Am I? Am I really?

[MadLenny]

Also posted elsewhere but know I'm guranteed the most honest responses here!
This is a bit long and complicated so I'll apologise now.
I'm a teacher and work job share a couple of days a week. For the last 18months - 2 years I have said to my headteacher (and anyone else who'll listen) that I'm very keen to take on extra hours, even short term. I've offered to cover 2 maternity leaves and various other bits and pieces throughout the school but these have all gone to others. I am being moved to a different class when we go back (as part of my professional development) and when we met to discuss what class I would be getting my HT intimated that there would be at least one day a week cover required in another class. From this conversation it was implied that I would be given this day.
I've found out this week that another teacher (who is also part time and has only recently enquired about extra days, she's a friend) has been offered this, also that the new teacher who is taking over my old class/days has been offered the rest of the week covering another class. I am really p**d off as I feel that I have been passed over yet again. Also I did LOADS of extra (unpaid!) days at the end of term to help out with sports, graduation concert etc and really feel that I'm being made a mug of.
Have emailed my HT to, politely, ask if she is planning on offering me any extra days and if not what are her reasons but she has yet to respond (have read receipt so know she's seen it.
So AIBU???
PS I'm in Scotland if that makes a difference.

I don't mean this unkindly but it doesn't sound like you are accidentally being overlooked. How have your appraisals been (if you have them) - positive or negative? You have done the right thing in asking for clarification though.

if there are vacancies, they should be advertised & people able to apply fairly, not just handed out to friends.

however, i know a lot of schools (in england) where the head, or someone, just gives them to whoever they feel is best, without really sticking to 'the rules'

don't do any more free days, it obviously isn't getting you anywhere - in fact, i'd be looking for a ft post elsewhere tbh. possibly, she just thinks she can get you for free, so why bother to pay you?

I was going to say much the same as Sparkle?

You need to know what's really going on.

similar happened to my friend when her maternity cover contract was up she was basically told she would gt the job come up for next year - then didn't! She asked on TES website and got lots of responses as she had done the same extra hours and helping with another subject which she is talented in. She basically got told the same as posted here. Ask for clarification - makes it harder for ht to do it again if theres no real reasons and stop doing extra for free. Personally I would be looking for employment elsewhere.

Best of luck

I agree with sparkle too. I would prepare yourself for the worst and ask for some honest feedback from the head. It does sound as if either there is some kind of perceived problem with your teaching or they are totally disorganised. Either way I'd be looking out for other posts but I'd want to know if people had concerns about my work.

Thanks guys, I would understand but my appraisals and observations have all been really good so at least I'm pretty sure it's nothing like that. However, I do feel that things are being passed to HTs 'friends' but have no way of proving it. My only positive is our senior teacher has noticed and was going to look into it for me. I would look elswhere but love my school and there are just not that many other jobs out there at the moment.

What a frustrating situation for you MadLenny. Can I ask, are you top of the pay scale? I know that sometimes people are passed over for extra hours if paying them to do those hours costs more than it would to pay a newer or less experienced/expensive teacher. Just a thought. Hope it is all resolved well for you :)

Annoying as it is, I believe that only the posts of HT are obliged to be advertised.

Temporary teaching jobs do not have to be advertised. This is a common misconception.
Infact, the only teaching jobs that actually have to be advertised are the head and deputy head though of course it is good practice to do so.

In my experience, nowadays, when there is such emphasis placed on value added and results, heads employ the best person for the job. They are performance managed as well and it is always results driven so if you were the the better teacher, you would have got the hours. It sounds as if the head doesn't think you are the best teacher she can get for the additional hours otherwise she would have employed you.

In anycase if you have been overlooked this many times and you are a fab teacher perhaps it would be best to apply elesewhere, they may appreciate your strengths.

You are correct echt.

This sounds like they are not offering equality of opportunity - is the HT offering the extra hours on an applications basis, or is it just 'given'. I'd be surprised if they could get away with the latter according to employment law?

Whilst jobs themselves don't have to be advertised, just giving the extra hours does seem to be an inequality issue and you could claim discrimination.

is there a cost implication? Are you a very experienced (and therefore expensive)teacher, whereas others are lower grade? It may be that they are cheaper to offer the role too, in a climate where everyone is watching the pennies.

i thought the thing about advertising the ht's jobs was external adverts, and that it was up to schools, under LEA guidelines to decide about 'lesser' jobs, however, there is the question of equality if certain people are simply given a job without other even knowing that it exists.

the last school i was in, two positions were simply 'given' to male staff, without any discussion, even with the HoF. In both instances, there were better qualified female teachers with longer experience and far better track records for behaviour & results. Thanks goodness i was leaving.