Difference in moving from mainstream to private

[Cherryana]

Hello,

Have you gone from mainstream secondary to teach in a private secondary boarding school? Would you recommend it?

What can you tell me about the main differences?

Eg do you get to teach without continual interruptions? Or are the days so long you can’t really have your own life in term time?

I went private to mainstream, the main benefits I noticed in private are:

• better behaviour (although not always brilliant)
• smaller class sizes (although not necessarily that much smaller depending on the school)
• some perks like free dinners
• didn't have to do lunch/break duties

however, the drawbacks were:
_ working MUCH longer days
_ more pressure to get the students higher grades
_ evening / weekend events / duties

Thanks @calorcalorcalor you have written what I am thinking already.

I have been in mainstream for years and I work in a particularly challenging school, although results wise I have a really strong department (made up of me!). It is the behaviour in school that prompted me to look for other jobs. My fight or flight response is constantly being triggered and it’s very draining.

I have got an interview for a private school and one of the things that I am concerned about is the long days.

Did you find that you had a slower paced day even though it was longer?

Did the longer holidays off set it at all?

Yes it was a much slower paced day - we had 1hr 20 for lunch rather than 30 minutes for example so you could actually stop and rest. Same with the longer holidays, you actually had time to rest, whereas I find now I am working much of a half term!

I’m in a private boarding school. Every school is different but my thoughts are:

I teach smaller classes and less classes that state
But I am expected to do 3 after school activities, Saturday mornings and 2 terms of Saturday afternoons
I get lunch and if something on in the evening tea as well.
Longer day - as longer break and lunch
I have lunch duty once a fortnight and break duty a couple of times a term.
There is a real community feel, both colleagues and with the kids.
For some they get accommodation but that comes with evening duties once a week
Shorter terms
High parental expectation from some, total disinterest from others
Don’t expect there to not be home issues, just because parents are wealthy (or grandparents are paying) doesn’t stop them being shitty parents (still have alcohol and domestic violence issues)

I love it, I love the different relationship you get with the students. But you have to know it is quite different expectations from a regular day school. It is more of a lifestyle job.

(If you are single and live in school accommodation then dating can be really tricky!)

It very much depends on the school. Not all private schools have great behaviour, although they are probably more likely to than many state schools.

I've worked in several state comprehensives, a (girls') grammar school and two private schools (one girls' day school and one mixed boarding school, but the latter only very part time).

The girls' day school was heaven. Impeccable behaviour, amazing working conditions, better pay, longer holidays. The boarding school had less good behaviour (lots of rugby boys who weren't interested in doing any work) but still better than most of the state schools I've worked in. But for the full-time teachers the working hours were insane and the pay barely better than in the state sector.

Worth it if it's a choice between that and a state school with terrible behaviour though imo. My current school is the girls' state grammar - best of both worlds!

Thanks so much @calorcalorcalor @AllProperTeaIsTheft @OhBeAFineGuyKissMe that is really helpful.

I am definitely going to see what it’s like.

I’d agree with everything everyone else has said.
I love my job in a private school, adore the children, the trust SLT has in me, the ability to actually teach and focus on doing things only if it directly improves learning for the pupils but there are downsides. Working day is very long, high expectations, lots of parental accountability, Saturday school, expectation of involvement in extra curricular activities. Behaviour isn’t perfect (but better than I’ve experienced in some state schools). Ask questions about pension, many private schools are not in (or coming out of) TPS. Check pay scales and allowances if appropriate as well as expectations of when you are expected to work.
Go in with your eyes open and try not to be dazzled.
Oh and good luck.

@Brushesarescary thank you so much!