Teaching close to home.

[hibiscuslightening]

I’m looking for a new role and a suitable post in my specialism has come up at a good school I know well…

However it is the only high school in the very small town where I live and my DCs attend. The role is in an area of the school my DCs don’t use so there isn’t any danger of me having to teach them. But we are part of a small community and I have no intention of moving!

I’m already involved with youth groups in the town. But is also working here a step too far?

If you have had a similar situation- how has it worked out?

I live in a small town and taught at the large comprehensive here. Both my DC attended the school and although I never taught them, I taught many of their friends and children of my own friends. For the most part, it was fine.

The key is to be highly professional, never discuss school out of school and never let anyone overstep. DC’s friends called me ‘Mrs Theresnolimits’ in school and by my first name when they came around the house.

There were a few issues. Colleagues could sometimes stop me in the corridor and say ‘Your DC did this today …’. I would say ‘If it’s something you’d call home about, my DH’s number is on file’ and walk on. They never did. DH did all Parents’ Evenings alone so colleagues would open up. DC2 didn’t pick my A Level specialism because I taught every class and he didn’t want to be taught by me - he would definitely have done it otherwise although did have other options.

It was a big school though, both DC were popular and progressed well and never got bullied or teased. If your DC are vulnerable they might feel differently. My DC are in their 30s and have never said it bothered them. Equally I wasn’t the only teacher with children at the school.