Hypothetical job dilemma

[Greenandcabbagelooking]

I left my secondary teacher role last term. I had another job lined up, but it fell through after I had resigned.

I have three interviews next week. I have no idea what I would take if I were lucky enough to be offered all three. My end goal is to teach my subject (core) in a primary or prep. I have experience with ages 6-11, but not in a school setting.

Job A: Teaching my subject in a independent progressive Primary school. It's tiny, mixed aged classes. Very unique way of doing things. Reasonable commute.

Job B: Working 1:1 with a Reception child with significant SEN. Might be a good lead into Primary teaching, but massive pay cut. Reasonable commute.

Job C: Two days a week teaching my subject and some KS2 in a prep. Easy commute. Door into what I'd really like to be doing, but only PT.

Interviews are in the order posted. I have no idea what I might pick. C is what I want to do, but would need to find something else to fill other days. A is closest, but the school is so different that I worry about how easy it would be to move back into "normal" school if I wanted to. B is a step backwards almost, but I did enjoy being a TA before I was a teacher. Might be a good step into Primary or SEND teaching.

What would you do in my shoes? This is hypothetical, but I'd like to have an answer if I were asked.

What's so different on school A? On paper it looks like the winner.

@EllieNBeeb

What's so different on school A? On paper it looks like the winner.

It’s full time outdoor school. No testing or exams, no mention of all the extra things that I loved about school like trips and school plays. It has three classes: Reception, KS1, KS2. So not only would I be trying to learn how to teach younger children, but also how to teach 4 year groups in one class.

It might also involve me having to overcome a lifelong phobia pretty quickly!

I'd choose A. It sounds quite fun 😅 But I don't know what your phobia is so that could play into it.

I attended school in a multi age setting. It really worked for me as I was ahead in some subjects and behind in others but was never made to feel stupid for being less good at maths than I was at writing.

Don't do the TA role.

@Dendron123 can I ask why you say that? I am in a similar position and am curious

Not the 1:1 role if you actually want to teach.

Hi. My reason is I don't think it leads to a teaching role. My experience was it actively harmed my later job prospects. The other 2 roles do involve teaching. TA works is very underpaid. The salary schools advertise is often before they take into account it term time only and less than 37.5 hours per week. 1:1 work is very intense unless the school has s policy of rotating staff. I had a disabled child at home myself so it was very tiring.

By all means become a TA if you want but don't imagine it will lead to a teaching job. The exception is some SEN schools who like to offer Teacher Training to TAs. But they won't get funding to train existing teachers.