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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that my teaching timetable might be against legal number of hours?

35 replies

TypicallyEnglishMustard · 08/09/2016 13:43

Hello, sorry this is in the "wrong" place, traffic on the staff room looks very slow.

I teach in secondary as an English teacher. This is my fourth year, but the first time this has occurred. Not sure if this is right, so posting for advice!

My school operates a week A/week B timetable. Initially, I had one PPA on week A, and three PPAs on week B. I've just been informed by SLT that one of my A level lessons has been moved into the PPA on week B. So, I now have four PPAs on week A, but none at all on week B.

Is this allowed?? Obviously, I'm slightly bricking it at the thought of an entire week of teaching with no PPA, and if it's legal, I'll just have to learn to cope. Sad Does anyone know if this is okay?

OP posts:
Original poster
TypicallyEnglishMustard · 08/09/2016 13:45

* sorry, I meant three PPAs on week A and one on week B at the start... Apologies, already panicking!

OP posts:
user1471455728 · 08/09/2016 13:46

Are you in a union? The rep at your school should be able to advise. Good luck.

Original poster
TypicallyEnglishMustard · 08/09/2016 13:47

I'm in NASUWT, but unfortunately there's no rep at my school. Should I speak to the staff welfare officer? Or is that a bit much?

OP posts:
Gmbk · 08/09/2016 13:49

You're allowed 10% of your teaching time as ppa.

So you're teaching 44 hours over a fortnight so should have 4.4 hours of ppa.

Not sure if they are allowed to round down though!

Your school sounds awful!

fizzicles · 08/09/2016 13:50

Don't know if it's 'legal', but it certainly sounds unreasonable. I'd definitely be contacting union for advice. Have you talked to your line-manager about it?

Original poster
TypicallyEnglishMustard · 08/09/2016 13:52

I definitely have 4.4 hours of PPA, just none of it now falls on one of the weeks. I just already feel exhausted at the though of a full week and no planning/prep time at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
TypicallyEnglishMustard · 08/09/2016 13:53

Thank you all for responding and being so helpful.

My line manager doesn't have an issue with it. He says it's the way it has to be because of A level subject clashes across the school.

OP posts:
DoubleCarrick · 08/09/2016 14:00

I used to have a full day every other week.

I think as long as you're getting the amount of time you should be, it's ok

itoldyouyouwouldntlikeit · 08/09/2016 14:04

They can put it all in 1 week so long as you get the time but your school is miserly with free time - I get 4 fortnightly and I only work 3 days.

GoblinLittleOwl · 08/09/2016 14:09

Ring the local union rep, but I think as you have the correct percentage of PPA for your timetable the school is doing nothing illegal.

user1471426611 · 08/09/2016 15:33

Unfortunately although this a really grotty timetable it isn't illegal as you have the correct number of PPA.

Original poster
TypicallyEnglishMustard · 08/09/2016 16:06

Thanks so much for the help and advice, everyone.

I've emailed the staff welfare officer (who is lovely), and asked to have a chat about it. If nothing can be swapped around and changed, I hope she can give me some advice on how to manage on that week. We also do a compulsory hour's intervention after school every day, so am anticipating being very exhausted at the end of a week B! I'm only in my fourth year, and haven't dealt with this before. Am also 8 weeks pg, so was thinking ahead to possibly be more knackered in the spring term!

OP posts:
winewolfhowls · 08/09/2016 16:06

I had a timetable like this once, it was crap.

One solution, make one or more of the a level classes a twilight session, giving you an hour off in the day, better still make them a double. You get through more anyway.

ilovesooty · 08/09/2016 16:26

In the days before PPA I once had a weekly timetable where all my non contact time was on a Monday apart from one lesson on a Tuesday. As a secondary English teacher it made planning and marking very difficult - and utterly miserable during the weeks that Monday was a bank holiday.
I think you're right to raise the lack of balance and seek support.

Gmbk · 08/09/2016 16:35

Compulsory intervention sounds illegal. Unless that is included as part of your teaching timetable.

Boundaries · 08/09/2016 16:44

If you have a compulsory additional hour at the end of each day that counts as directed time. Unless your ordinary school day is super short, I'd imagine that would put you well over?

Boundaries · 08/09/2016 16:46

1265 hours over 195 days is directed time.

To think that my teaching timetable might be against legal number of hours?
TheZeppo · 08/09/2016 16:54

That is an evil timetable. How much 6th form do you have? If lots on week A, I'd be hammering independence in that week. It'll help prepare them for uni too Smile

Waffles80 · 08/09/2016 18:12

we also do a compulsory hour's intervention after school every day

This has to be part of your directed time.

If NASUWT don't have a rep in your school, do the NUT? If they're more active I would join them and collectively take a stand against piss-taking intervention.

Original poster
TypicallyEnglishMustard · 08/09/2016 18:14

Staff welfare officer has responded, I'm going to meet with her before school tomorrow morning, so will hopefully get some advice then. Or a sympathetic ear at least! My department don't care very much.

The after school intervention is pretty crazy here. A group of the staff are currently trying to contest it, so I'll have to wait and see what happens there. Our school day isn't very short, it's 6.5 hours including lunch break.

I have loads of sixth form, Zeppo (and I love it!), but only on that busy week I'm afraid! Just my luck. I think I'll book out some slots of that week as supervised research in the library though, so at least I can catch my breath a bit then.

OP posts:
Waffles80 · 08/09/2016 18:16

The after school intervention is pretty crazy here. A group of the staff are currently trying to contest it, so I'll have to wait and see what happen.

Are you part of that group? Or sitting with your head under the parapet hoping their action will reap rewards for your rights as a worker? Unite with them.

Welshrainbow · 08/09/2016 19:34

Sadly yes it's legal just poor planning on someone's behalf. Honestly if I were in that position and 8 weeks pregnant I'd be going of sick with something pregnancy induced.

Boundaries, directed time sadly doesn't apply to academies and free schools they can pretty much do what they like. With compulsory enrichment and intervention and duties, form times etc everyone at my school is well over directed time even though we still have extra PPA, the day is just so long.

RealityCheque · 08/09/2016 19:45

Our school day isn't very short, it's 6.5 hours including lunch break.

Fuck me! How on earth can that number of hours be fair!!!! For three whole quarters of the year too!

Jesus. Some of you dont know you're born.

Trifleorbust · 08/09/2016 19:50

Get a new job. Your school is taking the piss. I'd ask where you live so I could get your CV myself if it wouldn't be 'outing' 😂

Trifleorbust · 08/09/2016 19:53

Reality: Was that sarcasm? That's a 6.5 hour day every day before the OP has marked a book, completed a data sheet, responded to an email, met a parent, attended a staff meeting, done a lunch duty, photocopied a piece of paper, read a book, written a scheme of work or planned a single lesson.