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.

Clairetree1, what kind of job is an 18 year old doing that's 14hrs a day? I can't recall studying in year 10 (mid 90's). I had loads of summer jobs whilst at uni and a Saturday job when I was in the 6th form, I can't recall any of them being 14hour days. My overstressed husband who is a Director at an Architect's practice occasionally has to put in 14- 16hr days and that would encompass travel but certainly moans about and he is rewarded for that. I don't think he worked in his summer break before year 11. What does this teach them exactly - to have no work life balance?

I am keen for my husband to work less and see his family more and be a pioneer of this in his industry, so that my son and daughter do not have to work 14hr days and suck it up!

Another to say, your son told you the grade was based on an exam he did badly in. So a 4 seems likely and his ability can still be 7.

VickyEadie, But that is what teachers on here are saying. We are salaries, and receive wages each month, regardless it term-time/break, but that only 5 weeks of the13 is paid. We are therefore paid for 195 days, plus 25, meaning we are effectively unpaid for the bulk of the holidays. Getting a salary cheque 12 times a year is irrelevant.

And if they did open emails on their phones and lost/had it stolen then what? Confidentiality broken, possible access to students via email? We are not allowed to open our emails on our private computers let alone phones. School laptops only.

It is just possible they were too busy. End of term is a nightmare. ICT guys were in our workplace from early morning so likely systems were down. Lots of kids lie to their parents about school marks. Or blame the teachers. They don't want to get a bollocking off parents.
Give him a fortnight off as you arrange a tutor then make him work and the tutor will soon tell you. You might get a reply to your email a few days before the term starts. Most staff go in for in -service training and sort out their classrooms.

VickyEadie you're being ridiculous. The salary is spread over the year that doesn't mean they get paid for every day over the year. If I work part time mon-wed and happened to get paid on a Friday it doesn't mean I've been paid for working all week.

It's really not that complicated. The amount of salary teachers are paid over the year is calculated on the assumption that they'll work for 195+5 days over that year. This salary is then spread over 12 months. If teachers are to be expected to work more than 195+5 days you need to pay them more.

But that is what teachers on here are saying. We are salaries, and receive wages each month, regardless it term-time/break, but that only 5 weeks of the13 is paid. We are therefore paid for 195 days, plus 25, meaning we are effectively unpaid for the bulk of the holidays. Getting a salary cheque 12 times a year is irrelevant.

You're wrong and so are all the other teachers claiming this. But find me a pay and conditions document that says that and I'll believe you.

Maybe the emails didn't get through. I had this idea that they would go through to mobiles. Everyone I know has their work emails go through to mobiles. I just assumed it was standard.

How strange. Just because it is standard in your social circle, you assumed it is standard for people to respond to emails at all hours and at any time? Hmm.

BottleOfJameson

If by the somewhat insulting "ridiculous" you mean that I'm wrong, then find me the DfE pay and conditions document that says you're right.

By the way - it's 195 days in total.

@Pengggwn I'm sorry for not knowing how every single business/Organisation operates. Don't interpret that as meaning I think they should be. I don't care. I asked an open question- will I be likely to get a response or won't I? That's it!!!!!

The answer is overwhelmingly no, apart from a few teachers who say they would.

VickyEadie you just seem to be arguing for the sake of it. You seem to accept that teachers are contracted to work for 195 days. That is all anyone is saying. The fact that their pay is spread evenly over the full 12 months does not imply they should be working evenly over those full 12 months.

Godalmighty, I hope Clairetree1 is not allowed anywhere near children or young people after that last post.

Yes, work work work.! That'll get results, that'll make for a well rounded, confident, happy adult.
A short break, a bit of time out and then get back to it. Make sure they do their share of chores around the home & garden too & help with shopping and cooking.
Results are the only thing that matters in life, a brilliant career and CV is what makes us successful - all those rubbish clearing courses Unis offer... God no, you don't want that.

You have to be joking Clairetree1
People are not machines.
I worked and worked. Great results, university, MA, another post grad qualification & got management job very quickly at an early age.

It took me to about the age of 40 to realise that sometimes slow and steady wins the race.

Everything you describe in your post does NOT - IMHO automatically buy happiness.

Also I don't think OP's question was rude in any way at all. She was just asking. I don't actually know what the expectation is on teachers in terms of responding to parent's emails. One would hope that a teacher would have time to respond to a parent's reasonable queries but it's difficult to know where exactly the line is (and obviously not all questions they get asked will be reasonable).

My first paragraph is full of sarcasm for anyone who missed it!! I agree with the poster I quoted!

BottleOfJameson No, my argument was with people claiming teachers 'don't get paid for the holidays' - I'm a retired teacher and certainly wouldn't suggest teachers should have to work outside the 195 days (even though most do, at home, etc).

What does it matter if teachers are paid for the holidays or not. I have paid annual leave, but I don't work during that leave.

Clairetree1 I fully believe that kids need a break over the summer. Otherwise how do we teach them work life balance?

Gwenhwyfar
Because that would be common sense and the first rule of teaching is that anyone who has ever attended a school suddenly becomes and expert on all elements of the job.

VickyEadie
Well they don't get paid for the full holiday since the paid holiday leave for most jobs is 4 months there'll be a long period of holiday in which they're not being paid surely?

VickyEadie, You're contradicting yourself, surely. If we're paid for 195 days, plus the statutory 5 weeks' holiday, then presumably the rest of the holiday is unpaid?

BottleOfJameson All the time teachers are not in school (except weekends) is paid holiday. All of it. It's why women can return from mat leave and start their full pay again at the beginning of the summer holiday.

VickyEadie, You're contradicting yourself, surely. If we're paid for 195 days, plus the statutory 5 weeks' holiday, then presumably the rest of the holiday is unpaid?

No, teachers get more than the statutory minimum. It's a statutory minimum.

Rather than continue this back and forward argument, if someone can find the DfE pay and conditions document that says teachers are only paid for 195 days plus 5 weeks' holiday and the rest of the time is unpaid, please do so.

Can YOU point to where it says this in our Terms & Conditions, then?

Hi
Most schools have admin staff in over holidays as they usually do more weeks than teachers. So maybe go to the school and ask. In theory year 10 results should be open for all on a provision map or data info.

VickyEadie If you think teachers get paid for way more holiday than any other profession YOU should be providing proof of that surely.