To think school heads should be contactable in school holidays

[EloiseMinch]

A secondary head is likely to be on 70k+ and a primary head of 50k+. Those are high salaries for positions of senior management responsibility. AIBU to think they shouldn't just cut off completely in the school holidays?

Maybe some heads really are working in the holidays but I know the head at DC's school definitely doesn't. She is, for example, completely uncontactable from the end of one term to the start of the next.

Does she not get involved on the days results are out?

I don't know what you would need to contact them about TBH.

Everyone is entitled to a holiday

If you work, are you available during your holidays/annual leave?

Why, what do you want to say to her that cant wait until your child goes back to school?

Contactable for what exactly?

Uncontactable doesn't mean she isn't working. It merely means she doesn't want to talk to you out of hours.

So they shouldn’t be allowed holidays?

I am struggling to come up with a scenario where a head needs contacting immediately. They will still read their emails and likely be in contact with Social Services, the Police etc so they are aware of any major issues going on in their pupil’s lives but for parents to contact willy jolly, no, not reasonable.

Why would she need to be contactable?

I’m sure she reads her email.

If you work, are you available during your holidays/annual leave?

I suppose I regard 13 weeks holidays as too much for a manager on a high salary.

I’m sure she reads her email.

She refuses to give out her email address so there is no way to contact her at all outside term time.

Ah so it comes down to holiday jealousy. Nice.

I actually don't think that's a huge salary for someone at the pinnacle of their career with the stress and responsibility associated with it. My DS's head would certainly be contactable for something important during the holidays (NOT petty issues) but that's his own good will.

Thankfully what you regard as too much means absolutely fuck all.

How many weeks would be appropriate?

Hahahahahahahaha EloiseMinch you live in a fantasy world if you think any educator gets 13 weeks holiday a year!!!

Our head checks her email, is in touch with some members of staff when appropriate.

Results day both A and GCSE will be there and the day before and possibly after.

With the exception of anytime away they are aware of things going on.

Although I am intrigued as to what you want to contact them about during the holidays?

Ah so it comes down to holiday jealousy. Nice.

Yes :)

Note that I don't resent the holidays of school teachers at all. Just 13 weeks holiday for a highly paid public sector employee in a senior management role.

Really? YABVU! I know plenty of people who earn a lot more than 70k and still take the occasional holiday. Everyone is entitled to that otherwise you get burnout and you'd probably be the first to complain if a headteacher takes time off sick! (and no, I'm not a teacher)

It's not a holiday though. Heads and teachers work through the children's holiday.

You do realise they are not paid during those 13 weeks. Teachers are paid for 195 days although to make it easier pay is split equally into 12 chunks. And heads will be working a lot - but having a well deserved rest from parents.

I am currently trying to help a friend who is a secondary head find a holiday that works for her dogs (all large rescues, and they go on holiday with the family) and has zero reception so she's finally got an excuse to NOT read emails for a whole week. Before she has a nervous breakdown. As it is she can only spare one week of the whole holiday as there is so much paperwork to plough through.

Don’t be be so bloody goady.

And find me a head/senior teacher/any teacher actually who really gets all of those 13 weeks as holiday...

The admin staff the janitorial staff the technicians are all in at secondary schools well in this area anyway. In an emergency they have the heads number, emergency as in the school is flooded, on fire etc.

They just are not available to parents. What. Would you need them for over the summer

How many weeks would be appropriate?

How about the average of other public sector employees at a comparable level of seniority and pay? I should add that the head doesn't teach. I fully understand that school teaching is another completely different kettle of fish.