Relocating for a Teaching Job

[CatAndFiddle]

Has anyone ever done this? Is it worth it? SLT at my current school have become like a Twitter parody account of themselves. It has got very bad, very quickly.
A job has come up at an independent school. Teaching only in specialism, with A Level. But it is an hour's drive away. I am thinking that I could do the commute for a few months, before moving closer to the school.

What do you think? Does anyone have any experience of doing a long commute to school, and/or relocating for a job?

Have you got kids to consider or is it just you? If it’s just you I’d go for it!

Yes as an nqt I moved myself and family closer to school rather than have an hour commute. It was difficult for the children who all had to change schools but I needed a job so just got on with it. I think what you have described is an opportunity too good to not explore at the very least.

An hour isn't that bad, I do that now. (Pretty standard in London). I say go for it and move closer if it all goes well.

Most independent school staff have done this a couple of times at least. You have to if you want to work at these schools.

Do it. You won’t regret it!

I have one son. Sorry, I should have said that. I am also not very happy with his current school. My DH is supportive, but I feel anxious about doing something "for me", if that makes sense?

@Pangur2 can I ask what your day is like with that commute? Is that on the train/tube?

It could be the perfect move OP, depending on the area of course but you can handpick a new school (by distance) and you’ll end up still within half an hour of your current home and work. If DH is on board do it.

Reduced price fees in the future for your son too? If it all goes well.

At first it was a mixture of train, bus and walking. Now it is driving. Driving takes almost the same amount of time due to traffic. I'm moving nearer to the school next week, but that is after 7 years. Most people I know in London have a 45 to 60min commute tbh. Over that I feel it starts to get a bit silly. In saying that, I don't have kids.

I moved 200 miles for a job and it was the best decision I ever made. I did have a supportive dh and dc too young to even realise we’d moved though.

An hour's commute isn't much fun every day - I assume that you mean it's an hour on a clear run, you'll need to factor in that there may be slower days - but neither is working in a miserable environment. Go for it, you don't need to move straight away, you've got time to ponder areas. I wouldn't move for a job now because we have fantastic family, friends, support network and DC settled at a good secondary school here, but if you don't have strong ties to where you live then perhaps you'll find them in a new location. And if your DH is happy to support you then that's great. Before I met my DH I moved for a job, from London to a European country and then after a few years back to a different area of the UK and loved it. So I do have experience of moving a distance too 😀

Thanks all. I'm going to apply and see what happens.

I have a tiny ten minute commute but I work at a large independent. Leaving state was the best thing I ever did - good luck!

I'm contemplating just this! Thoroughly miserable in my current job. I sent off an application this morning for a job in a private prep school, 120 miles away!! Job starts in January, so it would mean a quick Christmas move for me if I get it 🤷‍♀️. Saying that though, I moved overseas for a job when my children were primary aged (no DH involved...single mum), so I'm fairly sure this would be simple compared to that, now I'm on my own 😆

Good luck OP 👍

I moved over 300 miles to get a job although it was also to be closer to extended family. Have never regretted it, nor have my children who were all teenagers at the time.

I commute an hour a day by car. I wouldn't recommend it and would say moving would be better.