I can’t answer much about the pay other than that at my school (an independent school nursery to Year 8) it is roughly in line with the state teacher pay scale (going by my own salary and what I have discussed with a couple of colleagues).
In terms of working in one:
The big variable will be down to each school, and like any work place, your management and your colleagues will be the biggest factor. You’ll get an idea about that looking around and at interview, likewise the ethos, the philosophy, general atmosphere and the curriculum.
Pros: Smaller classes - automatic advantage is less books to mark, less reports to write, less meetings at parents evening.
Many schools have perks - discounted fees, I get lunch and my friend at a prep also has lunch provided. We are part of a health welfare scheme so I can get some private medical things paid for.
Generally a higher budget. This will vary. What I have learnt is that the budget for day to day, certainly at my school, is far from a bottomless pit. But it’s higher than the state. Never have I run out of my photocopying budget for example, and certainly most stationary items / classroom craft items I need I can get or get reimbursed. We have iPads I can book out and the whole class will have their own for the lesson.
Staff - all classes up to Year 4 at my school have a Full time TA. Then there are 1:1s as necessary, TAs doing interventions rather than assigned to a class.
More curriculum freedom. We don’t do SATS. Our curriculum is much more creative, there’s lots more freedom in how you cover subjects which for me is a huge plus.
Lots of supportive, appreciative and interested parents.
longer holidays.
Variables:
Behaviour. We are a non selective. We have some of “those” year groups still. We have classes where the behaviour of one or two takes up the whole day, like in state. We have children on ECHPs, we have children on the spectrum, with dyslexia, with ADHD etc. The academic ability in my class hits both ends of the scale. What we also have is an ability to remove children.
Sadly this is a double edged sword. Parents, staff and children alike, there is an assumption from parents that badly behaved children can be got rid of. Teachers often don’t expect bad behaviour or additional needs when they come to a private school. If a private school can’t meet a child’s needs (and they are actually cut off from accessing many services and funding which many are unaware of) they can indeed tell parents that they cannot meet their child’s needs and say an alternative needs to be found. In some ways this is good, and works out best for child, in some ways this is incredibly sad and not nice for anyone. Depends on the reasons. I’ve only seen it once at my school and sadly this child really did need a specialist unit and we all knew they would have to likely go through hell at several schools before they got the statement and funding and support they needed.
Specialist teachers - you may well have more time on your hands based on not having to teach certain subjects (this will again vary school to school). in reception, I don’t have to plan, assess or write reports for any physical education, music or ICT as a specialist does it.
Cons:
Parents evening every term. Expected at productions, prize giving evenings, weekend events. Generally many more events throughout the year to juggle.Terms are intense but shorter.
Education takes a slightly different route in some areas when there is a price tags attached to it. The way issues are handled has to vary….especially if it’s a school with places and no waiting list.
Many of my parents are lovely - supportive, want the best for their child, they listen, they appreciate what teachers do.
Some of my parents have made up their mind which senior school they want by nursery and want their child pushed pushed and pushed some more. If the child can’t read a whole encyclopaedia by Christmas of reception, they want to know why.
Some parents believe the fees they pay completely relinquish them of parent responsibility. They pay us to raise their child, anything their child can’t do is our fault, any bad behaviour is our fault, any health problem is our fault.
Thankfully these are the minority.
The biggest issue I’ve found by far is fear of not giving their child “the best”. If a family gets itchy feet and decide the grass is greener at another prep, they quite often attempt to take child’s friends with them and bad mouth the school non stop. Most of the time these families have got their way with whatever the issue was and are still not happy. I’ve looked up every prep in my town and they all have threads on this site, tearing them down. And on a thread where school A is torn to shreds, school B is held up on a velvet pillow. Meanwhile on the next thread, school B is being absolutely thrown to the wolves and School C is the shining crown. Parents panic about getting the “best” school and this changes year on year. Head teachers changing always causes a ripple and a panic amongst some parents. My school lost 5 families last academic year to other preps in town(as in not at leaving age) but gained 5 from those same schools.
Overall though, I love it. The work is as challenging but the challenges are different and I can’t see myself returning to state. I would say go for it. There’s nothing to loose. I’m very happy at my prep.