Unfortunately there is far more cons than pros. In my opinion I went in to this role with slight rose tinted glasses, I believed it would be a fantastic opportunity to actually understand education/teaching and how we can actively help families of all backgrounds. This role is SALES, SALES and more SALES. You are given huge unrealistic targets to meet and fortunately the centre I was in was pretty much picking up the slack of other centres within the region! Were we given the recognition? Absolutely not. Every week would be the dreaded conference call, whereby everyone would get a shout out aside from your own team. It’s soul destroying - as dramatic as that sounds. When you are doing just under 50 hours a week, you can’t not be invested with your own performance/team. I am such a huge advocate of wellbeing, mental health and would always advice my own tutors/management team to take rest when they were feeling run down. However, when it is such a small team of 3, when someone goes sick/takes holiday you are drowning with the work load. The RM/head office team are completely in their own bubble, barking orders via email/phone calls - to check in, know why you haven’t hit your targets and your plan of action going forward. You’re made to feel so worthless. Sickness and well being is supposedly an important aspect to explore learning but when YOU have sickness/concern you are treated horrifically, hounded to know when you will next be in. It’s quite sad to hear how unhappy so many people are within this role on trainings/social events - yet nothing is being done about it? It seems the AD role is branched out to made new shiny graduates, as they are desperate to be successful and in my opinion, explore learning take completely advantage of that - LONG HOURS, HORRIFIC PAY, WEEKEND WORK, 6/7 DAY WEEKS. You should be looking out for this young people today, not just using them as a prop in your centres.
Most AD’s know absolutely nothing about education/curriculum - you’re made to feel like you’re blagging and winging it to this families! The same families that cannot even afford the service to start with, but are unaware they’re giving their money to unknowledgeable people. I understand most work and training ‘is done on the job’, but how are we meant to have time to learn about this curriculum, when we are meant to be hitting targets, parent engagement, up to 10 back to back meetings in morning and then again in the evening. I understand you have Prodecco, but this is such an outdated way of training - unless you have a very hands on centre Director you know full well that these modules are not being completed to a great standard.
I managed in 4 separate centres and in ALL centres there was multiple relationships happening amongst tutor teams and management. I know this cannot not be controlled, but it’s hard enough to cater for everyone’s need in a professional manner without the issue of ‘relationships’ in a work place.
