how long can i leave it to refuse job offer?

[lewimummy]

I have been offered (and accepted) a teaching assistant post, however a position has come up in my local school which is much more convienient for me. Im thinking of applying for this post but as theres no guarantees that i'll get the job I don't want to refuse my accepted job yet. If I do get the local job is it acceptable to refuse the job i have been offered or have i entered into a verbal contract? I have heard about affective blacklisting from jobs in schools if you say you will take a job and later refuse it.

[Lil O'lady]

Zacs broadly right, although headteachers will often 'have a word' if they are chums enough (they rarely are). People give back word about jobs all the time, but 'a bird in the hand etc' ie take up the job you have acceptd until something better is definitely available to you.