Independent schools pay in London urgent help

[HDM]

Hi all
I am getting an offer from an Independent school. Question is they have matched my pay to my currents school pay which is a state school which will be U1. Also their pension is 3% by employer.
pension is quite low I understand. But what do usually teachers get paid in private schools? I am teaching for past 7 years and before that I was a support teacher for 2 years. So a lot of experience.
I really need advice here as need to answer them soon.
I am a maths teacher by the way :)

Something doesn't sound right here. Is the employer contribution 3%, or your contribution? Is this a DC (defined contribution) scheme - presumably it isn't TPS (teachers pension scheme), as TPS has a fixed employer contribution? 3% as an employer contribution is absolutely awful.

Generally private school salaries are slightly more generous than state sector salaries, but this varies massively - a small independent school will not be able to match the salaries at schools with huge reserves, and at some private schools the pay is on par with state schools. The downside is that many smaller private schools are no longer in the TPS, and this has huge financial implications - depending on where you are in your career, you could lose tens of thousands of pounds.

If you're a Maths teacher in London, loads of state schools that offer TPS would snap you up. You definitely have options.

That is a low pension contribution.

I understand the reason for leaving the TPS but the schools I know that have done this still do 12% and 18% emplpyer contributions

Effectively its a pay cut unless there is a massive reduction in the expectation around your workload.

The 3% is the mandated minimum for a workplace pension so it maybe gives an indicator about how they treat their staff.

No they are not part of TPS for sure. And I was shocked as well after hearing about 3%.
but not just pension the pay seems low to me aswell. what do you think how shall I approach this with them?
I like the school as it’s small only 230 kids and it will suite me due to holiday structure with my little one.

Honestly, I doubt there's room for manoeuvre if that's what they've offered - it's probably a school-wide policy. To me it seems exploitative and a huge red flag. If the school only has 230 children and is offering such a low pension, there's also a chance it will close down in the next few years if Labour gets into power & introduces VAT on fees. Lots of indy schools offer much better pensions so if I were you, unless I was desperate I wouldn't accept the job.

Aah thanks alot, this thread has helped me to think and take the right decision for myself.

Sounds as if you’ve decided against it, anyway. But I’d be inclined to wonder what such a small school could offer in terms of career progression. I mean, how would it field multiple sports teams to compete with other schools; what sort of orchestra and choirs with so few children to choose from; how many MFLs, trips, famous speakers, etc? I’m not sure holiday structure should be your primary criterion for - well, anything, really.

Stay where you are.

It’s a very small arts school, just for GCSE and Alevels. It seems like quite famous as some celebrities have been there.
I am not sure how sports and other activities work but since they are only only age group 15-18, I believe group activities can work.

Holiday is not my only criteria, but I am quite tired of handling big size classes and long term I wanted to move teaching just GCSE and Alevels as that’s what I enjoy the most.

3% employer contribution is standard for my profession, and I doubt it’s the only one. We have no strong union to fight for us so nothing changes. There is the option to increase your own contribution and you’ll get tax relief on it. You could try negotiating maybe?

I have been thinking how to negotiate my pay so I can contribute in my pension privately.

Can I ask what is your profession ?

Is it under the Dukes Education umbrella?

I’m not a teacher but I’d have thought as an experienced maths teacher you could take your pick of good offers rather than accepting what appears to be a pay cut.

Yes this school is under dukes education.
is it something related to low pension ?

It was just an educated guess. Their model is for-profit and that means they want to spend as little as possible on staff and get in as much as possible in fees.

lots of private schools pay less than state, and you need to look at the conditions carefully too, again, a lot of the conditions for staff in private schools are worse then those in state, eg no seats in staff room- standing only, no lockers, no space to work on site, policy of no supply teachers, expensive staff "uniform", no cleaning in staff areas - staff expected to do it, being available to parents by phone until 8pm, etc

I wasn’t aware of that, very interesting to know this.

OP would Woodhouse College be of interest to you? It’s a very highly rated sixth form college in north London:

https://www.tes.com/jobs/vacancy/maths-teacher-barnet-1839387

Most of those would be very unusual in a private school.

well, this is my experience in private schools, and doesn't even start on boarding duties, Saturday mornings, etc

Thanks that college is a bit far for me

A lot of my friends are happier in private schools as they are treated much better

@Nimbostratus100 That does seem surprising. The private school in my area have great teacher retention and way above what the states school offer to stage. Teachers are expected to be responsive to parents but not unreasonably so...plus their workload is much reduced so they have the time.

Terms and conditions of employment are a whole package of which pay and pension are a very big deal. But they arent the whole thing. Only teaching year groups you enjoy, or teaching smaller classes, or having more prep time or more holidays or shorter commutes, etc. These things have a value too. So its something to weigh up.