Offered job at independent school - contract need to knows?

[wantmorenow]

Have been successful at getting new teaching post at an independent school in England. Having come from Wales originally where contracts are all LEA and identical. What do I need to know, even the salary hasn't been stated yet.

How do i get the best deal for me and avoid pitfalls? It's not TPS either.

Thanks

If boarding school, check wording around weekends and evenings, even if your job isn't boarding specific. Check work hours! Indies often have much longer work days, and see if they will tell you the timetable period remisson. My husband has found he's actually working more hours as SLT at his school than a state school teacher might--the percent of time remission looks higher, but the actual hours worked are far higher! They are expected to be in school until at least 5:30pm every day. Check if there are extra curricular requirements.

@EllieNBeeb

If boarding school, check wording around weekends and evenings, even if your job isn't boarding specific. Check work hours! Indies often have much longer work days, and see if they will tell you the timetable period remisson. My husband has found he's actually working more hours as SLT at his school than a state school teacher might--the percent of time remission looks higher, but the actual hours worked are far higher! They are expected to be in school until at least 5:30pm every day. Check if there are extra curricular requirements.

And by working, I mean teaching. He certainly does an excessive amount of work at home, as well.

It is boarding but they did say no weekends as I checked that before the interview. Also they are benchmarking the salary whatever that means.

Good idea to ask about on site hours. They have found it difficult to recruit as there is such a shortage of teachers in this area and I have a job I like already so I know I should be in a strong bargaining point - just never had to negotiate before.

I work in an independent school (not boarding though, nor do we have things like weekend fixtures (the odd tournament but not compulsory)

It will vary from school to school so just look very carefully. My school day is 8-4 but we are not obliged to stay after 4, unless we are running a club. All teachers do have to do a club though, and TAs are generally favoured if they also help at clubs. Not all staff do an after school club, some just do lunch break clubs. Quite a lot of factors at play, largely though it comes down to what you can offer as a club and what needs covering when you start. So just check the expectations.

Be prepared though for extra parents evening (we do them three times a year over two evenings a time). Staff are all required to attend outside school events such as the carol service, summer and Christmas fairs, we have end of year Awards day on a Saturday which is compulsory for near enough all staff. Plus curriculum evenings at the start of each academic year.

They will likely have their own pay scale, but I mean ours is roughly on par with the general teacher salary anyway. Maybe a tad more, depends. Check the pension system in your contract too. We are no long on the Teacher Pension Scheme (I never have been so the change didn’t effect me).

So yes, check on site hours, pay scale and pension. Check sick pay situation on there too

Best of luck with it though, I love my school.
Very intense terms, I definitely wouldn’t say easier but I would say different to state in many respects. The longer holidays also give me more time to actually switch off and not just be spending my time doing prep. Best of luck!

Thank you for this - hope they are honest and upfront about the extras then. I'm moving from a college type establishment and we do at least 1 evening a week every 2/3 weeks which is one of the reasons I'm leaving. Can't commit to a hobby or exercise class as it's a different evening each time. I feel like I have an unwanted and unpaid evening job as well a teaching one there.

Be careful to say you’re accepting the job subject to seeing the terms and conditions.

If they haven’t even mentioned pay yet, you need to be able to negotiate and a walk away if needed.

Check you understand the difference the lack of TPS pension means. It’s likely a defined contribution pension instead. Currently the GDST schools are striking over this and the NEU says a typical teacher will have 20% less in retirement without the TPS. Check what the employer contribution rate is. Given the TPS has a rate of about 24% (and the rate alone is t what impacts what you’ll receive.l..but that’s another issue) I’d expect all schools to pay above 20%.

Check what the notice period is, what the sick pay entitlement and maternity is. Definitely look at the contract and seek clarification if necessary about weekend/evening work and if what they have said is the case for you will apply permanently or just in first year. Also look at if a probationary year is needed (it usually is even for experienced teachers) and how that works.

To me, the school already not being in the TPS is a red flag. It has tended to be smaller schools which as less economically stable that have pulled out. I’d also be interested to know the numbers in the school snd to understand how that’s changed in the last few years. Schools that have pulled out of TPS tend to be the poorer payers (check salary against state scales) and often to offer less fee remission to staff.

Ensure you get everything in writing, including fee discount for staff. Sometimes this isn’t included in the contract, but I’d ask the question in an email if needed so you have something in writing as a reply. The reason I say this is schools can change these policies. What should be applied to you, is the terms when you start. It might not feel relevant now if you haven’t got kids or intend to only be around a short time….but time moves on fast and you never know if you might have to call on it.

You are always a bit vulnerable starting a new job in the independent sector. Assuming you’ve taught before, when you move elsewhere, you have continuous service (not sure with academies) and so sick pay etc is based on that continuous service. When you start in an independent until you’ve been there 2 full years you probably aren’t entitled to longer term sick pay and if there’s a probationary period, they can let you go within that first year. That said, these are normal terms and most people are fine with them. There’s no issue if you’re a decent teacher.

Hope it all works out for you. Dont be afraid to ask or to clarify. Don’t be afraid to push for more money. If you don’t ask, you don’t get, and before you sign the contract is the only real time you can ever negotiate so do t miss the chance.

Excellent points. I'm planning to start drawing on my TPS this autumn so not being in the scheme is actually a plus for me, no kids of school age and way past having any more.

Notice periods and sick pay are ones to watch though. Appreciate your input.

Humph.

Had an offer which matches current salary and no details of anything in the contract which will follow later. Can I sign and confirm I'm accepting? Er No. Don't know what I'm accepting do I. Not impressed.