector. I was wondering if anyone had any first had experience and could share with me the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages: no OFSTED nonsense, longer holidays, free biscuits at break, no NC levels, boarding duties (fun) and raucous belting out of hymns in chapel.

Disadvantages: longer days and Saturday school (in some schools), boarding duties (tiring) and that's about it.

Having worked in both state and independents schools, I have found that the attitudes and behaviour of children and parents really depend on the individual school. It is impossible to say that as a rule, independent school children work hard and behave themselves - plenty don't.

If you were to work in a traditional public school with boarders and Saturday school, I would advise you to embrace the culture and lifestyle rather than rail against it. It really is a lifestyle. Term time is intense - I work seven days a week. Sundays are free but I have to do planning and marking but of course you then get longer hols. Be aware you could be expected to coach sport.

On the whole, I recommend it!

There are a wide range if private schools.
Some are very small and struggling financially. They might pay less than the state sector and give you few if any protections or benefits, whilst expecting a lot of you.
Others are large and wealthy and value their staff, offering lots of perks such as haeavily discounted fees, access to great sports facilities and trips. They will often give you a smaller teaching load and higher pay. There is also the chance to work with committed and highly educated staff. Most will expect a significant extra curricular contribution and willingness to engage with the pupils academically outside of the classroom.
Are you looking at Prep or Secondary level? Small or large? Well known or not?
I would only be interested in a school which was part of la larger respected organisation, such as HMC or IAPS, which was a decent size and doing well for numbers. I would also want to see a contract before sending a letter of acceptance of a job,as some schools can have odd contracts.

My sister moved (Primary though) - she loves it, however, as others have said, schools vary considerably. There's no way in the world she would apply to the first 2 she looked round - to do with the ethos of the school rather than the T&C, but equally, not all schools would match the fact she was UPS3.
What she LOVES is not having to jump through hoops and reinvent the curriculum all over again every time an education minister coughs - that has GOT to be the main bonus.
Little things she can't get her head round, even now, 3 yrs in, seem tiny, and insignificant and not worth changing jobs for, but she said really make a difference to your working conditions are things like not paying into the tea fund, and having real coffee, and someone else who loads the dishwasher! The fact you are invited to a meal at Christmas, which is arranged and paid for by the school. I know, they seem ridiculous, but she says it's about how you are treated as a whole that is so different from any of the 3 schools she's worked in over the previous 19 yrs, in the state sector.

Smaller classes help (her's isn't ridiculously small, but 22 is a much better number than 30). She reports that as the dc get older there are longer days for the staff - supervising prep etc., but in their school they have coaches in to do most of the sports offered.

I think the key thing is that they are all different - you'd really have to go and look, and talk to staff at the school you want to go to.

My mum taught in a secondary school in the state sector. She loved teaching kids her subject. However she found the red tape extremely irritating. She then taught in a private school which she loved even more because the kids wanted to learn. (her words). It was a good selective school. I guess it depends on the schools in each case.

No ofsted doesn't mean no inspection stress. DH preparing now and it's not pretty!

For me the main difference is that while in both there is a huge amount of work that needs to be done outside of the classroom, in private (boarding) you are generally left to get on with it while in state there is more red tape.

Boarding schools are super intensive, 7 days a week, usually at least two evenings on duty in a boarding house, sports coaching, another evening or two running activities, duties extend into evenings too with things like supper and prep. BUT the atmosphere at schools I've been at has generally been very 'we're all in it together' and it's just the norm to be at work till midnight, so you don't notice how exhausting it is until near the end of term! And the flip side like others have mentioned is things like being invited to events and parties and feeling really appreciated.

DH works in a private school with boarding. It seems expected that staff are available 24/7 in term time, leaving him exhausted and unwell for the first week of the holidays.

Mmmm, interesting. It's a large and very well respected secondary. Probably the best in the region. Mind, you my 2.1 from a redbrick might not be enough to even get an interview as I suspect firsts from Oxbridge are more the order of the day.

Don't bet on it. They will be looking for experienced teachers with good degrees-I've worked at excellent, academic boarding schools with my 2:1!

If applying, I would be emphasising the high percentages my recent exam classes have gained at A/A* level to show experience of teaching academic children. This is what they want.
If you haven't been in a school where that has been possible, emphasise the work you have done with top sets and beyond the curriculum. Also emphasise recent reading to show your love of the subject.

Many private schools, esp in expensive areas find they don't get that many applicants,mrs imply because people can't afford to live in the area. At the end of the day, they are just people.