Moving to an independent school

[ohreallyohreallyoh]

Am about to take up a 3 day a week supply contract in a private school. Is there anything I need to know? Anything I should be asking about in my first few days? I have a list of the usual - behaviour, marking, schemes of work, rewards, duties, that kind of thing. Just wondering what might be different? Feeling very excited for the smaller classes but worried I’m too clumsy and inarticulate generally!

I’m sure you will be fine. We are not exactly aliens in the independent sector.

When you are saying you are on a supply contract, what does that mean exactly? It’s very rare to find supply teachers in independent schools - we tend to cover in-house. Are you doing a whole Teacher job because of illness/maternity? Or are you sitting around waiting for any teacher to be absent?

If you are a traditional supply teacher, you won’t have to worry about SOW. If you are doing the full job, they will give you the SOW for you to follow, and make plans from.

Most independent schools are fairly hot on induction procedures. They should take you through Safeguarding, and then the general school procedures.

If you have a duty, just ask what it entails, especially what areas are “out of bounds”.

Your colleagues should be really helpful, so just ask.

Supply on a long term contract to cover an absence. Reading between the lines it is someone who’s personal circumstances changed over the summer and who will not be returning to the school. It is a job I would be interested in long term, at least on first impressions.

Thanks. I know it wil, be no different to other schools really, just feeling nervous!

Hope it is going well.

It’s been great. Really friendly. I just feel a bit out of place but that happens in new places and will settle, I’m sure.