Working as an LSA in a secondary school

[PlomBear]

I’ve been offered a job as a learning support assistant in a secondary school, I’ve only ever volunteered in a primary school! The role seems very interesting and they said they can use my English degree as I can specialise in English. The school is a short walk from where I live and it’s 20 hours a week.

I’ve also been offered a job as a primary school TA. It’s mornings only though so I’m not sure the hours make it feasible financially. It’s only a short drive away but an hours walk or two buses! The journey time door to door would be around 50 minutes. Which I think would be expensive (£60 a month bus pass) and tiresome BUT I really liked the school.

I feel really comfortable in a primary school environment though - not so sure about secondary school! I don’t know if I should go for it or wait for another primary TA job to come up. There appears to be quite a few jobs being advertised in my area at the moment.

Longer term, I would like to do a primary PGCE. The money for support staff is poor but I would rather do a rewarding job than continue working in an office which is what I am currently doing. I’m a health and safety advisor and I’m finding it really boring, I have little to do at work but I’ve really enjoyed my school experience.

Any advice please?!

I'm a teacher rather than a TA, but secondary is a different world from primary. I love it, and would hate being surrounded by primary aged children all day. Much happier with Y11. You'll never know if it's for you unless you try it.

Ask to visit the secondary school and have a look around lessons?

Thank you for the responses.

I had a tour of the school on the interview day and went into classrooms. It all seemed perfectly fine. I just didn’t get the warm feeling I get at primary schools!

I absolutely love being a secondary school TA. I have done both and much prefer it to Primary. It's rewarding, varied, fun, emotional and downright bonkers at times. Don't worry about not getting the warm feeling straight away - you will soon build relationships with the staff and students. I have magic moments every single day.

Thank you for the comments! I suppose I can always reapply for primary school jobs if I don’t like it. I want to do a PGCE in 2021 (maybe!) but I can’t see myself teaching in a secondary school.

We've had TAs go from secondary to primary and they are snapped up as they have curriculum knowledge which is especially useful for the Yr 5s and 6s. We've had TAs that have gone on to be cover supervisors and some that have gone on to secondary teaching. We've had others who have decided secondary teaching is not for them and they would rather do primary. I am sure that you will have an enjoyable, rewarding and interesting time, even if you decide secondary is not for you. Good luck.

Awning10 - thank you!