Boarding school?

[Frlrlrubert]

I'm currently working at a 'requires improvement' fairly standard academy.

I enjoy it, though obviously it has the usual stressors - some mildly incompetent SLT, budget constraints, behaviour.

A vacancy has come up at a private boarding school, in my area, which a good friend of mine from Uni attended. He's telling me I should totally go for it and it will be brilliant, etc. My husband who previously did IT stuff at both state and private, also thinks it's an great idea.

I was considering it anyway, though I have some reservations about the amount of extra-curricular that might be expected and the fact that I'm common as muck so my face might not fit.

Anyone that's worked in a private boarding school - what's it really like?

Don’t worry about your class at all! People are people everywhere. There will be some you get on with and some you don’t. There will still be mildly incompetent SLT and budget constraints, so don’t go in thinking it will be perfect.

Yes there will be expectations of extracurricular, probably at the weekend (exeats start to feel like a luxury). But I find this is balanced by not having to mark 34 books in a class (capped at 22) and I have a lighter timetable (20 out of the 30). There are parental expectations as well.

You don’t say what your subject is, I’m in science so a huge plus is teaching only my specialism and only to the upper school (my preference).

Go for it, visit the school, chat to the staff, if you don’t like it and doesn’t fit you then turn it down. The interview is a two way conversation.

My school has different expectations if you live onsite or off site, so ask about that as well.

Do you have kids and do you care about a fee remission? My is 50%, which as it is a remission is not taxable, but almost bonus salary as my kids were there already.

DD is 4, and due to start primary in September. A fee remission would definitely be something to consider long term.

I'm science as well, but I honestly don't mind teaching outside specialism up to KS4 now, though focus on a specialism might be nice.

They are looking for Biology or Chemistry. I haven't actually taught KS5 yet (going to start that at my current school next year, would have been this year, but COVID). I have a Biology degree but a Chemistry PGCE so could do either really.

I'm not under the impression there would be infinite funding but I imagine I might be allowed coloured paper occasionally 😂

I’m physics and much prefer just teaching physics! I also only teacher ks4 and 5 and very happy with that.

I would go for it but have a list of questions:
What are the after school expectations?
Are you expected to coach a sport?
Are there evening duties in the boarding house?
How are Saturdays structured and staffed?
Any Sunday working?
What is the pastoral set up - is it via house parents or heads of year?
Are you a member of a boarding house?
Do you get meals? We get lunch as standard and breakfast and dinner if we work early/late (though not at the moment due to Covid, only lunch)

I enjoy working in a boarding school, you build different relationships with the staff and students. You get to see them in a very different light in the boarding houses and are much more involved in the pastoral care. But it is full on!

Yes to coloured paper, we even have coloured a3 paper! And properly equipped to do all the practicals.

Longer school days 8:15-4:45 pm here, Saturday teaching, expectation to help out with sports on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, lots of extra curricular activities, homework club etc on rota basis.

I've never worked in a boarding school, but DH has done 20 years in 5 different boarding schools. Basically, they own your soul in term time. You are likely to have evening duty a couple of night a week. If you live on site this is likely to be off set by being able to spend some time at home during the day, but if you don't live onsite, or very close by, it makes the days very long. Extra duties get thrown in to cover people or you might need to give extra tutorials at the drop of a hat.

You are certain to work Saturdays and likely to work some Sundays. Having to run extra-curricular is a given. Parents will phone you on your mobile and email you at all times of the day/ night/ weekend and you will be expected to answer immediately. The customers are always right.

It's not particularly family friendly. Many of DH's colleagues have a stay at home wife. I've always worked, but my career has taken a back seat because of the utter inflexibility of DH's job. I basically single parent during term time. Will your DH be able to do that for you?

There are perks though. We've lived in some beautiful school houses that we could never have afforded. We'll only pay £9k p/a instead of £40k at a major public school for DS and get a very good discount on the associated prep too. We've never paid for gym membership and had many free hot dinners! Obviously the holidays are glorious too (although I work in the state sector so I don't see the benefit of that!).

Just check that the school is in the TPS before you apply. Also check that it is staying in it, and not consulting to come out. You do not want to lose your pension.
Many independent schools are dicking about with pensions at the moment. BEWARE