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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel that this email is intrusive

208 replies

Thornyrose7 · 12/08/2016 12:41

I am due to start a new teaching contract at a new place of work in September. I am not new to teaching, I have been doing it on and off for 15 years with breaks and maternity gaps.
I have my new timetable and some details about the coming year which I am planning to look at the week before my contract starts and do some planning then. My summer is taken up with children's activities, weekends away etc etc.
I have just received an email from a teacher who is also due to start the same time as me. I believe that she is an NQT. We will be sharing responsibility for one course. This teacher wants me to send her my planning and scheme of work and wants to discuss next year.
AIBU to feel really intruded upon?
I believe that teachers holidays are sacred and if you want to work over summer that is a personal choice.I am also annoyed that she has got hold of my personal email, when we have never met.
I don't want our working relationship to get off to a bad start, but I am not sure how to respond!

OP posts:
fastdaytears · 12/08/2016 14:33

I think she's been asked to email you. I don't understand how she can do any planning without knowing what you'll be doing.

Tone is difficult to gauge by email. If she's been asked to contact you then I wouldn't expect her to be all apologetic about it as she won't think it's out of the ordinary.

witsender · 12/08/2016 14:34

But how were you proposing to plan or share the course without talking with the other teacher? I was a teacher too, and planning etc absolutely does fall into the remit of what should be done in the hols.

Shizzlestix · 12/08/2016 14:35

Just tell her what parts of the course you're doing. It is unfair to wait til September when you clearly have time to be on here moaning about an 'intrusive' email. Ffs, she just wants to start planning. A huge part of classroom management is having a good plan. Two minute email to tell her which parts you're doing.

spanieleyes · 12/08/2016 14:36

She might be like me and take the last week of the summer holidays as actual "away from home on a desert island so no laptop available" holiday ( so I can remember where I went when everyone asks on INSET day) so wants to be sorted before then.

Witchend · 12/08/2016 14:38

If you really genuinely believe she has overstepped the mark then you should contact the head/head of the department and tell them so they can talk to her and explain that your holidays are sacred and you aren't to be contacted.

knitknack · 12/08/2016 14:43

Is this a new GCSE??? Because I've done 8am - 8pm for two weeks now and have just about written up until Christmas!!! I wish I could be as laid back as you are!!!

ShirleyKnotReboot · 12/08/2016 14:43

Someone (I expect someone at the school - possibly the head) gave her your email address and probably told her to drop you a line to discuss planning. Honestly, I can't see the problem here!

SandyPantz · 12/08/2016 14:44

When I was NQT I wouldn't have had the nerve to be so pushy

Really? when I was a NQT I was expected to get my SOWs in BEFORE getting in the classroom, it wasn't my choice, that was what I was told to do, she's just trying to do her job, and she can't do it if the OP won't even divide up the work - which she could have done in the time it's taken her to post on this thread!

WhisperingLoudly · 12/08/2016 14:46

Whilst I don't know anything about teaching if you have joint responsibility for teaching a course it seems really shitty not to at least discuss with her how you intend to divide the course up.

Also are you actually saying that you don't intend to do any planning until term has actually started?! If so what happens the first days/weeks Confused

SandyPantz · 12/08/2016 14:46

If you really genuinely believe she has overstepped the mark then you should contact the head/head of the department and tell them so they can talk to her and explain that your holidays are sacred and you aren't to be contacted

OP, if you truely believe you are in the right, then CC your reply to the HOD so that they know it's YOU not working with the NQT on planning before term starts, and not the NQT not trying to work with you!

If you don't feel comfortable with your HOD seeing your reply to the NQT, then you shouldn't send it to the NQT!

SandyPantz · 12/08/2016 14:47

If you are really within your rights to do no planning now, then there'll be no problem CCing in your HOD right?

SandyPantz · 12/08/2016 14:47

If you are really within your rights to do no planning now, then there'll be no problem CCing in your HOD right?

JacquesHammer · 12/08/2016 14:48

Given that you're sharing a course I think its perfectly reasonable to ask you what you're covering. That doesn't mean you have to plan yours now, just allow her to plan hers if she wants.

You could probably have responded to her with a quick response in the time it took to write your OP Grin

Acorn44 · 12/08/2016 14:50

Am in the same boat Knitknack. Don't you just love a new spec? Angry

228agreenend · 12/08/2016 14:51

I don't think it's an intrusion, maybe a tad inconsiderate but nothing more. She obviously wants to get everything sorted before term starts, hence emailing you.

Holidays are sacred and teachers get more than most...

ScatteryCattery · 12/08/2016 14:55

Get over yourself

Pearlman · 12/08/2016 14:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CaptainBrickbeard · 12/08/2016 15:00

I did all my planning in July before the end of term so I have the full six weeks off. I won't even think about work til September. I wouldn't be delighted to get sucked back in emailing a colleague right now as then it would fill up my headspace again and I'd start tinkering and tweaking. There is no expectation on me to check my emails. Summer for me is a proper break - I'm likely to work through half term holidays but Christmas and summer I take off completely. I'd have sympathy for her but definitely send a polite but firm email back to say I wasn't working until the final week of the holidays.

HerdsOfWilderbeest · 12/08/2016 15:03

We give all new staff all the plans when they come in during July. That way they can decide when they want to work before September. If you're sharing a course then really it's up to the head of department to decide how to split it between you, if you are not willing to discuss it before term starts.

BoneyBackJefferson · 12/08/2016 15:10

228agreenend
Holidays are sacred and teachers get more than most...

More unpaid holidays than most.

JenniferYellowHat1980 · 12/08/2016 15:11

For those taking the opportunity for a sarky 'I thought teachers said they worked in the holidays' quip, they absolutely do but that time is unpaid and can't be scheduled. I used to prefer getting mine out of the way at the beginning but I soon realised that was a waste of time as I needed a refresher at the end. FWIW I calculated the annualised hours that would be involved in a HOD job someone asked if I'd be interested in yesterday. 2245 minimum, averaging 42+ a week over 52 weeks. Easily 55 per week term time with another 100 during the holidays when I choose. Er, no thanks.

Not that this was a thread about teachers' workload. Rant over.

SandyPantz · 12/08/2016 15:17

I did all my planning in July before the end of term so I have the full six weeks off

and that's fair enough if you then share that planning with anyone who you are sharing a program with before going off grid for 6 weeks.

The OP doesn't want to divide up the work until the week before term starts, so she is effectively dictating which part of the holidays her colleague will have to do most of her planning in, whilst at the same time complaining about being emailed this week!

SandyPantz · 12/08/2016 15:19

I personally couldn't do my planning the week before term starts, I have booked travel to a family wedding abroad, for all the OP knows the NQT won't be suddenly free to work in over drive to get it ALL done in that one week. Let alone the fact that I only have term time childcare so I can't go hell for leather in any one week of the holidays, including the last one. I need to pace it.

The OP is not allowing her colleague to chose how she spends her holidays, while bemoaning an intrusion into her own

Haffdonga · 12/08/2016 15:19

Poor NQT. She's in a panic.

I'd reply politely (as you've planned) but include a comment about how you're taking a well-earned break and advise her to make the most of her last few weeks of free time.

Bee14 · 12/08/2016 15:20

Wow I'm glad you're not my colleague. Regardless of whether she has offended some unwritten rule, it's simple and easy to respond to her in a polite and friendly way, putting her off until the new term starts if you won't be doing much prep before then. I am suprised with your level of experience that you find this surprising as you have presumably come across lots of different characters over the years. Given its a new role I also surprised you're not doing a bit more prep - all my teacher friends, new and experienced do some prep over the holidays.