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?

Our head went on the trip to Feurtaventura with the pupils doing the exchange trip.

In our LEA, they can request 5 family days for whatever they want. But one of the head's I worked with didn't make it back after an October holiday when she missed her flight.

Yes, I do advise the OP to 'bank' this one as if the OP has a special circumstance whereby time off outside of school holidays would be an appropriate request then the OP can make that request. If the OP is met with an out of hand 'no' then the OP can question the difference.

Just as HTs have lives outside of school so do pupils and parents. I have seen a number of threads on MN where parents have said they have been denied authorised time off despite extenuating circumstances.

Yes, HTs are not pupils but also parents arent pupils either. All have to operate within the school community.

If this were some sort of compassionate or sick leave by the HT then this could have been communicated without giving any more detail. Happens in other work settings all the time. It would have only been sensible.

It is poor advice worrysigh as the OP does not know the reason for absence. The head teacher has a right to privacy and the reasons for her absence should be between her and her employer.

Dont worry OP, there is an unwritten rule on MN:

'thou shalt not criticise teachers/HTs/DHTs especially if thou ist but a lowly parent'

Penalty for breaching this rule is to be shown thine arse.

My arse and I are on good acquaintanceship (I name change regularly)

So you namechange so that you can continue to criticise teachers on education threads? What odd paranoid obsessive behaviour

Indeed. The idea that this person either has to make a public statement about their absence or justify it to every parent who wants cheaper flights until retirement is outrageous.

Pupil absence during term time has no relevance to this situation, whatever it may be.

If the school governors have authorised the absence it's none of the OP's business.

Of course, if she has any firm proof that her child has been adversely affected in some way she can make a complaint.

And as for "I have it on very good authority..." - bollocks. I doubt if it's a holiday and if someone has been indiscreet that's highly unprofessional. It's probably just a whole load of mothers at the school gate doing a younger version of Dot Cotton: "You know me; I'm not one to gossip, but..." If so they should learn to keep their mouths shut.

Oh, and I agree with Feeling Horse I returned from a serious mental health breakdown to discover that the information had been shared with parents and pupils. On my first day back, one pupil said to me: "Our parents got told you had a breakdown. We can soon make sure you have another one."

So does a parent have a right to privacy.

If a parent goes to HT and says 'please can my child have 2 days extra after the holiday for extenuating reasons' isnt the HT going to want to know what the reasons are? If the HT hears the reasons and still says 'no' then I dont see a problem with the parent saying to HT 'how is that different from the time you took off in June?'

The HT can say that he/she doesnt have to follow the same rules as pupils, that their reasons were better than the parents, whatever. The parent can then decide whether they want to follow the HT's decision.

Euphemia

Yes, you are right. Someone else drew that comparison and I wanted to make the point that, even if you think it is relevant (OP does) then I seriously doubt the school never allows it.

The legal requirement of parents to educate their children and the HT's conditions of service are entirely different.

... but you are right. I shouldn't even give credence to a spurious comparison

Cos of course a teachers or HT day /week ends when they walk out those doors. No way HT is actually planning anything or catching up on correspondence or doing rotas, switching catering companies, ordering equipment, planning meetings Etc whilst absent from said school [hmn] he may be away but may also be working from home/holiday

Not quite the same thing WorrySigh. Parents share a piece of personal information with the headteacher (one person) who may dictate a reply to a member of office staff. So not being broadcast to 300 sets of parents, some of whom will discuss in public forums and broadcast far and wide.

WorrySighWorrySigh

"If this were some sort of compassionate or sick leave by the HT then this could have been communicated without giving any more detail"

Other than being nosey what does the HT having time off have to do with you?

Frankly your point is absurd.

and on your behalf, ilovesooty, at such unwarranted sharing of private information.

Worry the HT is interpreting government rules, not playing about. And of course the parent can do what they want. And pay the fine.

I have suggested a couple of times that the HT does not have to provide any detail. Simple enough for the school to say that HT is on leave of absence. Not making any sort of announcement/statement simply leaves a void into which gossip will fall.

The HT is absent, parents dont need all the detail just a brief explanation. For crying out loud parents have to explain the D&V absences of their children. Is it asking so very much of the school to provide a limited explanation of why the HT isnt there?

Sooty, that is truly awful- I can't imagine how that must have felt. That makes me very angry for you.

At least I had some kind of control when I told my pupils the truth.

The HT is absent, parents dont need all the detail just a brief explanation. For crying out loud parents have to explain the D&V absences of their children. Is it asking so very much of the school to provide a limited explanation of why the HT isnt there?

Yes. Your continual comparisons of children and adults are increasingly ridiculous.

WorrySighWorrySigh
"
I have suggested a couple of times that the HT does not have to provide any detail. Simple enough for the school to say that HT is on leave of absence. Not making any sort of announcement/statement simply leaves a void into which gossip will fall"

You can sigh all you like, but not putting any detail as to why the head is absent will start gossip. Even more likely is that various people will "bank" the information and try and use it against the head.

It is unfortunate, but a void of information does fuel gossip, for some parents who expect to know every single little thing about what is going on in school and are inclined to be critical with little evidence.

OP what has been said about her absence, and who is your information source? Do you have something against the HT, or does your source?

Because this just sounds a bit trivial to be worrying about (as I said before, someone will be deputising) unless you have an agenda

Yeah but they must be kids or they wouldn't be in a school.

No answer to that, have you?

Feenie, I think you will find that I was making comparisons between parents and HTs. Also I do also think that children are not the property of the school, they and their parents also have lives outside of school.

OP what has been said to parents about her absence?