To go back full time or not

[DesignMyRoom]

Argh. A job has come up at a school I'd love to teach at, but it's full time and would be very long hours, especially at first when I would be getting to know the school etc. Even longer holidays to make up for it though.

I'm in a very cushty part time role atm where I'm highly regarded and look after myself. I teach the same lessons to multiple classes so not much planning etc. I've got it ready tbh.

Am I mad to give that to for full time and hardcore full time at that.

Just for extra money so we could live very comfortably? (We're fine now, can still go on holiday once a year etc, just not loaded)

DH says apply then decide later if they interview me if I want it.

I know I'd love the school and the job, but the family would hardly see he Monday- Friday term time. Dd is 8. Another 3 years and she won't notice but now I think I feel guilty.

But I'll regret it if I don't apply. I've spent hours writing the application and it's ready to go.

Help! I can't decide what to do.

Nobody?

I think the reason nobody has answered is because it's a decision only you can make. I am in a similar position in some ways. I have changed from teaching full time to tutoring 16 hours a week. I am so much less stressed. I see my kids more. I have time to do other things. I earn a similar amount. I do miss class teaching though and the community feel of being part of a school. For now, I am going to keep doing what I am doing as it works for my family. Only when they don't need me as much will I go back to full-time teaching.
Reading about how stressed and miserable most full-time teachers are, I think you'd be mad to give up what you have right now to be honest. You're financially comfortable and your daughter only gets one childhood.

So true about your daughter's childhood. I wouldn't move I were you.

That's what's making me think I should stay.

But she is already 8. And the new role has longer holidays and we'd have way more disposable income so go on amazing holidays.

I am also very aware that it will become even harder to get out of my current role the longer I'm in it. And jobs at the new school come up very rarely.

But my job is so easy right now and I get lots of days to myself to do my own thing. I'm mad to consider giving that up aren't I?

But I'm also bored and often spend my free days doing sweet fa.

I feel like I'm hoping you'll all say go for it, and give me a reason to. But I don't think you will.

DesignMyRoom - I agree with others, it's a decision only you can make. To some extent, though, I agree with your DH - apply first and then decide later if you're shortlisted and interviewed for it. How much would you regret it if didn't apply?

I was in a similar position a while ago - very much in two minds about whether or not I should apply for a job. Like you, on the one hand, staying in my current job would have been no problem - it's a job I'm very familiar with and could quite happily continue doing it. Why disrupt the status quo? On the other hand, the other job I was interested in had a better salary and is more challenging in nature. I dithered a lot because I wasn't sure I was ready for the challenge. However, in the end, I decided to go with my gut and apply and at least give it a shot - I felt I would regret it if I let the opportunity pass. I was lucky enough to end up getting the job. I'm still nervous about it (I start the role next year) but I'm taking it a day at a time in terms of preparing myself for what lies ahead.

That said, obviously you need to consider your family and the time you spend with them, and that will need thought in terms of whether a full-time role can be balanced alongside that (I have quite a few full-time colleagues with young families and, on the whole, they manage it, but some days / weeks can be more challenging than others.)

Good luck, whatever you decide.

I don't think it's true that your DD will need you less in 3 years. My DS is 11 (in Y7 at a prep) 5 minutes from our house which he walks to/from. He starts school at 8am and finishes at 5pm. I leave for work at 6.50am and return at about 5.30pm (sometimes a bit later). He has recently expressed that he hates coming home to an empty house every day and feels quite lonely and like he's looking after himself during term time. He still needs help with homework (which is now longer and harder) and self-organisation so that needs doing in the evenings.

He is also now at an age where his hobby is quite hardcore and takes up entire weekends on a regular basis, whereas it was only a Saturday club at 8yo.

So, from that point of view, if you are ever going to go full-time I think you may as well just go for it. Waiting for your DD to need you less probably puts it at 10 years+ away.

However, I'd question how sure you are that it's a school you'd love to work at. Unless you have worked there before, I don't think you can know that. There are so many factors to whether you fit into/ can love a school that you can't possibly see from the outside. Just because it is a particular type of school doesn't actually mean you will like it there.

How part time are you currently? Are you primary or secondary?

My advice is to stick with part time as jobs like that are like gold dust. Full time jobs come up far more often, so you could always switch back when your dad is like 12 in Year 8 and settled into secondary school.

I have been considering going back to full time teaching (been on 3 days a week since returning after dd1 was born and she is 13 now), but am waiting for dd2 to start secondary (she is 10) and then will see where I'm at.

Also, I'm very reluctant to upset the pretty perfect work/life balance I have managed to obtain over the years. So am sticking with part time for now.

3 days currently. Primary. Yes you are right I might not love the school. But I feel like I probably would.

Who knows, my current school is an la school and if you've read the white paper we're in for change so who knows who much longer this gig will be for anyway.

DH works from home and is reasonably flexible so that helps things.

To add some extra info- I'd like dd to join the new school if I were to work there in say a year anyway...

It's hard, and I know nobody has the answer. I don't even have the answer myself.

Thanks for the input everyone.

You really sound like you want to do it so I say go for it! Apply and see what happens.

I went back FT 2 years ago - I was the same as you in that I wanted to be more financially comfortable and I was worried if I didn't take the leap then I wasn't sure when another FT position would come up. Yes it's harder than PT but you very quickly get into a routine!

I think you know yourself that you want to apply so should definitely try. Like you said, you don't want to regret not doing it!

Pension. Is the new school in the TPS? I would say that working full time boosts your pension no end so you can retire earlier. It is clearly a private school so be aware that the parents demand a lot and there is also a lot of unpaid weekend marketing stuff as well. However, if your husband can pick up the parenting then go for it.

Have you considered emailing and asking if the role could be part time for the right applicant? I did that before and was surprised how many schools said yes. I teach a shortage subject (Science) which may make a difference, but it could be worth a try.

I've worked in part time state, full time state, part time in a private school and full
time in a private school.

The only thing that really worked for both myself and my family was part time teaching - full time private is still overtime (just more pleasant and I don't have to work half the weekend).

I'm now returning to part time state and although I will really miss the private sector, at the end of the day, for me, part time was best for everyone.

When the kids are older/left school, maybe I'll try full time in a private school again.

I agree with your husband though - apply, see where you get. Otherwise you'll always wonder!

Thanks. It's useful you've worked in the various roles in each type of school. Food for thought certainly.