TA In Private School

[BlueBloodedBlue]

Afternoon
I've always worked in State schools but am finding that I'm liking my job less and less due to the behaviour of the children.

I wondered whether Private Schools are stricter and so this is less of an issue as parents are less likely to put up with their little Johnny being disturbed by someone throwing pencils around the classroom!!

I appreciate that all schools are different but as a generalisation.

I switched for a while, though as a teacher not TA, to a private school. In some ways I found the behaviour quite challenging, it was a lower level but persistent and quite arrogant at times. Quiet challenges, like reading a book through the lesson and blanking me was one that surprised me. A lot of talking over me, instead of calling out. A bit more resilience to being corrected. Not pencil throwing maybe, but I got ‘actually I was talking’ kind of challenges!

Obviously a small sample of one, but it wasn’t simply easier than the ‘rough’ schools. Instead of one/ two spoiling it with more outrageous behaviours there was a larger number to challenge. Parents were less likely to be supportive too, seeing me as at fault/ not delivering enough. It was the last two terms and I remember a formal complaint from one about her daughters maths GCSE grade- I’d pointed out so many times her child did no work and didn’t engage! Parents evening was quite challenging, and generally how I was spoken to. A bit of getting their moneys worth. One used to email at midnight then accost me before school on gate duty about why she hadn’t had a reply.

I went back to state teaching, I had a better sense of worth if that explains it.

Thank you.

I had heard from teachers that parental expectations and behaviour were different in private schools but wondered if that was also the case for support staff.

I don't really want to move but just feel so much of what we are currently doing is crowd control rather than supporting the teaching and it's just exhausting and demoralising .

I'm in an independent....behaviour is no better ....my son is a teacher in a state school ..his kids seem much better behaved !!!

I am in an independent. Behaviour is on a par with my previous comp. I was most shocked by the lack of intellectual curiosity though, and the lack of academic standards in general. It's been eye opening.

I work in a (non selective) private school now very near to the state school where I used to work. I do not recognise what the above posters are saying at all! The behaviour is miles better (and my school isn't a prestigious private school and the state school was pretty good) and the work ethic of children is completely different.
The expectations of TAs are quite different though, the children are expected to work and the TAs are really focuses on helping students , creating specific resources, running interventions outside of lessons / at lunch / afterschool (until 5:45) .