Teacher Reply Over Summer

[hairnightmare17]

Son is in secondary school.

We received school reports on Monday. One grade on there is different to what my son said he achieved. It was a terrible mark for an important subject and he would need work on it over the summer if it is correct, since he is going into year 11.

I tend to believe my son didn't get that mark but without a reply from the teachers I won't know for sure. I have queried it by email twice this week, no reply. Attempted to call, to no avail. School broke up yesterday.

Is it worth emailing again? Is it likely I would receive a response over the summer break.

Clavinova
I reiterate - I really cannot understand how so many teachers can be that ill-informed about their pay and conditions.

The can be said for those outside of the profession that claim to know

The number of times that I've read on this forum that everything a teacher does outside of directed hours is unpaid overtime beggars belief

Teachers are not paid overtime in the same way that other professions are not paid overtime. It is calculated in to the basic salary pf the job.

teaching as a profession will never earn the respect that it might deserve unless teachers display a professional mind set.

Nor will it be seen as a profession until people stop knocking it down.

We certainly don't stick films on, contrary to popular belief by parents who use it as an excuse to take their kids out of school on holiday. But expecting any kind of high-quality learning at the moment (particularly in the temperatures we've been having recently in classrooms with no aircon or even fans) is pretty futile.

It's your sons summer break. And yours, and the teachers. You are hugely overreacting and need to just calm down. Either way it doesn't matter, he's just finished yr 10. Just enjoy your summer and speak to his teacher after the holiday. It's not like a 4 can't easily be improved on.

The comments about there being little to do at this time of year in secondary schools are utterly ridiculous. In our place we threw a ridiculous amount of interventions at y11 and, due to severe staffing shortages, this meant KS3 classes were neglected. Staff have been working incredibly hard to try and make up for that, and we had 3 lots of reports to do this month (thanks SLT) and y10 mocks ( again, great thinking from SLT).

As hod I only have y12 and y10 to teach, but I had to proofread all the reports and rewrite 4 lots that had been done by a very hardworking cover supervisor - they couldn't have gone out as they were.

I'm also having to redo our class lists and my second is new in post, so I can't delegate much. The timetable for the department keeps being drafted and I'm scrutinising it and suggesting amendments to make it as workable as possible for staff next year. A part time member of staff requested a late day change (she had to really- completely understandable) so a section of the timetable had to be redone etc etc.

We also have schemes of work to redo (I've only been in post a year and there's stuff that's been unchanged for a long time). We've shared that out so everyone has plenty to do - my bit will be done over the summer.

I would reply to an email before breaking up, most likely as soon as I got it to avoid forgetting, but not a chance I'd reply over the summer as it's not a precedent I want to set.

Whether we're paid for the summer is totally irrelevant, and for many teachers, in both primary and secondary, this is an extremely busy time of year.

MaisyPops

It wouldn't really matter how many sports days, trips or films the pupils had last week - I would expect those things to take place during directed time, when the kids would normally be in lessons anyway. Parent emails can be answered after the kids have left for the day - at whatever time you normally carry out your duties during undirected time.

Parent emails can be answered after the kids have left for the day - at whatever time you normally carry out your duties during undirected time.

No, they can't. After directed time ends I go home. If a parent has an urgent request they can contact the school, but I am no longer being paid to be on hand.

Pengggwn
After directed time ends I go home. If a parent has an urgent request they can contact the school, but I am no longer being paid to be on hand

But equally, you could choose to stay at your desk for another hour and carry out such additional work as is necessary to discharge your professional duties as a teacher. The fact is - you are free to carry out these duties at home if you wish. Or perhaps, you would prefer to answer the email when you arrive at school the next morning - at 8am if you leave work at 4pm every day?

Pengggwn, now it just sounds as if you're being deliberately obstructive. Are you saying that you have absolutely no time to fire off a quick email to a parent, who has (in this case) a reasonable query? It's part of the job to liaise with parents after all.

And if you really haven't, maybe you're not working terribly efficiently.

Lots of people aren't paid to be 'on hand' outside of working hours, but IMO it's part of being in a professional. DH and I will both answer important emails while on annual leave/days off. And we don't get 13 weeks holiday a year...

