What’s it like teaching at a boarding school whilst also having young kids?

[hopingforapeainapod]

Just wondering if anyone else has experience of teaching at a boarding school whilst also having young kids - what’s work / life balance like?

I ask because I currently work part-time at a day private school - no Saturday school, and lessons finish at 3.50pm.

For various reasons my husband and I are looking to move closer to family and so are thinking of moving to an area with lots of private schools in a 30 min drive radius - but they are all boarding schools with much later finish times (6pm), and 3 out of 4 have Saturday school.

I have a 15 month old son and would at some point like to have a second. I am a bit concerned that the expectations and time commitment at a boarding school will be much higher, and it’s going to be a lot harder to protect my evenings and weekends. Ideally I would get a part time role again but if I can’t and have to get a full time role does this mean I basically will never see my son?!

Just wondering if anyone could provide a little insight on what the reality of working at a boarding school is like!!

My DH worked in a large boarding school when the children were small. It was a very prestigious school which may have made a difference but it was an absolute killer.
You would probably have duty until around 11pm one night per week. Saturday school in the morning and then sport in the afternoon and chapel regularly on Sunday. He never saw the children and left after 2.5 years to move back to a day school.

@Tearsofthemushroom Thanks for sharing your experience. This is what I am worried about. If I can find a part-time role I don’t mind doing a few very long days (and hopefully I could request to not have Saturdays), but my sense is that if you work full time at a boarding school it is basically a 24/7 job during term time, and if you have any sort of commute - ie don’t live on site or a 5 minute drive away - then it’s even more of a killer!

This is very similar to my school except for no Sundays. But only if you live onsite. If you are an off siter you don’t need to do a weekly evening duty.

It is full on! Even part time. It is very much a lifestyle job that you have to want to do. I love it (mostly) but it tiring and time consuming. My kids are grown and flown.