Should teachers fall pregnant at Times to suit their classes?

[winterplease]

I'm pregnant, I haven't had my scan yet, and so didn't want to tell my workplace until I've had the all clear at the first scan. I've been suffering morning sickness so felt like I needed to tell someone at work, so told my head of department . She keeps saying that I must inform the headteacher right away as I'm teaching GCSE AND A Level classes, and if they knew I was going to have a baby I wouldn't have had that timetable this year. She suggests I tell the head teacher and senior leadership team now so they have as much time as possible to sort my replacement.

This got me thinking, should teachers try and fall pregnant at times to suit the classes they teach? For me this wasn't possible as we had been trying for a while.

Name changed in case my manager is on here and can work out who I am from previous posts!

Yes, yes. You plan your pregnancy, if you can, to return after mat leave mid-July and get full pay for the holidays.

The ‘think of the pupils’ attitude is ridiculous, unfair and a stick used to beat teachers with.

I tried to time my pregnant with the financial year, didn’t happen and looking back I feel foolish for trying.

Legally you don’t need to tell your employer until much later but in your shoes I would announce after 12 week scan. How long have you got to wait?

Sacha
I think that people forget that children and teens are quite resilient really.

My students are really happy for me. I've told my GCSE students that I'll have them through the content before I go unless baby comes early. My A level classes are going to another really strong a level teacher in the team. My tutor group want to meet the baby when I have my KIT days. They're used to people going on maternity leave.

In my experience most of the drama caused by staff going on maternity leave is caused by parents.

@MsAwesomeDragon that’s what tends to happen in our department

And no although your HOD sounds like mine as that’s exactly the sort of thing they would say

No!

Life is not all about work! Every job will replace in you in a heartbeat when you quit/resign/move on/die ... a heartbeat. Life is about how you live when you're not working.

And what your Head of Department told you sounds like discrimination would have been openly used in your job assignments! Document it and question it.

You shouldn't plan your pregnancy and your work, but it's considerate to tell your employer as soon as possible where significant staffing and timetable changes will be involved.
My daughter's manager knew she was pregnant before I did, which was necessary in her job, and absolutely fine by me.

Oh definitely.
They should also never go on holiday further than 10 miles away in case a pupil needs their expertise during the holiday, never go down to the pub with friends in case a parent sees them, always be prepared to give an impromptu parents chat wherever they meet them, and never say anything that isn't totally positive to either parents or pupils.

Actually, shouldn't they spend the evenings/weekends/holidays just plugged in to charge in the staff room? That way these questions won't come up.

And= around

Just realised I’ve put “teaching” instead of “teacher” in my previous post, but you get the idea!

Lol. Yes people can totally plan when they are precisely going to conceive and give birth! It just doesn’t work like that, making a baby can sometimes take years, who knows before you try how long it will take or whether you can even get pregnant.

You share your news when you are happy to, I know you legally have to do it by a certain point but I wouldn’t be sharing my news before the first scan unless I really really needed to.

Congrats!

I planned my latest pregnancy for Sept but not for the sake of the kids/school. It just suited me best with holidays/maternity pay etc. I'm lucky that I was in a position to be able to do that, I know many people who aren't and to suggest someone should is just ridiculous. At the end of the day teaching is just a job, I care about the kids I teach to an extent but I certainly wouldn't prioritise them over my life choices/children etc.

To defend parents slightly, it's unlikely that they will know why a teacher is absent. Someone would have to be a complete shit to complain about a teacher who they know is losing her baby. So if they do complain, it might be because they consider the school hasn't made proper arrangements rather than a criticism of you personally. So it's a criticism of SLT.

I do think it's reasonable to not give year 11 or year 13 classes to teachers whose mat leave will coincide with the most time for those pupils. I wouldn't view that as workplace discrimination tbh.
Because you've told the hoy I'd assume SLT knows and so for this reason I'd tell them formally. Next time, I'd hold off until the 12 week scan. Generally I do feel it's considerate to give them as much planning time as you possibly can.

