Where are all the PT teaching jobs?!

[user1483390742]

Have had 3 years out with my little ones and looking to go back part time permanent in Sep. I cannot find anything other than FT or maternity cover PT, neither of which i want. I know that there may be more choice after Easter when resignation date has passed, but i thought there would be more to choose from! Is it almost impossible to find such a job? Should i go back FT?

Suspect it depends where in the country you are. In my corner of the south east, the teacher recruitment crisis is so serious that many adverts say part time/full time/MPS/UPS/TLR if you want one... In other words, we'll take you on any terms!! I don't see there's anything wrong in going to look round a school that has a vacancy and asking while you're there if they'd be interested in a part time application.

I emailed all the schools I was interested in and asked if they'd consider a pt applicant.

One said yes and I got the job.

Good idea TeaforTiger i might try that!

Not in education but work in HR in another sector and 99% of jobs we will advertise as full time as that is really the preference, but we are often willing to negotiate for the right person.

I've emailed 2 jobs recently to ask of they'd consider p/t (and a sentence or two saying why I'd be perfect ;) ) and both said they would. But I then chickened out...I'm so not sure about returning to teaching I just haven't found anything else!

From my experience working in a school over a decade, very few PT teaching posts are actually advertised.....PT posts are often only accepted/come into existence when an already permanent FT teacher with a proven track record wants to drop hours, and often the timetables get rejigged to cover the hours using existing staff...does that make sense? But I think it will depend on what part of the country you are in and what your subjects are....you might be lucky. Or you might have to take a couple of FT temp contracts to get your foot back in the door.

Oh dear! FT is not an option really.. small kids, home late, dinners and homework to sort, no family support locally, paperwork in evenings so no time with DH.. 101 reasons why FT would be a nightmare.. i may have to consider some maternity cover!

In my experience it is far far easier to negotiate pt in an existing job than it is to find a pt job at least at a professional level

They are rarely advertised unless money is very tight and the school cannot afford or justify a FT member of staff. I completely agree with PP that you need to contact schools directly and ask if they would consider a PT applicant for the role.

The other thing to do is send out speculative CVs with a covering letter specifying what you are looking for. If you can hold your nerve then this is particularly effective around May half term, when you have a good chance of ending up on the desk of a HT who has had an unexpected resignation and has no time to advertise.

Every time a full-time job you like comes up, email them and ask if they would accept a part-time application.

Also, go for the maternity covers - it gets your foot in the door. That's how I got back in.

We have loads of part-timers at our place. Out of 17 classes, 8 have job-shares, with a further 3 floating part-timers (for cover/PPA etc).

It's not too hard in my subject (a sixth form one) as smaller schools can't always justify a full time position. So it does vary and I agree with the poster above who said some schools have a lot of PT posts. Keep looking and keep asking.

I just contacted places and asked when they advertised full time roles

I did daily supply to start with which led to a FT 4 week block, then they asked to keep me on and I said I was only looking for PT and they asked me to name my days! Brill!

Our primary school (I’m a parent) took on 2 pt teachers as a job share last September, so they definitely do. As far as I know it was advertised as full time, but obviously the best two candidates (or maybe only 2?) wanted part time.

I agree with the others, if you don’t ask, you don’t get. No harm in speaking to them and seeing what they think. I would imagine a good, part time teacher is better than no teacher at all.

I used to work at a school that advertised full time for pretty much every job as it would get a better field. Then at the start of the interview they would say part time was negotiable and to talk to them during the interview if this was of interest.
Advertising for part time can sometimes stop people applying

As said above it tends to be ft teachers dropping hours.

But you can sometimes get in via supply or Ive known a few teachers become ft or even part time tas then start bits of teaching and drop or increase their hours.

I asked when I saw ft roles that I liked the look of.
I’m on .8 but that came up when i saw a ft job advertised. I interviewed and taught and they ‘found’ me the hours I wanted in a slightly different role.