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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

Working in the school your child attends.

26 replies

MomWobble · 16/09/2016 21:26

Yay or nay?

I have an interview at ds's school (I am a secretary) and am being given lots of very mixed opinions and experiences.

Do the pro's outweigh the cons?

OP posts:
alivealiveoh · 16/09/2016 21:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dontrustcharisma · 16/09/2016 21:59

I have been to school with both my mum and dad and even my older sister when she did teaching practice. !00% would not recomend. It doesnt affect family dynamics, but it does affect peer groups, and if you want to be the anonymous child - forget it.

Acopyofacopy · 16/09/2016 22:00

You won't have much student contact, so not all children will know that you are your dc's parent.
I have worked at my dcs' school and it wasn't a problem at all. I would not want my dcs at my current school, though, because they would 100% be bullied for being a teacher's child. funnily enough, not many staff children in school at all

russetbella1000 · 16/09/2016 22:03

It's so tempting but I wouldn't do that to my dd 😉

wtffgs · 16/09/2016 22:06

I think it really does depend on the school. Other parents may see you differently too. DD would love it if I worked at her primary but it's a large school so I could probably avoid her IYSWIM. Other staff have kids at the school. A larger school is probably a better bet.

Original poster
MomWobble · 16/09/2016 22:14

DS has just started reception so I have no idea which way it could go. I applied purely for convenience but am having second thoughts.

I have been working in schools for just under 5 years with varying amounts of student contact. In my current school, I know many of the children by name. In a past role, support staff were encouraged to act as mentor-types. It totally depends on the school.

OP posts:
teacher54321 · 17/09/2016 06:48

I teach in ds's school, and teach everyone in the whole school. (Subject specialist) so I teach him. He's just started reception but I taught him last year in nursery. Doesn't seem to be a problem tbh, logistically it's a dream for school runs etc and it means I never miss sports day/special assemblies etc. Loads of my colleagues have their kids at the school as well and they're all lovely.

WiltingTulip · 17/09/2016 10:40

I know heaps of people who work at the same school as their dcs or went to the school their parents worked at with no problems.

In my case, as above, it's really convenient. My dcs are older but don't have a problem with it.

CodyKing · 17/09/2016 17:11

You may find DS friends parents try to obtain information from you - or indeed shout at you when things go wrong !!!

Go for the interview and see how you feel about it then - you can't make a decision unless you've had an interview and decide if you like the atmosphere or not!!

Is DS a good kid? Will you be embarrassed if they have to speak to you?

BackforGood · 17/09/2016 17:29

I was going to point you in the direction of the thread from a week or two ago where the op was berating a teacher for 'bullying' her son, when all the poor woman had done was not invite op's son to a samll (not whole class) party at her house.

I don't think it would be the same issues with a secretarial position though.

TheNumberfaker · 17/09/2016 17:33

Just do it. Loads of staff at my school have children there. About 10 currently do and loads more have children who have moved on.

Onlytimewilltell · 17/09/2016 17:35

I think as long as your child dosent mind and you are a nice friendly person and good with kids (so not known as a meany to your childs friends), then it's a lovely thing to do. Good luck!

wannabestressfree · 17/09/2016 17:37

I teach at the secondary all three of my children attend/ attended. I just don't teach them, teach a core so no need and depending on which child depends how we deal with it
ds1 would sit with me and wander in and out of my room (6th form and now left)
Ds2 only see if he wants food.
Ds3 pretends I don't exist. It's mutual :)
Only a problem if they are in trouble!

Scorbus · 17/09/2016 17:59

I teach at the the school my DD attends but in a different KS. It works for us very well and the convenience is a massive plus.

BizzyFizzy · 17/09/2016 18:10

My three daughters attended the school I worked at. It was mostly fine. It was only a possibility because I got fee remission.

I didn't particularly like teaching them, but it was a small school. One of my daughters was clingy and would ask me if she could buy tuck, if I had a hair band for her, etc. I didn't want to treat her any different to any other student.

If one of my children fell over and cut their knee, other teachers would bring her to me, and I didn't like this either. Obviously I would want to be involved in something serious, but otherwise wanted my children to be independent of me.

On the plus side, the main thing was travel. I didn't necessarily see performances, but perhaps the rehearsals.

heyday · 17/09/2016 18:16

I worked at my children's school whilst they were at primary. My daughter, now 22, still goes on about how much she hated it.

Doraemon · 18/09/2016 16:26

I have worked in my DCs school for the last couple of years - DS1 has just left, DS2 in y5 and DD in nursery. I have taught DSs classes (PPA cover) which has been fine, although a bit tricky with DS1 in y6 when his class where a pain. I am often in nursery with DD which is a bit difficult when she is feeling grumpy, and I will be asking to not be placed in Reception with her next year as I don't think it's fair on her. But overall the benefits (able to see class assemblies, minimal childcare costs etc., sheer convenience of only having to get us all to one place in the morning) have far outweighed any awkward moments. I have been quite lucky though that they are all generally very well behaved in school, I have been happy with their teachers and there are various other staff members with children in school as well. I would think in an admin role it would work out fine. Generally the boys try their best to ignore me in school and I follow their lead!

ReggaeShark · 18/09/2016 16:36

It will interfere with making friends with your DC's friends' parents. Would that bother you? You'll have to convince them at interview that you would never discuss school matters outside school. You'll have to convince the parents that you would never talk about them in the office. It is a conflict of interest.

Badbadbunny · 18/09/2016 16:51

You have to be very wary of others as regards them thinking that there's nepotism and favouritism. Our son's primary school was awful with complaints and bad feeling because the head's own kids went there as did children of teachers, classroom assistants and governors. Every year there were complaints because it was always the staff's children who got the parts in the school plays, always them who became prefects and team leaders. It was a standing joke that there was no need for auditions. Really caused a lot of ill-feeling.

ClockMakerSue · 18/09/2016 16:54

I've known many fellow teachers and admin staff who've had their children in the same school and not once has it been a problem so I can only see the positives!

BizzyFizzy · 18/09/2016 17:24

I found it fairly easy to switch between parent and teacher mode, tbh. The parents were fairly respectful of the boundaries when we were out on a pissup genteel wine-tasting.

Puffinity · 19/09/2016 22:20

The HT at my school has their DC in year 8 currently, and another SLT member also has their DC at the school (unsure about the year). I wasn't at the school when HT's DC started, but I don't think it's caused any problems very relieved not to be teaching said DC though as would constantly worry about the dinner table conversations

MidniteScribbler · 20/09/2016 02:18

DS will be starting at my school next year. I'm a single parent, and it's really the most sensible option for me. It's a pretty big school, we've got quite a few staff we students already in the school, and we never teach in the same year level as our class.

He will go to a different secondary though. I think that's when it becomes more important for them to have their space away from their parents. I went to high school with a girl who had a father who taught there, and I don't think it was that great for her, as he wasn't a popular teacher (and he taught sex-ed with some fairly graphic stories about his and his wife's choices of birth control).

solittletime · 21/09/2016 12:55

My dds have loved having me in the same school. I am not put in their classes and I avoid them or don't encourage them to wave at me if they see me.
However I don't think it will work once they get to secondary age so I will try to avoid it then, depending on where we are.

justkeepongoing · 09/10/2016 20:13

I work in DS school have done for a few years. It gets you in the know and I'd like the think teachers/staff are more helpful. Go for it!

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