BoneyBackJefferson
I notice that you still haven't linked or quoted anything except your own opinion.

Teachers are not paid overtime in the same way that other professions are not paid overtime. It is calculated in to the basic salary of the job

Yes, that's correct - but many teachers don't seem to understand this; they cannot see beyond the 1265 hours of directed time.

No, they can't. After directed time ends I go home. If a parent has an urgent request they can contact the school, but I am no longer being paid to be on hand.

I have never - luckily - as a teacher or parent, encountered that attitude from my colleagues or from my children's teachers.

Some go home - but work from home. Others work in school. But all see that part of their professional role, as a teacher, is not to clockwatch and to do all parts of their teaching role. The joy of teaching is that the time they do so is flexible - some work early, some work late. I work in two stretches - at school until I need to look after my own children, then late once their needs are seen to. But I have NEVER encountered any teacher who clockwatches and is unavailable outside formal directed hours.

Mumsnet is very England-centred when it comes to teachers, and it seems unimaginable to most that contracts could be different elsewhere. Perhaps there should be an Englandnet section, in the same way there is a Scotsnet section?
I am paid for 35 hours a week, anything beyond that is unpaid overtime.

Not relevant to thread perhaps it just gets under my skin when I hear “truths” about teachers that do not apply to all UK teachers.

Clavinova

No, I don't have an additional hour. My time is overstretched as it is. It is that simple. For everyone else who believes they know more about my job than I do, I am simply going to suggest you complain about me and see how far it gets you. I am not obligated to do what you want here.

Clavinova
I notice that you still haven't linked or quoted anything except your own opinion.

Actually I have, teachers are paid for 1265 hours of directed time but contracted to complete any reasonable work out side of that time to do the job.

This is not an opinion, it is paraphrased, but it is not an opinion.

BoneyBackJefferson

Actually I have, teachers are paid for 1265 hours of directed time but contracted to complete any reasonable work out side of that time to do the job

I haven't disagreed with you on that point.

Mistressiggi

I believe that teachers in Scotland get 40 days paid holiday per year, which is why I referred to permanent teachers in England and Wales.

Pengggwn
cantkeepawayforever has already replied to your post very eloquently.

Clavinova

And when I have finished the lovely holiday activity I am doing, I may compose a reply.

Clavinova

So (apart from posting that I have just posted my opinion) we are disagreeing on the fact that not all of my holidays are paid for?

Parent emails can be answered after the kids have left for the day - at whatever time you normally carry out your duties during undirected time.

this isn't as simple as you imply.

If I am on a trip it is likely that the trip won't be back before 17:00 Hrs maybe later.
and may have left before the school opens.
Many teachers do not have their emails linked to their personal phones (it is not a requirement).
So there is a large chance that I wouldn't know if a request for information email has arrived and I would deal with it in the morning.

BoneyBackJefferson

We are disagreeing because I am saying - together with the Supreme Court and the NUT - that permanent teachers in England and Wales receive an annual salary accruing at a daily rate - which means that they that are paid for every day of the calendar year - it's not 10 month's salary (suggested by some) - spread out over 12 months. Each day's pay includes an element of holiday pay because every day is a potential working day.

You are either a dullard or one of those obstructive, 'leftie' loving teachers that we all despise My opinion.

Did you send it to the office or directly to the teacher? They may not even have received it.

I got dragged into the Principals office earlier in the year and torn strips off for not responding to a parent's emails. I knew nothing about them. It turns out that the office had been sending them to the other Ms Scribbler at the school who had ignored them because she didn't understand what they were about. What made me really angry is that the mother is always up at the school, so why couldn't she just have dropped in and seen me, instead of going straight to the Principal to put in a complaint. It's ruined our relationship really.

Clavinova

As you have resorted to throwing insults, you aren't worth the time it takes to respond.

So I will leave you to your gobby. keyboard warrior ways.

BoneyBackJefferson

Ha, you were throwing insults at me last night;

But then your post of 21:28 shows exactly what you are

^Go read the published contract of teachers.
Go educate yourself it might be fun^

I have been very restrained up until now.

But then your post of 21:28 shows exactly what you are

Your comment, not mine.

Could you two get a room or something?