I joined a new school in September which is significantly better than my old one. Both academies. My last one was inner-city London, loved the kids and colleagues but there were frequent violent incidents, awful disruptive behaviour and the principal and most of the leadership team were vile - lots of shouting at staff in front of students, calling teachers a 'disgrace' for wanting to leave etc.
I moved cities and joined my new school which is comparatively incredible. Behaviour issues are almost non existent, the leadership team and principal are very balanced and respectful, my department is very strong. Lots of people have been there for 15-25 years.
However, I'm finding that some issues in teaching have not gone away which makes me think the problem is the profession not the school. There are so many meetings after school - easily 2 a week and sometimes more with other commitments. I once had 3 meetings, one intervention session and a detention duty after school all in the same week. They're expecting an Ofsted inspection this year for the first time in 10 years so the pressure is on to push for high standards and consistency, so they're doing more learning walks and CPD. My manager is lovely but she's new to being head of department this year and I find her communication is not great. Half of my department has been there for 20-25 years and don't share resources - my half of the department (a different language) is new this year, or one has just finished training, and are making everything almost from scratch. I keep being told to go through the department folder and figure out how to teach to this specific methodology they've all had more training on, or come and observe them in one of my 3 PPA slots. I had a TLR in my last school but here progression is very difficult as so many people have been around for so long.
I've decided I don't think I can stay in teaching forever and my husband supports me in this. My issue is I've found a non teaching job I really want to apply for and which I do think speaks to my specific experience (from before I trained as a teacher as well). Pay bracket is comparable to my salary. We just had an offer accepted on a house so I want to check it won't cause a problem getting a mortgage (our lender looks for continuous employment but it needs investigating I think). I think the job wants someone from January as well and teacher notice periods mean I probably couldn't start before Easter. We also want to start trying for a baby from summer - I know in my current job I'd be able to get enhanced maternity pay (it's not that much more than standard but it's something) and in non teaching jobs I think I'd need to have worked there for 2 years before accessing that. I also would feel so guilty leaving my classes mid year, and I'd feel bad for my department/the school as they've not treated me badly. I don't think I'd be looking to leave right now otherwise, this job just feels too good to pass up.
I think I'm going to apply for it and just see what happens but my concerns are:
- leaving mid year (and the impact if I applied, my school knew, but I then stayed)
- affecting our mortgage
- affecting maternity leave
- comparable pension
- comparable stability (the company was only founded last year)
My other option is see out the year, try and get pregnant from summer (however long that may take), go on mat leave for a year, I'd then have to come back for the equivalent of 13 weeks full time, then start looking for a non teaching job. I would like to go part time in future but I feel like other jobs don't force this like teaching does, and that affects my pay and pension as well as any future mat leave entitlement as well.
Finally, the job is remote and as I'm trying to get my licence, my husband is having to drive me to and from work. I drive us home but earliest tests in our area are April unless I can get a cancellation. So we'd save on petrol and his energy (he WFH but often late at night).
WWYD? (I added an option for applying for non teaching jobs from summer as well but the trying for pregnancy plans complicate it - I feel like we need to factor that into planning but it's also really not something we can plan).