Teaching promotion dilemma!

[FedUpMiss]

I currently teach 4 days a week, Tues-Fri, in a private secondary school with set hours that mean I can leave to pick my own kids up from the school across the road, it's an agreement in my contract. I'm aware how lucky I am to have this.

I've been offered the additional role of Head of Middle School (years 10-11). A big promotion for me, more money but it means working 5 days a week until after school clubs are finished, meaning my own kids (5 and 9) will have to go to their after school club every day (except every other Friday when their dad has them).

Pros:

• More money. I could do with the money TBH as ExH is SE and trying to stiff me with maintenance.
• There are so few opportunities for progression in the school, and I may not get the opportunity again for years to come
• ive checked and I'd still be eligible for tax credits which would hardly go down with the increased wage and hours (its more but it's still pretty pitiful)

Cons:

• I love having a day a week off. I'm a single mum, and this makes a demonstrable difference to my work/life balance.
• my kids would absolutely hate being in after school club every day. They don't mind occasionally, but they are already in breakfast club every day because my registration starts 20 minutes before theirs. It would mean so much less time with them on an evening! Because our drama teacher has been off I've been helping with the school play every day this week meaning that, for the first time, they were in after school club all 5 days - and they hated it apparently
• My workload will be so much bigger. And I don't know when I'd get the extra work done if not in my spare time. Right now, at least I can leave at a reasonable time and have Monday's off

I have til Tuesday to think about it. I am a form tutor, which I love but I think I'd have to say I'll do it if I can give up my form - then I don't have to put the kids in breakfast club! I'd miss the form time but it's so time consuming. But I can't do it all.

Help! Any advice from someone who's done this before? I'm not supposed to tell anyone about the offer, so can't ask a colleague.

Is there an alternative to the after school club, such as a childminder? Is it the seemingly endless school day if they stay on site that's the problem, or is it that the provision isn't as good as it could be?

@annabell22 the provision is very good but yea it's the lack of being at home. Good call about childminder - after school clubs will cost me £50 a week alone 😬

Is the pay rise worth an extra day at work and the extra workload once you factor in loss of tax credits and increased childcare costs?

Is it a stepping stone to a dream job? Is it your dream job? It sounds like your current job is actually good for both you and your kids.

Probably not very helpful , but I've just moved to a private school but I 100% wouldn't be able to do it if I hadn't moved my children to my school aswell (due to generous staff discounts!)

My children are in the sister school (also private) thanks to a large staff discount which is why it's across the road.

Which reminds me of another perk - I'd get an extra discount for their fees. Saving about £2k a year!

I'd take it. If opportunities don't come up very often, grab it. Your dc will get used to after school childcare very quickly. Will the extra money allow you to buy in support such as a cleaner, so that your days off are proper days off? Will staying later mean that you take less work home? I agree that a childminder is a more homely after school provision - a change of setting, more relaxed. Or I do know someone who pays for a sort of 'mother's help' to collect kids from school, take them home and supervise until she gets home.