AIBU to think that a headteacher shouldn't go on holiday during term time

[iwenttohollywoodtoo]

I found out today that the headteacher at DD's school is on holiday abroad and won't be in school until tomorrow.

Technically she has only missed two days so AIBU to think this is out of order, especially given that the school has a policy of not authorising holidays for pupils.

Like many other parents would do, I booked a flight a day earlier when we went away at Xmas (at significant extra £), to make sure DD didn't miss school .

I am to be honest. AIBU?

You sound like you need a hobby OP.

Do you really think you child's education will be damaged by the head not being there for 2 days?
Do you think insufficient cover is in place?
Perhaps they are owed time off in lieu? It's unlikely to have happened without the Governors' knowledge & approval (unless it is a family emergency/travel problems)

Being a head is (IMO) a bloody difficult job - it's relentless and very high pressure. You get stick from multiple directions - the Government, governors, teachers AND parents are way more willing to criticise than to praise.
A very good head I know (when I was explaining why I will not go for promotion) said that she cannot remember the last time a parent saying "thank you" to her.

You are well within your rights to ask the head or the Governors about this - it is unusual - but please consider the impact and your motivations. What do you hope to gain from it?

I knew of a teacher who had a holiday because he had privately battled cancer.. the chair of govs ok - ed it especially as he was going to see his grandkids in Australia.

OP - think you need to ask your governors. Depends also what kind of school it is.

if you really care that much. Me ?I would sweat the big stuff

And it's a good point about Heads being in during the school breaks - they do tend to be in and out most of the summer IME.

tbh I cant see it being a proper holiday maybe a family thing or something teachers head or not tend to not go out on term time do they ? it is 2 days I am sure the school wont fall down without the HT there, it is your choice not to take your child out of school for holidays

this wouldn't bother me in the slightest tbh. i assume the deputy head is capable of dealing with everything for 2 days. it's not the same as a pupil taking a term time holiday as the pupil cant delegate to someone else to learn for them.

Well tbh if he/she has a decent deputy head then surely he won't be missed for a few days. And given that he's surrounded by kids day in and day out I can kinda understand y he would choose to holiday when less chance of resorts being overrun with children,

There may well be other reasons though do please don't get judging.

A friend who is a head teacher went to Australia and the time overlapped the start of the new term . She took unpaid leave with the permission of the Governors.

Even if the head is on holiday, you have absolutely no idea why that holiday was necessary. Our family once went on holiday in term time at very short notice (my df was not a headteacher but a very senior public sector job). Our family circumstances at the time were grim, dad had been holding the family together and not letting it affect his work. Suddenly it was all too much. His boss wisely told him to book a holiday and get away for a fortnight. To anyone else, including the members of the public he dealt with it may have looked rubbish. I have no doubt that without it, he'd have been on long term sick leave,
Who knows if that's the case with your headteacher? None of your business really. But it could be. If its a good head, cut some slack. If not, then I'm sure you've already either decided to make a complaint about them on other grounds, or decided its not important enough to warrant that. So the holiday is a red herring.
If it is, then it would be a case of the head taking the advice he/she would no doubt give a family asking to take a yet time holiday-make an exception, look after your family and don't worry.

I absolutely do not believe that this would be a run of the mill holiday.

Sorry, you simply do not have all the facts.

So yes, YABU

tbh would we really know if a head teacher wasn't in school every day anyway they could all be having sneaky jollys and we dont know bet they do and disguise it as training courses Op who told you they were on holiday

No doubt it will be unpaid leave.

iwenttohollywoodtoo
"I have it on very good authority that it is definately a holiday!"

WOW, just really WOW.

"Anybody got any links to any rules/guidance as to whether this is allowed/not?"

Teachers and heads can take holiday in term time, (sometimes its even paid. shh, don't tell anyone its a secret.)
In the words of Sideshow Bob's child

"Vendetta"

Who's good authority? You can't possibly know all the ins and outs of the HT's private life, and anyone who does shouldn't be gossiping about it at the school gate.

The HT will have had to have the leave granted by Governors at the very least. It is normally rather difficult for any staff in schools to be granted holiday leave without specific reason to do so.

This can sometimes be because they are asked to work in holiday time instead. I know a depute head that took time off in term time because he had been seriously involved in a new school building move during his actual holidays??

I bet it's a job interview at a school abroad. The HT is probably desperate to get away from nosy and judgemental parents.

I bet it's a job interview at a school abroad. The HT is probably desperate to get away from nosy and judgemental parents

hope he gets it

Op, I think you care far too much and are out to cause trouble.

she*

maybe if the Op learned to spell definitely that would help.

I was off work once, unpaid. You need permission.

F**k me, who'd be a teacher?