SLT can be very insensitive at times. I had to give up a new (but temporary) job when I had a threatened miscarriage and was put on bed rest. The head of department was most put out - as if I had any control over the situation.

Eh? Who can fall pregnant on demand? It took ages for me to conceive.

This is one of the stupidest things I have ever read on here.....

@winterplease SL are made to manage shitstorms. Let them earn their money!

I'm sure many leadership teachers have children born at all times of the academic year. Do not feel bad. X

@winterplease I meant to type SL are PAID to manage shitstorms

Women can struggle to conceive, miscarry, have complications, give birth prematurely - none of it can be planned for. An excellent teacher should get exam classes who will benefit from her expertise whilst she is there. In schools I’ve worked in, other teachers then shift around their timetables to take on the exam groups when she goes off and the supply picks up the younger classes.

When a member of SLT was in a car accident in the summer, no one griped about how inconvenient their absence was at the start of the school year - the leadership team found ways to manage. That’s just life.

I don't understand all the "tell them for health and safety" stuff. Its around 20 weeks that you actually have to tell an employer.
It can be advisable to tell earlier as once they know they should not do anything that counts as discrimination against you, and yes could do a risk assessment - for most school jobs this won't count for much. Also absence for pg related reasons does not count as normal absence.
Your HOD needs to wind her neck in or perhaps a word to your union rep would help.
Even if you told them today it doesn't mean a supply teacher will be lined up - it is months and months away and anyone who agreed to do it today could have found a permanent job by then.

An excellent teacher should get exam classes who will benefit from her expertise whilst she is there. In schools I’ve worked in, other teachers then shift around their timetables to take on the exam groups when she goes off and the supply picks up the younger classes.
That's what's happening with my maternity cover.
It makes absolutely no sense to remove exam classes from strong teachers.

To defend parents slightly, it's unlikely that they will know why a teacher is absent.
It's irrelevant. Students bounce back and are generally resilient.
Other than situations where there is a real question or concern over the quality of supply teaching (and then school are generally aware and dealing with it), it doesn't make that much difference if a class have Mrs Blogs in Y10 and half of Y11 and then Mr Smith for the rest of year 11. That's what's happening to my y11 this year most likely. They'll be just fine. Mr Smith is great. It takes a couple of lessons to get used to new people but honestly I think a lot of the flapping and fussing from parents causes a lot more issues than there are.

I've picked up GCSE classes at the end of y10 to cover for someone leaving at Easter. They then got someone else in the department from Y11. They're being taught by qualified, experienced and good English teachers. I'd rather my child had 3 excellent tecahers than 2 years with someone who is known for ok results.

You're head of department is being totally unreasonable. I told my headteacher after 6 weeks purely because I was being quite sick but didn't tell anyone else until after the scan. They have loads of time to arrange for any cover that'll be needed and your year 11s will be in exams by then anyway so you'll surely be able to teach them the entire time without needing cover?! Ignore the risk assessment comment from your head of department too. Schools only do this after your 24 week appointment with your midwife. I'm 29 weeks now and still haven't had mine due to the summer holidays. Your head of department clearly just feels like she can't keep a secret or wants unnecessary drama created.

Some people can plan (ie those very fertile couples), some can’t and it shouldn’t be expected.

I can appreciate though there are things to consider if you have exam classes and I think it’s only fair you give the school enough time to work out cover arrangements to minimise disruption.

But just looking at dates, wouldn’t exams be done anyway? So perfect timing?

As someone who had a 27 wrecker... it doesn’t work either way

• weeker, although she wrecked my carpet i’ll Give her that

Good schools have systems in place to deal with the many staffing issues they will face. Personally, I wish I had thought about my workplace (fab as it is) a bit less. I waited two years to try to conceive as I wanted to see something through and though I am a happy mother of one possibly would have had more otherwise. Remember it is a human right to have a family life. Think about school and consider the students but balance that with your needs too. Congratulations and good luck.