Not sure what to do - any advice?

[pissovski]

I am a teacher, currently working on supply, but have seen a maternity cover in my subject advertised at a school fairly local to me. This would run from Jan - June 2011. This post was previously advertised (a few weeks ago) and i can only assume that there was no suitable candidates. The only issue is that I am pregnant (just over 3 months) and due at the beginning of May. I would therefore only be able to commit until the Easter break.

I am really torn. I know i would have no second thoughts about applying normally, but feel a bit bad about applying because i know I wouldn't be able to fulfil their requirements. I am aware that the school could not discriminate against me but feel that to reveal my situation might be to my disadvantage. My only thought was that, instead of completing the official application, I could send a 'spec' letter and CV and hope they notice me. (I have done this for other schools - unfortunately with no success so far.) Does anyone think that this would be a better/worse option? Obviously if I did apply (whichever way) and was fortunate enough to be successful, I would immediately make them aware of my pregnancy.

Thanks in advance

[llareggub]

I think you should apply. You can't get it if you don't. I don't quite understand why you won't apply through the official recruitment process though.

I would make them aware of your availability without mentioning your pregnancy. If you are available from now until Easter, I would say that without mentioning why.

[seeyoukay]

What level teacher are you?

Personally I'd be pissed if I was the school and you applied and didn't tell me you were pregnant.

You're going to be 8months+ when the children you teach are possibly going to be heading for exams from April onwards. That's a great time for you to leave.

End of the day they want a teacher for Jan - June 2011. Not Jan to end of April. This is where I disagree with maternity regs. The regs are designed to help employees who have children but imo gets abused in situations like this.

[annh]

Well, you're obviously entitled to apply but yes, be prepared for bad feeling from both the school and parents if you are successful. We had a similar situation a few years ago (not in a school however) where we recruited a maternity cover who told us the day after being offered the post that she was pregnant and would not be able to do the whole maternity cover. Obviously, we issued the offer letter, the member of staff whom she was replacing spent a week doing a handover (knowing that the cover would herself have to do a handover a few months later for a very complex job working for a very high-maintenance, demanding boss) and after one week of doing the job solo, the cover decided that the job was too demanding with her pregnancy and quit! If this is your first baby, I would definitely urge caution in applying.