Moving to a new teaching job in September. Tips please!

[rainbowfudgee]

I've been in the same school since I was an nqt- 11 years! Starting at a lovely new school in September. I'm going in for transition day and meeting my job share partner a couple of times before the holidays. I'm getting some display bits done at home to feel prepared.

I feel a bit nervous as I'm so comfortable in my current post. Know the building inside out, all the routines etc. Any tips for settling in to a new school?

Don't say a bad word about anybody, under any circumstances for at least 3 years.

I think taking time to listen and observe is so important and never make presumptions. I found I used to try and jump in with both feet and make changes before really understanding what was going on. I also found that everybody has a different story to tell with the truth being somewhere in the middle. I always love having new teachers join the school it is amazing how schools do things so differently and sharing knowledge is the most important thing in education.

Be aware that you will feel like an NQT as you will have no established relationships with the kids, so they will test your boundaries. A lot. I'm coming to the end of my 3rd year at my second school having done 10 in the first. The first year was hard here.

Is your job share partner new too or have they been in the school for a while, this will make a huge difference to how you feel your way through the first few weeks. Who will be in class for the first few days/ set up the room etc. Is there any chance of you both being in for the first few days so that the class see you as equals eg when you set out class rules.

My job share partner is established at the school, an experienced teacher. We will both be in for transition day so the children will see us together.

It's the right decision to leave my current post but I'm so comfortable there. I know all the children, staff and where everything is. So it will be hard to be somewhere new to state with but there are loads of positives. My new class are lovely. Behaviour is very good. Head is very sensible about workload. New build with pleasant classrooms and good resources.

We are going to get as much set up before the end of term as possible. I'm preparing display stuff at home after chatting to my partner over email. We're also meeting to look at planning soon.

Thank you for your thoughts!

Don't say a bad word about anybody, under any circumstances for at least 3 years

This is exactly what I came on to say! I’ve moved jobs three times in the last 10 years, and it’s very good advice-I’ve worked with several mum/daughter, sisters in law combos where you’d never know they were related by name or appearance, and it would’ve been very easy to say something inadvertently

Moved a lot.... definitely keep quiet and work out the connections. FB is good for this😉