Moved from secondary to primary and I really don't like it 😩

[GoodbyeLondon]

I was working as an LSA in a secondary school and left as I wanted to work in a primary and eventually apply for my PGCE in primary education.

I have now moved and am an LSA / TA / lunch time supervisor and I don't like it. It's a lovely school with a fantastic head teacher, lovely staff, lovely kids. But omg I hate the job. I miss my secondary students. The little ones are so adorable but I miss my older ones and they're (sarcastic) sense of humour.

Has anyone else had this? How long do I give it? Should I go crawling back to the secondary school with my tail between my legs? I don't even know if I want my old job back as the hours were a pita with childcare whereas this one is better.

Having a complete rethink and panic now (obviously) and think I should definitely not be applying to do my PGCE in primary. Possibly should think about secondary.

I don't think you'd have to crawl back with tail between your legs. Fewer TAs, and LSAs choose to work in secondary.
Look at it as a positive. You now know what both are like and you now know which you want to work in as life goes forwards.

Hmmm maybe. I'd still feel like I was crawling back! But it may be worth it.

*Their not they're btw.

Year 5/6 only. You can tutor them in the ways of wit and wisdom and teach some of them sarcasm.

Speaking as a teacher who went from years of secondary to 5/6 then back to secondary in alternative provision. Over 20 years!

Ha! Maybe

Mine are at the upper end of primary, but my playground duties are with the whole school. The little ones are so very small and cute, but I'm used to big 16 year olds! A lot of my 1:1s were year 11.

I only started recently, so maybe I need to give it more time...

I think you should see it as a real positive that you took this job and have saved yourself from making the mistake of starting a PGCE in the wrong phase. Just keep your eye out for a Secondary job that works for you and move on.

Definitely agree with this and it's why I part of the reason why I took the job. Try before you buy sort of thing.

How many secondary schools did you work in? I was support staff in a boys' secondary for 12 years. It was enjoyable for the first few years (I totally get what you mean by the sarcastic sense of humour) then it went downhill rapidly and the atmosphere became oppressive and sad. Kids just in the corridors during lesson time running amok making what I can only describe as "prison noises". Videod fights getting circulated on social media. Head teachers walking out after only a few months in the job. I got fed up for it after a while and realised I was getting tense literally from just walking through the corridors. Respect from the pupils went massively downhill and the ones who were pleasant to deal with unfortunately were in the minority, because even many of the ones who were ok were so downhearted at the behaviour of the disengaged ones that they just started to hate school and it rubbed off in their behaviour.

So I went to a primary. It is LOVELY walking through the corridors now. I miss the memory of the first few years at my old secondary, but it had changed too much. I think you'd have to be VERY careful about choosing the right secondary to work in, because a horrible one can make your life a misery.

Same here!

Just putting my thoughts in -

As @CurlyhairedAssassin has said, although you can have a different kind of humour/interaction with secondary pupils, there are other pressures such as trying to get children, many of whom really don’t care, to engage in learning things to essentially pass their GCSEs can be quite disheartening. I am moving from secondary to middle school (Y5-Y8) at Easter and am looking forward to the prospect of a little more enthusiasm and engagement form the students. Whilst I fully appreciate that there will be equally as many challenges of a different nature in a middle school, and I will miss the humour of the older children, I’m nevertheless excited to explore a new opportunity.

If this new opportunity doesn’t suit me then I’m comfortable with exploring other options - nothing has to be permanent, and you really don’t have to feel guilty for changing your mind and/or making a choice that doesn’t seem to suit you.

All the best in whatever path you choose to take!

Thanks all for your input.

@Meredusoleil are you in the same position as I am or was that to another pp?

I love working with young people, but I am beginning to think that the world of education may not be for me full stop. Which is quite a sad revelation to happen, as I've always thought I would teach eventually and so many people have said they think I would be a good teacher.

I might look into other youth work or even go back to what I did before, or maybe something new entirely.

I know what @CurlyhairedAssassin means too and I've only worked in one secondary where behaviour was relatively good, so I was probably quite spoilt there. I do remember feeling a bit intimidated at times, especially when there was a cover supervisor taking the class.

And the money isn't good enough in a support role for me to continue with it for too long if I'm not planning to train as a teacher. So I may be looking for another job fairly soon.

Sorry OP. My same here was in reply to PetiteScience.

That's ok @Meredusoleil. I thought it would be a strange coincidence!

If you liked the Y11s what about further education or a sixth form college? Could you teach A level or something more technical?

I could potentially teach a level, but I need a bit of a rethink really as maybe I should just reconsider teaching altogether