Why investing in your child's education is one of the most important things you can do - Part 5

Part 5 - My career

After completing my PGCE which I studied at Goldsmiths, I landed my first job. It was at a lovely little pre-prep in Hampstead - The Mulberry House School. I had no idea what I was getting myself into!

For three years I was working from 7am - 7pm (It’s an extended day school so we would work until the kids stayed at school) and we worked long after they left. I learnt a lot from my first school and it was definitely and positive experience for me. I decided to leave mainly because I wanted half terms! But I also decided to leave because I wanted experience with the older year groups.

I went on to work at George Eliot school in St John’s Wood and let’s just say there was a big incident with the Head teacher which forced 8 of us teachers to leave. I stayed there for 3 years.

I then went on to work at Preston Manor in Wembley. This was mostly a positive experience until I reached the top of my teaching career and they were trying to force out all of the more expensive teachers to replace them with newly qualified teachers! There was no where for me to go from here. I had no interest in working in management (and there were no roles anyways!) and in order to maintain UPS 3 (the highest paid teaching status) I was expected to do at least 10 hours extra on top of my actual hours, I decided that enough was enough. I handed in my notice the week I found out I was pregnant!

I had always been tutoring on the side of working full time (along with 6 other jobs I did on the side) Teaching does not pay well! I moved everything online after covid and I’ve never looked back.

I don’t regret my education but I know I could have had better and that’s why it is so important to me that all of my students receive the best possible education for them.

Was I ready for the world of work when I started my career? No, I wasn’t - my school didn’t prepare me properly or well enough.

Did I know what I wanted to do after I graduated? No I didn’t.

My students deserve better than this and this is what we provide them with. The best education possible for them.