The national press recently estimated that at least 25 private schools could be up for sale, as pupil numbers diminish in the current economic climate. But while press stories focus on group takeovers and the effects for pupils and parents if schools have to close, where does all this leave teaching staff – and how can Eteach help?

Back in 2008, The Independent reported that three private prep schools had followed prestigious girls’ senior schools and shut down after falling pupil numbers pushed them into financial difficulties.

And this month, The Guardian quoted Jill Berry, the new president of the Girls’ Association, as saying that any independent school could face the risk of merger or closure even if they were very well run.

Meanwhile the Times reported that two private school chains are hoping to acquire more schools, with “one in negotiations to buy up to 15 schools to add to the 46 it already runs in the UK”.

It’s an uncertain and unsettling environment, for parents, for pupils – and not least, for school staff.

While we don’t have all the answers to the credit crunch, we can pitch in and offer support to staff if they are suddenly faced with the prospect of closure; in one recent case we were able to send an experienced team into a school to talk about the alternatives to staff who had worked there for years. And the good news is that head teachers are obliged to support staff in finding new positions in these situations, and so should welcome initiatives of this type.

Have you found your school in similar circumstances? Do you have any tips on how you might be able to gain support through these difficult times? Add a comment and let us know!

When you are applying for a vacancy how much of your CV covers all the additional things that you do? Do you give sufficient space in your CV or letter of application to mention all the clubs you run or help with? Do you list the musical instruments you play and the orchestras/ bands you play in or teach? In sport have you listed your own achievements as well as the teams you coach? Are you involved with community groups?

I have recently had the pleasure to visit two wonderful schools, Box Hill near Dorking and Licensed Victuallers near Ascot. At both I was overwhelmed by the extra mile that their staff went to both for their pupils and the school in general. At Licensed Victuallers it was lunchtime and as I toured the school there were staff and pupils participating in charity fund raising activities, tutorials, clubs and drama and music practises. Not just in certain departments, but right across the board. At Box Hill there were displays of a Fashion show that had been organised for an evening, which obviously had huge staff input. At both schools what also came across was the fun everyone was having too.

It’s these things that will make you stand out from the crowd. Take time to highlight them and remember ‘the more you put in the more you get out!’ Take time to get involved or support these extra curricular activities. Not only does it help the students, but will develop you and enhance your CV ready for your next move.

Tell me what activities you do that make you different! Don’t forget to contact us or update your details if you are looking for roles in Independent or International Schools for September ghm@eteach.com

Last week I was at the ISC conference in The Brewery in the City of London. I had the wonderful experience of catching up with many of our client schools and meeting their Heads in person and getting their feedback.

One of the things that constantly comes up is how can eteach.com reach more Independent Teachers directly to let them know of our vacancies? Unlike the state sector where we are able to contact teachers directly through the unions and targeting conferences where teachers are, in the Independent sector it is more difficult.

I would like to hear from you with your ideas of how we as a company can reach out to those who work in Independent Schools. Did you know we have an Independent School’s Bulletin that goes out each weekend with the latest school adverts that have been placed. If you would like to sign up for this please email ghm@eteach.com and will sign you up for it. Similarly we have vacancies for Independent Schools abroad. If you or a colleague would like to teach in these schools abroad let us know and we will let our client schools know.

Over time, questions for which he was ill-prepared had resulted in this conditional reflex. Prep school, King Charles II Boys, then Oxford, and finally the merchant bank in the city; every phase of his life seemed to him to have been one long Pavlov experiment aimed at damaging his mouth.

Why is the square root of two irrational? Why are the Halogens so alike and yet so different? Why had he poured millions of pounds of investor’s money into risky derivatives?At least he could afford the lip cream. The £80k bonuses meant that he was financially secure for the moment, and the Mercedes hadn’t depreciated as much as his stocks, so he could always downsize to an Audi.

Idle hands, the devil’s work he had thought, so he looked for new employment in insurance and in high street banks, but the crisis had hit hard.

A friend mentioned teaching. New six-month courses for talented individuals who were interested, fast-tracked upwards in the system. He felt he had all the skills that a new recruit needed. The 2.1 (tick), an ability to make spreadsheets and flowcharts (tick), experience outside school in the real world of international investment funds (tick), occasional babysitting for the nephews on weekend leave from St. Agatha’s (tick) – all present and correct. No need for him to waste a whole year with mumbo jumbo pseudo-psychology, learning about the latest education methodologies.

The interview had been going so well, until that thin faced woman with the glasses had asked him “Why is it that boys, who used to lag behind girls in maturity and academic development before closing the gap around year 9, now seem no longer able to? What changes in teaching style do you think could positively benefit them, whilst still maintaining the interest of girls?

Quentin St. John Warder bit his lip.

Have you ever heard someone you thought was truly inspirational and what they said kept coming back to you over and over again?

Eteach had the wonderful opportunity to listen to such a person at the SHMIS Annual Conference in Brigg North Lincolnshire earlier this week.

The person in question was Carrie Herbert the founder of Red Balloon Learner Centres. Every teacher training college should have this lady to speak to their students about the work she does. Her words would stay with them the whole of their careers.

Carrie’s Red Balloon Learner Centres provide support and one to one teaching for pupils who have been bullied out of schools and can no longer attend regular schools. She provides ‘safe houses’ that have been converted into learning centres where pupils receive crucial emotional support to help give them back their self esteem. Through this and individual learning programmes she enables students to have belief in themselves and their abilities and in turn gives them strategies that reintegrates them back into regular full time education, apprenticeships or work.

Her understanding of the complex issues surrounding the victim in bullying was fascinating and enlightening. The way she conveyed all of this made each and everyone us want to go out of that room and champion her cause.

Have you had anyone who has inspired you in your career? At Eteach we fill many job vacancies for teachers and support staff from all spectrum’s. A number of us hunt for the next job, whether it is in teaching or any other career, because someone has provided inspiration to find that next step. We’d love to hear whether someone’s inspiration has helped you land a successful job in education?