Which job to apply for?

[RobertSmithdoesmyhair]

Two teaching jobs have cropped up. Which would you choose?

1. Three days pw in a 'tough' inner city school with UPS responsibilities. Three form entry, so shared planning.
2. Full time in a 'nice' village one form entry. All planning and responsibility down to me.

Pay would work out roughly the same for both posts.

Go and visit both and see how they feel , apply for both, then decide if you get interviews for both.

Definitely apply for both, visit, ask the important questions.

I thin if I had to choose just on what you've said I'd say the former - there just seems to be a lot less work for the same pay.

BUT, it's impossible to tell whether you'll be happy in a school or not until you've worked there a while, so the only thing you can do is go have a look round with very open eyes, talk to as many people as you can, get a feel for the management, and how easy-going the schools are.

Going for a look round doesn't always work, but I've definitely been able to cross schools off my list from looking round eg. when I was looking round one school, the deputy head admitted that they'd just got rid of the Head of English, Maths and Science (in her words "they just decided to leave, with no job to go to, but it was very convenient for us because we could get better replacements") - it was so obvious they'd been bullied out so I never applied there.

What are the commutes like? A short commute would sway it for me.

They are roughly the same distance in opposite directions. About 8 miles. I have arranged to look around both after Easter. I like the thought of 3 days, but it's a challenging school. I'll see what the visits bring..

I guess the 3 days pw is a job share? I haven't job shared but have seen people who do end up with more work handing over, marking books late because they can't be taken home etc. Also shared planning sound good however again is hard work as it has to be more detailed for all to understand. When you plan for yourself you already know what you mean