Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Original poster

Teaching at the school in the area where you live

32 replies

SaltaKatten · 04/04/2015 13:40

I've just accepted a job offer and am hugely excited. The school is 5 minutes away from where I live and for the last 8 years I've been commuting to and from work by bus. Does anyone else have any experience of what it's like living in the community you teach? My own children go to a different school but my eldest went to the school where I will teach for 3 years. We moved schools because my youngest has SEN and her needs were best meet at a school across town. I'm a very boring person so won't be seen out partying or anything like that but will no doubt meet parents and pupils at the local shop and such. Any advice on keeping things professional and friendly?

OP posts:
ShipwreckedAndComatose · 04/04/2015 16:44

Congratulations!

Is this primary or secondary? I work at a secondary close in the catchment where I live. I have friends who have worked at their local primary.

BellMcEnd · 04/04/2015 16:56

I'm not a teacher but a lot of teachers from my children's primary school live very locally to it and to us. It's a faith school so we see the teachers at church, too. I'm quite friendly with 3 of the teachers and in my experience it works really well. This isn't some little village school either, it's in Greater London. I love the way it feels like a real community both in school and out. My best friend was a deputy head at the primary school round the corner from her house and also found it to be a positive experience. I can see how there could be issues if parents / children overstepped the boundaries but both my friend and I have found it to be v positive from both angles.

Good luck in your new job!

18yearstooold · 04/04/2015 17:20

It's always funny when they see you at the shops at the weekend, say hello, and then come and tell you on Monday that they saw you on Saturday!

Um I know, I said hello to you?!

takemeuptheeiffeltower · 04/04/2015 18:42

If you use your local swimming pool, say goodbye to using the communal area of the changing rooms and ^always use a cubical to get changed you will if you have any sense.
Unless of course, you are OK with little Johnny..... gleefully telling the whole class ''I saw Miss Salta's nekkid at the pool on Saturday!''

takemeuptheeiffeltower · 04/04/2015 18:43

That should read always try, when possible, to use a cubical to get changed Smile

TheTroubleWithAngels · 04/04/2015 18:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BellaBearisWideAwake · 04/04/2015 18:48

I work and live in the same community (secondary) and it helps that it is a very nice area. I'm always meeting kids and parents out and about and it's fine. Lovely in fact. Just today I was served in a shop by an ex student and I met someone at bootcamp who I said I thought I knew and she said we met at parents evening last month and I teach her daughter! I would second the thing about the swimming pool (I use one in the next town for this reason!) and also be a bit careful on FB etc as you are two degrees of separation from everyone. (Not that you would say anything dodgy on FB). Positives include on tap babysitters that are thoroughly vetted! I was a bit wary about going out for a run, but I've just got over myself on that one. Kids I teach seem to absolutely adore seeing me out and about with the DC.

spudmasher · 04/04/2015 18:50

I grew up in a small village community and it was normal to see Mrs Whoever out and about. I'm now a teacher and teaching in an inner London school 10 minutes away from my house. It's lovely. Depends on your views regarding community. I like it.

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 04/04/2015 18:53

I agree that literally the only downsides are swimming and running. I love it, it makes me feel part of the community.

Original poster
SaltaKatten · 04/04/2015 18:58

Thanks for all the responses. It's primary and the area is very different from where I teach at the moment. My current school is in a very deprived area while this one is more affluent although with a high number of eal.
I don't think I will mind being greeted and recognised. I live a very boring life, no drinking or smoking so don't need to worry about being on best behaviour.
I think this will be a very positive new start for me.

OP posts:
MommyOfATeen · 04/04/2015 19:03

It is a good experience I have being a TA in my area and it worked my dd also attended the school it can work out and is a pleasant experience

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 05/04/2015 09:22

The really short commute is a huge bonus too.

awfulomission · 05/04/2015 19:54

Primary or secondary makes a huge difference. You're not so likely to see/hear/smell your students doing naughty things out of school hours if they're primary.

I teach secondary and did the live work in the same area thing. I got really good at tactical ignoring and diving behind large bushes etc with my DC at the weekends. Grin

mumsneedwine · 05/04/2015 22:24

Nothing like sitting in the pub on Saturday night and watching as some year 10s walk in. And then clocking me smirking at them !!! Although some lovely year 11s bought me a drink last night SmileSmileSmile

CurlyhairedAssassin · 05/04/2015 22:30

Can be tricky if you've got something slightly embarrassing in your shopping basket. I bought some lube in Tesco last week and made sure I went at a quiet time and had already bought other items so I could hide it under stuff. Grin

FOFONAR · 05/04/2015 22:35

I'll second the running. Also never leave the house without makeup and a brush through my hair. It's a small town with one restaurant so always see/hear someone I know in there, it's like being a minor celeb.

ElizabethHoover · 06/04/2015 08:30

Surely year 11s shouldn't be in a pub buying drinks.
I had misgivings about this but it worked out fine. My kids are mates with people I teach too. Luckily I'm quite liked so they never hear negatives.

TrulyTurtles · 06/04/2015 08:36

Oh yes get used to "I saw you in xxxx last night miss" ad infinitum.
Agree year 11s shouldn't be buying alcohol (I take it it was?) especially for teachers. If they get pulled up by the cops it could be awkward.

MiaowTheCat · 07/04/2015 08:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Frecklefeatures · 07/04/2015 08:34

I did it for years and never had any trouble with the kids. They used to chat to me when I was out gardening or walking my dog. Halloween was fun, lots of them came to my house and I used to get dressed up in something scary :) I did get told I should cut my grass once though!

Awellboiledicicle · 07/04/2015 08:40

I do it. I'm secondary. I run and the kids are always telling me they see me! It definitely calms down after a while, although they still seem to find it exciting that they saw me in the local shop!

SomewhereIBelong · 07/04/2015 09:00

I was a dinner lady at primary 8 YEARS AGO, and I see the kids from back then learning to drive..

they all still wave and tell their parents/friends "that's Mrs Somewhere" usually followed by "SHE'S the one who climbed up to the top of the trim trail to get X down when their shirt got caught up - and we saw her knickers" (the shame)

so be aware the stories don't just go one way and you will get parents in the shop saying "how exactly does Y know you wear red knickers??"

smugmumofboys · 07/04/2015 09:15

We moved from London about ten years ago where I worked miles away from our flat. We're now in the north west and I'm a 5 minute drive from school. It's also the school where DS1 is.

It's all fine. I actually like it. As others have said, you do get 'spotted' ( my fave was talking to myself in M&S). I've also been served by a sixth former in our local pub, bollocked DS1 in front of another sixth former in Sports Direct and opened my front door to half of my yr 8s on Halloween.

mumsneedwine · 07/04/2015 17:15

Just got back from dropping my DD at work. And passed a group of scary looking hooded teenagers at local shop. All looking grumpy and 'cool'. Til they saw me and burst into big smiles and lots of Hi Miss. And I even got a Malteser . I always smile and treat them as I would at school. Oh and I know year 11 shouldn't be in a pub - but some 16 year kids are in the real world & they are usually with older teenagers. It's a tough call. I know these kids very well and know their backgrounds and it's hard to know what's for the best. It's easy in middle class land to say 'how terrible', but some kids have lived more in 16 years than any of us will.

JemFinch · 07/04/2015 17:36

I don't but my husband does. Secondary. The kids love it when we bump into them in the shops, we get interrogated. He also won't use the nearest gym as he just gets hounded.

It's quite nice when he sees the kids who left years ago and he gets an update on what they're up to now.

The commute, 5mins, is a godsend as he can deal with the kids before it get home.