The International Schools Review Forum

I am a primary school teacher. Mainly grades 4-5. However I have also done the odd year as a PE teacher in Primary School.

I have just completed 3 years as a grade 4 teacher. Now I have been offered a great job in a place I'd like to work as PE teacher again.

A principal has told me (and I have heard it before) that if I keep switching around I will be less likely to be hired in future.

The truth is I like both PE and the classroom. What are your thoughts on me switching subjects. Will it hurt me long term?

Thanks in advance.

This is a great question that I have asked myself. Would love to get some feedback from the forum members.

What matters is your expertise. If you switch too often and don't sharpen your pedagogical content knowledge, assessment methods, tech integration etc., then switching is a problem.
However, if you end up at a great school and switch, plan to stay there for a few years. Grow professionally, develop your network, and then, plan your next move. Ultimately, you'd find your forte that can make you competitive in the long run. I have seen elementary teachers who went on to become ADs and IB Sports Science educators.

Agree with the above. If switching will get you into a top tier school with loads of free PD, then it is a no-brainer. The issue with PE though is that many schools will fill it with a local hire.

Youre principal has an agenda, there is no validity to the claim that moving subjects makes you undesirable. The caveat to that is, you will be come less marketable as a primary HRT the longer you are a PSPE IT.

I have some disagreement with @finedude, while SKA decay would be more consistent moving between actual subject fields, you arent doing that. If you move from primary HRT to primary PSPE, your just becoming a primary specialist, you are still a primary IT, who will collaborate, learn, and grow in primary education.

I agree with @buffalofan in regards to utility and marketability an HRT is more marketable than a PSPE IT, as many lower tier ISs will hire locally and less likely to hire a qualified IT to teach PE, to them its just supervised playtime to give the HRTs a prep period.