Tempest Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Just to give a quick bit of info about my career history - I'm secondary English trained, left teaching in 2002 after doing my NQT year and 2 terms of my next year and have then been working in publishing ever since and started supply teaching in primary this term. I've much preferred the primary work I've done so far (all KS2 mainly) to secondary and thought I'd take a chance and apply for some maternity cover jobs that have come up at schools locally. The problem I'm finding with supply is that I've repeatedly being sent to some quite tough schools in 'rough' areas and am not really enjoying that BUT I am enjoying the nicer schools I'm sent to and at the moment am only doing 3 days a week which is good for the dogs. Anyways I got a rejection letter from the first school yesterday but then literally a call about 30 mins later from the second school I'd applied to inviting me to an interview next week. The only slight hitch is that I've applied for 5 posts in total and out of the 5 this is probably the school that I'm least interested in working at. The other 3 jobs that I'm waiting to hear back on haven't even had their closing dates yet (one isn't until 20th Feb and is probably the post I'd want the most). From what I remember of teaching though the jobs are offered on the interview day and you have to accept there and then but I wasn't sure if this was still the case? On the one hand I'm over the moon to get the interview as I thought schools may feel that I'm wasting their time (given my secondary PGCE training) but at the same time I'm thinking that maybe I shouldn't go to the interview and wait on the outcome of the other 3 jobs I've applied for? The slight issue is that all the maternity covers would mean working 5 days a week and I'm not sure I'd want to do that because of the dogs (we have got a really good dog walker though). On the one hand it does mean that I'd start in April and would only be working for 14 weeks and would have 7 weeks of paid holiday as I'd get half term off and the six weeks' hols paid for too. My other thought was that in the summer term though I could take them out in the evenings after work too. I also just had a look on the Ofsted website for the school the interview is at and thought it seemed quite negative (I thought the school was in a decent catchment but hadn't researched it too much). The summary said: 'The school takes children from a wide mix of social backgrounds. A number of children come from two Travellers' sites. The proportion of pupils who are eligible for free school meals is broadly average. A small number of pupils are at early stages of learning English and there are fewer children from minority ethnic backgrounds than in most schools. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is above average, as is the proportion of children with a statement of special educational need. The school population changes frequently and over the past two years there has been a high number of staffing changes. Attainment on entry to the school is well below average.' I was particuarly surprised to find that their attainment is 'well below average' and that they take pupils from two Travellers' sites I guess I'm worried about taking a long term post at a school that I might not end up liking but then don't want to rule them out just because the catchment is possibly tougher than I first thought The downside of supply is that I don't get paid for hols/sickness and will potentially be sent to 'tougher' schools quite regularly but am liking doing 3 days a week and not having to do marking and stay behind for parents/staff meetings - I'm out the door about 5 mins after the kids Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elricc Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 Firstly I would go for the paid holiday, I get by walking my dogs after school as do any number of other teachers I know, there is nothing stopping you doing your prep and marking at home and how many parents want to come in? your union says that you only have to attend meetings once per week after school. I find it so rewarding working with children who are classed as "rough". ANy school you work in will have problems, in affluent areas its the arrogance and parents who like to catch you out at every step and have someone to take the blame for there failings, also staff are very bitchy in "good" schools. I would want to know what LSA supprt is in place, because of the high numbers below average, probably an artifact of traveller pupils having intermittent education. Also why are you surprised that the school takes from two traveller sites? I would want to know what there liaison is like with the sites, because in my experience if it is good then you can perform minor miracles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 Also why are you surprised that the school takes from two traveller sites? I would want to know what there liaison is like with the sites, because in my experience if it is good then you can perform minor miracles. I was surprised as I didn't know there were any traveller sites in the immediate area so was trying to figure out where they might be as I thought it was a mainly residential type area. Its a shame I couldn't organise a visit to the school before applying but I only saw the job the day before the closing date so rushed the application in at the last minute. The other slight issue is that I've already got supply work booked for the day of the interview (Wednesday) so was going to just be honest with the agency and say I've got an interview but not sure how they'll react to that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranirottie Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 good luck whatever you decide x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazydaisy Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 If you are not sure about wanting the job, then dont go to the interview. It would be sods law that you would be successful. I wish there were the same amount of vacencies in my area Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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