How hard do senior non teaching staff work in the school holidays?

[Ididtry]

I have the opportunity to take a senior position in a secondary school. I have teenage dc so whilst I "can" work holidays, I'd prefer to be around a bit (even though they give the impression they couldn't care less, they do).

It's a new post and I'm sure I could negotiate reduced hours if I wanted, but that would come with the corresponding pay cut and I'd still end up doing the work. So, I'm thinking if hours would be fairly flexible in the holidays I'd be better to take it full time?

[Ididtry]

...reduced hours in the holidays... It's a full time 52 week job

[WigglyWooWorm]

If it's not teaching wouldn't it be standard 9-5?

[Ididtry]

Yes, Wiggly but I'm wondering how much senior staff on that kind of contract really do in the holidays. E.g If it would be the norm to "work from home" or knock off early when there's no one else around.

[Pestilentialone]

No job is 52 weeks, especially in a school. What does the contract - job description say about holidays?

[WigglyWooWorm]

I'd look at the job description. They may expect you to take your holidays in the holidays. I can't see why they wouldn't expect you in work though unless it was a pro rata'd job.

[Ididtry]

Yes, it's a 52 week contract with 7.4 weeks holiday including bank holidays. School holidays are 13 weeks, so I'm wondering wharvwill be expected of me. In reality, in the other 5.6 weeks.

I'm sure I could negotiate an extra 2-3 weeks holiday, but that would be unpaid (because that's how non teaching contracts in school work). It seems daft to take the pay cut if in practice I won't need to do as much as usual during those weeks anyway.

[Boiled7Up]

What's the job title?

I think people would be surprised about how busy secondaries can be in the summer.

I know that our local secondary does a lot of holiday clubs, rents out the gym facilities to clubs, does CPD for teachers, and occasionally does social events for the new starters.

Even from a building management point of view, the summer is the best time to do essential maintenance, so lots of coming and going.

Admin wise, results day and organising the new intake needs to be done.

[Ididtry]

It's Business Manager and I'm certain there will be work to do in the holidays, I'm just wondering how flexible that might be. HT is quire relaxed about the possibility of me having extra unpaid holidays so he obviously doesn't think I'll "need" to be there all the time

[Boiled7Up]

Business Manager... premises, personnel & pennies?

I'm sure there could be flexibility, but it may depend on other circumstances and events. You might find that some summers/weeks there's quite a lot of flexibility and others absolutely none.

A bit of a useless answer tbh!

[NewIdeasToday]

If you're in a senior post in any organisation then it's important that you model appropriate behaviour.

So do you think the Headteacher would be happy if all the non teaching staff felt they could swan around and work from home in the holidays? Even though they're being paid to work all year?

I've worked in education for years (not in schools though) and the holidays can be very busy indeed.

[Ididtry]

As far as I've gathered so far the existing non teaching staff, apart from caretaker, work term time plus max two weeks, so I don't know who I'd be setting the example to.

IME senior staff in any organisation (including headteachers) swan about working from home when it suits them a lot

[Looiloo79]

I'm term time plus 10 days. 5 of the 10 days are in the 6 week holidays getting ready for the new term and the other 5 are negotiable.
The salary is reflected in this but don't lose too much money.

Can't work from home as all software on the computers at work.

[TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross]

I think our school must be different then, because all our non-teaching staff work regular hours regardless of whether it's term-time or not, and book certain weeks off for their holiday allowance. But that is HR, accounts, maintenance, bursars office and so on. Not sure about the medical centre though because no pupils - no patients!

[echt]

You need to look at the The Burgundy Book.

And join a union, if you're not already signed up.

[Elk]

IME school holidays is when lots of stuff gets done that can't be done term time.

Building work, network/ computer upgrades.
Holidays clubs, hire of premises to outside users.
All the filing/archiving you don't get round to in term time.

The burgandy book is only applicable to teaching staff.

The atmosphere is normally more relaxed, without dress codes and a bit more flexible timing wise, but you have to spend a significant time on site.

[MinnieSquidge]

I'm on a 52 week contract which stipulates that I take all holidays in the school holidays. My contact also says that I have to work a minimum of Xxxx number of hours over the year. I work well over the normal hours during term time which gives me a couple of extra weeks holiday. I do still go in to work in school holidays(especially for Goss and a level results and prep for new intake) but sometimes work from home. my boss/line Manager seems to work every holiday as there is
always work to be done. Saying that are a large secondary. it may be different in ordinary or a smaller school.

[MinnieSquidge]

That should say GCSE results*

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

The business manager in my school has a massive workload. She is busiest during holidays as that's when a lot of the jobs that can't be done when kids are there get done. She finds she gets most done in the holidays as she is not interrupted as much.

The most flexibility she has is able to work appointments out of school around her working hours. So could come in late after a dentist appointment or whatever as long as she stayed in work her full hours and went home later.

It's pretty full on in schools these days even amongst support staff now. Be prepared for the huge workload. I am ready to pack it all in. I can't handle the stress of the workload anymore.

[WildwestWind]

I'm an sbm and work all year round. However I work much longer hours during term time (usually 8am - 6pm) and do about a day a week in the holidays. Lots of admin etc can be done from home. I'm always on call though and would always go in for emergencies, to supervise building projects and anything that would affect the school from operating normally. Essentially as long as I get the work done and enable the head to focus on learning and teaching I can please myself with the hours I work during school holidays.

[Notsoskinnyminny]

I'm another primary SBM who's all year round. I try to work 8-2 in the holidays but am often still there after 4 - there's so much to do that there just isn't enough time to do during term-time. I've already got my own to-do list for the 2nd wk of the Easter hols and the Head keeps adding things to it so no chance of 'swanning' around and having a blag day although I might manage a chippy lunch with the cleaners and that's a treat because I never get a lunch break.

[isaulte]

I'm a primary SBM and if you are looking for a job where you can work reduced hours, forget it - there would not be enough hours in the day to get everything done, even if you worked 52 weeks a year with no breaks.

[h0rsewithn0name]

Another SBM here. I am contracted to work two weeks of the holiday and I have to report these days to the whole leadership team and governors, so that they know I'm in. Some staff will come in on the same days, so that we can go through things together. I work the full day, 8am - 4.30pm (but usually more). As said upthread, the best I can hope for is to wear jeans and a sneaky lunch with the premises staff.

[Fairyliz]

Another primary SBM here. Officially I work 41 weeks per year. Last year I worked 47 weeks and no,I didn't get any extra pay for the 6 extra weeks.
As other posters have said the work just keeps increasing and increasing, the holidays are the only time to get some jobs done.