Move or Stay?

[caulkheaded]

My school: ofsted good, but only just. 5 miles away, supportive SLT and colleagues. Behaviour is poor, head leaves at Easter, big restructuring in place, no career progression, pay is terrible.

New School: outstanding girls grammar, 9 miles away. New head, poor staff morale, excellent behaviour, pay increase.

I’m in a pastoral role, and I love it but there is no career progression, just moving sideways for slightly more money.

I’ve been headhunted for the new school, but I’m not sure - I have it good at my school and I don’t know if I want to risk leaving for something which might be worse. But, on the other hand, my school could/will change a lot with a new head.

Any suggestions.

The poor staff morale would really worry me...

Why the poor staff morale? Who headhunted you?

There definitely what’s worried me too. Apparently it was a dysfunctional SLT which fed into the rest of the staff. That has now changed but the main teaching and pastoral staff still hold the pain from when it was hard before.

We buy into a service who offer specialised training around well-being/SEND/behaviour etc. The person who heads up the stuff I am part of has been liaising with the other school about a job they want to create. She knows I only have a yearly rolling contact so might be looking for sept and when they asked for suggestions of people to talk to, she set up a meeting between them and me. We did it via email in the end but they then contacted her and asked her to approach me about the job. It’s a niche area and I do a lot of training for ofher schools and staff on it so giving them wisdom on the job description etc wasn’t unheard of.

I have it good at my school

With the crap behaviour, terrible pay and no career progression? Are you sure? Plus new Head always is a trying time especially if they turn out to be crap. The new head at the new school appears to be less of a problem than their old head?

It’s good because I’m part of a really good team. I have a dedicated room to work 1:1 in, plus an office base and brilliant relationships with students. I’ve shaped the role as it was broad when I began and that has helped too. I enjoy it.

I don’t enjoy being skint, knowing I can’t progress or the behaviour.

I would stay for the moment. I've worked in an outstanding all girls high performing school before where staff morale was low- wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Behaviour was great but I was desperately u happy. Have also worked in an inadequate school with awful behaviour and that was far better.

I would stay and look for a role at a better all round school! They do exist!