Does anyone work at the same school their child attends?

[madnessitellyou]

If so, how do you find it?

I've been offered an interview at my dc's school. Dc not exactly thrilled about the prospect of potentially bumping into mum and having their style cramped (dc is a teenager). On the other hand, it's a potentially excellent opportunity.

Thoughts? I don't think I stand any sort of chance so this may not be any sort of issue.

I do but it’s primary. I think on balance it’s a good thing as we spend more time together and I don’t need childcare, but it does make getting work done after school more tricky!

Next year my daughter will join the secondary school I've taught at for 19 years. However lots of staff have had this.

Are they likely to ask a question about this? The headteacher is on the interview panel and will recognise me as dc's mum.

I am trying to sell the positives such as dc can get a lift to school (independent school so not local and currently involves long bus journey). And they can still stay after school for socialising after school activities.

I have Yr11 DS and aYr7 DD at my school. It is handy, but DH does Parents Evenings to get the 'real' deal !

Good point!

My DC is in my school. Primary. I was asked at interview how I felt about it and I said his independent nature meant he would be unlikely to be clingy, and I would remain professional. We kind of ignore each other at school. DH picks him up at home time. It's easier for breakfast club as we're in the same place and I like seeing him around.

Not sure they should be asking about it at interview as surely candidates are all meant to have the same questions. Maybe I’m wrong (same situation here - better prepare an answer!)

I would agree (I've been on lots of recruitment panels) but I'm going to prepare something I think.

If they ask why I want to work there do you think it'd be acceptable to say that among other reasons, I can see how great the school has been for my dc? It's completely genuine; it's been the best decision we ever made for them.

I feel the same about my interview - love the school for my DC (after unsuccessful experience for him elsewhere). Hoping not to get the question though - I’ll say that I can maintain professionalism etc and would seek support if either of us had difficulty with it.

Good luck by the way!

Thanks, and same to you!

In my experience my tweens then teens sometimes moan a lot about me being there (with potential for "embarrassing them"!), but they are happy to take the perks eg I'm available at lunchtime if they need cash, etc

I do, kids at the school first then I joined them. Same as you independent school. Works well for us but there are quite a lot of staff kids there, I think they might encourage it as it works well for staff retention.

Is there a fee rebate?

Re fees. Not sure. It wouldn't be a deal breaker but would be rather nice!

I'm sure the ability to be supplied with cash would probably be appealing to the teenager.

We'll see. There's likely to be fierce competition and I think I'm very much an outlier but nothing ventured nothing gained!

Our LEA school Application form now has a 'Staff at school' criteria.

I have taught at the same school as DC all her life, in various schools (not UK) and it's never been a problem.
Just started in the UK (state) and already kids are complaining to her that I'm "too strict" and "mean"... Poor DC is 😳
I'd never even considered this could happen, those kids are so brazen! 😂
DC will be fine but it's not good. Already i can see her friendships being affected by me teaching there. I don't think it would be the same in private sector for lots of reasons.

I taught at DC's secondary school. I had already worked there for years when they started and now they have both moved on, I'm still there.

I taught DD1 in year 8, then again in years 11 & 12. I taught DD2 briefly in year 11. It worked for us.

School orchestra was quite fun because we were all in it together. Sometimes, especially if an irritating person did something silly, we would all pull faces and one another and start laughing. It probably drove my HoD nuts, but he always had extra helpers at the end of each concert. We also sang in the choir together. On days I was working there, I drove them in. Other days they got the bus. Once DD1 could drive, she was the envy of her mates as she could legitimately park on site as she was my chauffeuse.

There were no issues at all with DD1. When there were a couple with DD2, I asked DH to deal with them. Friends of both DDs still call me Mrs Malbecfan even though both know my first name. Parents of friends called me by my first name outside of school but Mrs Malbecfan in school. It worked well for us.

I would expect a fee discount. It is standard in independent schools. Most seem to give 50% but pro-rata if part time.

Lots of independent teachers have their own kids in their school. It’s often the only independent they could afford as full fees are unachievable on teacher salary.

I would expect it to say something about the discount in the job description/details about the salary and benefits of employement, even if not specific details.

I think the key thing is to remain circumspect as a teacher parent. Don’t try to talk to other staff about your kid at lunch etc but go through the usual channels of emailing to make an appointment. Likewise, other staff shouldn’t be telling you anything about your kid that they wouldn’t tell any other parent...and shouldn’t just be randomly telling you good or bad things.

There are lots of positives for family life....journeying to school at same time, same holidays etc, knowing what’s going on. Downsides can include some children find having a parent embarrassing (for most it’s not as bad as they imagine) or if a child is poorly behaved or struggling academically, it can feel awkward for the parent or child. It’s probably easier in a bigger school where you can have very little to do with them during most school days,

I would expect information about the benefits of employment in the school to come up in the interview. As you say, the Head will know you’re a parent and so the issue of fees is relevant. They should say if there is or isn’t a fee discount. If they don’t, I think it would be entirely reasonable to enquire at the end of the interview. If you wanted to wait until a job offer was made you could. Personally I think it would be odd if a school didn’t mention it in their job advertisement or interview....it’s a key recruitment and retention aspect of the job. And schools which don’t offer it......well I would query whether they are a quality independent school and financially viable if they can’t offer this perk.

Oh and lots of schools generally have a policy that teacher doesn’t teach their own child. It is a good policy and unless someone is the only teacher if that subject in the school, is pretty easily applied in a secondary school of a decent size.

I think most children would find being taught by their own parent a bit tricky.

I went to the school my mother taught at and absolutely hated it for a million little things. I work in a school (not teaching) and would never work in my children’s schools (even when there were some great opportunities).

That said I know many people who do and they all seem happy enough.

I am currently teaching my 5 year old in her first year of school. It's been a lovely experience so far.

I taught both my children at a Prep School. It started off OK but then became a nightmare after my new HoD saw me as a threat (I have no idea why as didn't want her job) and relentlessly picked on my child and made her not want to come to school. It was awful and I ended up leaving the school and taking my children away. I would never do that again. Also you never quite fit into either the teacher camp or the parent camp and it can be very awkward. From experience, I would keep your child's school and your work separate. I didn't get a staff discount.

DS is in the nursery class at my school. We are a four-form-entry primary and secondary school, so I'm not too worried about teaching him at some point. He would have attended the school regardless but it's nice to be at the same one as him, especially since I'll eventually work myself up to a 70% discount.
It also makes it much easier to commute and there aren't too many English-speaking schools in our area.