Teachers requesting flexible working experiences

[jakeini]

Hello
Ive just had a meeting with the head of the secondary school i teach in. I notified her of my intention to return at the end of January. Currently i am full time but have requested (as i have the right) to reduce my hours and work 0.6fte part time (3days). However, she has told me that this will only be granted if they can employ someone to cover the days (0.4fte) i will no longer be doing. I know that in my area there are very few teachers for my subject - when i went away on maternity leave no one applied for my full time job for the year. I am also aware of the time it takes for this adverts to be put in place, interviews done etc and am extrememly concerned at how long this will take! I am doubting whether a decuision will be make before xmas and panicing that they are not going to give me adequate time in which to arrange childcare. I really like a local nursery, it is the only one in my area that takes children under 2 and im worried it'll be full by time school has made a decision. I find the whole process to be completely unfair and unsupportive. The idea of returning to work is stressful enough and now i have this to deal with. I was just wondering if there are any other teachers out there that have had similar experiences.
Thanks very much in advance.

[janey68]

Not a teacher, but I have plenty of experience of recruiting people to my team. I'm struggling to see what's unfair in this situation... Of course they will need someone to work the 0.4 that you wouldn't be working. That part of the job isn't going to just disappear is it? And they need someone qualified and competent in that subject.

On the plus side, if your subject is very much a shortage area presumably this makes it far more likely that you'd have success in getting a part time job elsewhere if they can't organise a job share where you are. So in many respects you're in a Stronger position that someone whose skills are more easily replaceable

[SchrodingersFanny]

Surely they could employ someone full time and use them in other subjects too?

I know my school are becoming very strict about part time requests now as it is so difficult for them to timetable with so many part timers.

If they advertised now for Jan start, that would be about right. It only takes a couple of weeks to recruit in teaching.

Put your request in writing, they then have 28 days to respond. Have you spoken to your union?

[SchrodingersFanny]

Surely they could employ someone full time and use them in other subjects too?

I know my school are becoming very strict about part time requests now as it is so difficult for them to timetable with so many part timers.

If they advertised now for Jan start, that would be about right. It only takes a couple of weeks to recruit in teaching.

Put your request in writing, they then have 28 days to respond. Have you spoken to your union?

[NorthernShores]

They couldn't recruit now for January though could they? Teachers in post have to give notice the holiday before, so would have to have given notice at half term for January surely?

[SchrodingersFanny]

An NQT? Someone on supply/contract

[VegasIsBest]

You have the right to request flexible working. But that doesn't mean you will automatically get it, as your employer can refuse for various reasons. So maybe you'd be best to arrange full time childcare, and then cut back the hours if your request is agreed.

[DrankSangriaInThePark]

I am a teacher.

The problem seems to be the timing more than anything else.

You find it unfair that your rights are seemingly being dissed, the school is probably thinking that if you had let them know earlier, they could have set their recruitment process in motion earlier.

You need to check your contract and maybe speak to your union, because if you were going back on your old full contract they wouldn't be able to replace you, but seemingly they can/might because you are requesting (effectively) a different job. (or rather only .6) Not sure where that leaves you contractually.

I don't think either you, or the school, is being unreasonable. You just both want different things, but need to find out which of you has more "right" than the other.