Taking time off work to go to an interview

[How999]

Hi

My admin job in a school is a maternity cover which is ends at the end of July.

I have started looking for September and today I saw a really ace looking job that I am going to apply for.

The only problem is that, if I get as far as an interview, it is being held on a day that I am not sure my head could get cover for me.

Do I go ahead and ask to take time off and see what she says?

If she says no, how do I try to get a job for next September given that by the time school finishes in July, all other schools will have their staffing for September sorted ?

Hi
That's a tough one but I was in a similar position a few years ago. I lied and said I had an appointment. When I got the job my boss actually said why didn't you tell me!!!
School finance roles also.
Good luck but put yourself first.

Thank you.

I will ask her and see what she says. She won’t be delighted however as I recently had to take a morning off due to my daughter’s CAMHS appointment.

Schools are unusually transparent about job applications. This is because if a teacher applies for a job, references are taken up before interview, and the teacher obviously has to ask for a day off school to attend it. This is all standard practice.

Your HT therefore shouldn't bat an eyelid if you tell her the truth. You have a temporary job, albeit not as a teacher, and need to find employment for when it ends.

If she says she is unable to facilitate, you are also allowed to ask if the interview can be rescheduled, I don't know what schools are like for those kind of requests, but it's not unusual or unheard of for applicants to request a date change for interviews.
Good luck!

Thanks .

I've never known anyone to be stopped from attending an interview (teacher here). Apply for LOA and put 'job interview' as reason.
Do not lie and say you're doing something else.