Are there many teachers that transition from secondary to primary?

[Snowflakewater]

A colleague of mine has landed a job at a primary school. I had dabbled with this idea a year ago but wasn’t actually sure if it was possible.

can any primary teachers out there advise? I know it’s highly saturated, but I’m genuinely curious if others have made this move.

I think you might be shocked by the volume of work in particular the expectations around marking- I think some secondary colleagues suspect we spend a lot of time just cutting and sticking stuff😁

Primary is very intense. Our days are long (I regularly work 12+ hours a day during the week, plus extra at weekends) and our marking load might surprise you: I mark 120 books a day. The children might not write much, compared with secondary, but there is lots to unpick which takes time.

Lessons need to be differentiated to suit all abilities (which can range from EYFS to Y6 in a single class). Remember also that many children have undiagnosed SEN at primary level, or are at an early stage in applying for support - and you still need to meet their needs in the meantime. Even when diagnosed they will most likely remain in your class and you will be expected to support them to achieve the same outcomes as their peers. You will not always have TA support with this.

Behaviour can also be challenging (SEN or otherwise) and needs to be managed carefully: a supportive SLT is invaluable.

There is a lot of parent contact. Parents expect to speak to you at drop off/pick up times and often need advice about parenting as well as academic updates.

It is a rewarding job in the right school, but it's not an easy ride and you need to go in with your eyes open.

I work as a specialist after attempting to transition to primary. I gave up a permanent job in a good school to go on supply to try and gain primary experience and had some success on a day to day basis - including having a couple of schools who would ask for me - but I struggled to get anything longer term. In the end, supply took me into a secondary private school and I ended up also taking responsibility for my subject in the prep school as well. I enjoy it - and still keep my hand in with exam classes which I enjoy. If you want to gain experience whilst still teaching in secondary , you could ask to work with the head of year 7 or on transition projects or if your specialism allows, maybe do some outreach and/or teaching in feeder schools.

I’ve never thought that tbh. My Aunty is a primary school teacher and always busy. I shadowed her when I was younger and volunteered and I remember her workload. Not sure why anyone would assume primary is cutting and sticking. That part of the education is integral to her right so I imagine more preassure as a result

"Integral to her right"?

Don’t know what I meant sorry I’m absolutely exhausted tbh

I've often heard secondary colleagues say that they have "less daily work" than us primary, in terms of marking books on a fortnightly rota or being able to plan one lesson to teach to multiple different classes. A friend tried primary but decided they didn't much like the constant day-to-day repetition, like marking all maths and all English books, plus a foundation subject, every day. I don't know, I can only go by what I've been told. I'm sure it's not the same for everyone.

You'll have to be able to show at interview and during the interview lesson that you have knowledge of the EYFS and NC for KS1 and KS2 and the ability to plan/resource/assess from it appropriately in any subject for any year group. It suits me because I'm a bit of a jack of all trades, whereas my secondary friends tend to have a passion for one or two areas that they know really well. If you're not an ECT you won't get any extra time or mentoring to ease you into the role.

You say you've thought about it before - what is it that draws you to primary, particularly?

One of my friends went from being a HOD in secondary to being a primary class teacher. She found it extremely difficult at first and struggled with the size and frequency of the workload for, she'd say, into the third year post transition. She got a handle on it though and, now, loves it and says that it's more rewarding.

I taught secondary for 10 years. I am now in my 9th year of teaching primary. BUT, I am not a class teacher and only work part time. I think that is what makes the difference tbh.

I much prefer teaching KS2 children to KS3 for example. But do miss teaching my actual subjects a lot of the time.

If I could choose, I would probably prefer to have just KS4 and KS5 (my subjects are usually optional so I get kids that want to be there) - pretty impossible in a secondary school where you usually get KS3 too.

Or my 2nd best choice is to teach KS2 but only my subject. Which is how I transitioned from secondary to primary in the first place.

Things have changed a lot since then though 🤷

I did - 10 years secondary then 10 years year 6, now gone back to secondary in a specialist unit to get some life back. The workload in primary is insane. I'm still in shock at how I now don't have to get in at 7 and staff don't stay till 6. I have my evenings back because marking expectations are more reasonable. And the sheer relief at not being solely responsible for a whole cohort of results is wonderful.

I did - 10 years secondary then 10 years year 6, now gone back to secondary in a specialist unit to get some life back. The workload in primary is insane. I'm still in shock at how I now don't have to get in at 7 and staff don't stay till 6. I have my evenings back because marking expectations are more reasonable. And the sheer relief at not being solely responsible for a whole cohort of results is wonderful.

No idea why that posted twice!