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Very grateful for your thoughts!
My current post is a temporary one, and so it comes to an end in August. I didn't have to great a start in the job, but things have been MUCH better in the last term. One of my colleagues is pregnant, and her maternity cover has been advertised and begins in Sep. The day it went into the paper, my HT told me about it so I asked if she was encouraging me to reply and she said yes (pretty much).
So, if I get it, I get it. I'm somewhere in the middle of all the trainees this year who have been offered jobs with no application or interview, and a colleague who was 'let go' via a letter in the register. No guarantees but it's not looking too bad.
The thing is this: my PERFECT school is also advertising at the moment. This is the school that made me want to teach in the first place. I did work experience there over 10 years ago and the staff all still remember me, even the receptionists. The HT gave me a glowing reference to get onto the PGCE. I think it'd really be worth a shot. The problem is: they had a vacancy last year and I applied, got shortlisted, and then had to withdraw because I was repeating a PGCE placement. It was terrible and I absolutely hated that they knew I'd failed a placement, which has got to count against me. I REALLY don't want to mess them about again: IF I get another interview, then having to pull out again, IF I get the maternity cover job. I feel like withdrawing from two interviews would mean they just wouldn't ever shortlist me in the future. Then again, what if I don't get the maternity cover at my current school and then haven't applied for the other job?
There's no space between them. The interviews for the maternity cover are 18th May, and the closing date for the other school is 18th May. So I can't just get an application submitted if I don't get the maternity job, you seeeeee...
What would you do? I feel like I'd be foolish not to apply for the maternity post, as HOPEFULLY they'll recognise that it'd be better for them to keep me on instead of bringing in another new staff member. Then again, it'd only be, what, 6 months? Then I'm still back to square 1, looking for a permanent job again. I want the OTHER school more - it's permanent and they have a very special place in my heart. But I told my HT I'd apply for maternity coverand I DO want it, just not as much as a permanent job! And I'm not sure I have the stomach for such a gamble!
Eek! What to do? xx
If I may be so bold as to suggest that this isn't really a problem UNTIL you are offered the maternity post. If that is the case then search the forum for posts about two interviews and see what Theo and others have advised in the past.
If I were I would apply to both and make the perfect school aware of the situation if you are on good terms with them anyway and they may be persuaded to let you know ASAP if you have been shortlisted to allow you to decline/withdraw from other position. I would also let your current head know that you need to apply for other posts as well (just in case) and if she is understanding there may be some flexibility.
It seems to me that there are a lot of what ifs and maybes here but work is work and in this climate it is wise to cover all your options. What you should not do is accept the maternity at current school and then lead the perfect school to believe you are free to enter a contract with them. You still need to work in your current school until the end of term...
That said I am not in your situation. I have worked with somebody who was offered and accepted a temp post in August and then got a perm job in September - we all understood that the as perm jobs are the holy grail of teaching then she HAD to keep applying...
Thanks for your reply.
Totally recognise that I may not get the maternity job. HT could have just given it to me, as she's given posts to trainees we've had in school, if she badly wanted me to have it. So very, very clear there are no guarantees on it.
Just tricky with the maternity interview on 18/05 and the permanent closing date on 18/05. There's just no way around having to withdraw again, IF I get the maternity post.
Actually wondering if I should just not apply for dream job, and save it for a time when I'm absoltely 100% sure I can go for it, because I could see myself staying there for a long, long time. They had a vacancy last summer, they'll have others in the future. But then, of course, if I don't get the maternity post, I'll cry a river for not going for dream job. Then again, if I get maternity on 18/05 and have to withdraw from dream job, what if I mess my chances up with them forever?!
Oooh. Don't know what to do.
Thanks so much for your reply. Just to make things awkward, I'm away on a residential until abot 4pm on the day of interviews, so any interview will have to be held after that and it's obvously too late in the day to sort anything at dream school. I know - I'm not sure how to read it. She acted like she wasn't sure I'd be interested in it (things had been a little strained with SLT, although I get on very well indeed with everyone else). But yes, exactly: she could have asked if I wanted it and just given it to me, as has happened with various other posts. I'm tempted to text her and say that I'm applying for other posts, not that I don't want the mat. cover, just to keep my options open, so she knows. I think I'd just die if I hadn't applied for gorgeous dream school (it's actually rough as ****!) if I was then passed over for this maternity cover...Given how cagy the HT is being, I wonder if maybe I should assume I WON'T get it. Of course, then, what if she sees sense and appoints someone the kids and staff know... I have to withdraw from dream school (I know, IF I get an interview - but I reckon I will!) Thanks. TRICKY! xx
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