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.

It seems ridiculous to be given a report and then not to be able to contact school.
Next year will be different subjects and for some different levels, so they won't get that input again.
Some parents are fine teaching their dc over summer if they are given guidance.

Other thread:

here

I needed to contact DS1’s school during the holidays a couple of years ago, because during the summer his dad was removed from the family home by police for DV and I didn’t want the first the school knew about it to be when I dropped him off on the first day back - not exactly a conversation I wanted to have at the school, but vital they be aware to offer support and for safeguarding.

I contacted one of the governors by FB and explained the situation and they gave me the HM’s email address. I got a lovely supportive reply and felt much less stressed about his first day back.

So yes, I’m some circumstances I think it is necessary to be able to contact someone at the school - but those are very specific circumstances. I don’t think headteachers should be expected to respond to any and all random query during the holidays

Why on earth would you need to contact the Head during the summer holidays?

We still don't know why you would need to contact the head during the summer holidays......

Goady fucker or one of 'those' parents...hmmmm which one to pick 🧐

As pointed out already - you do realise the holidays are not paid? I'm an assistant head on the amount you mentioned earlier. During holidays I'm available by phone 24/7 for any of my teachers and would help them out at a second's notice. I'll also do exactly as much work as I need to hit the ground running next year. But aside from that I spend my holidays doing absolutely nothing work-related whatsoever. Do I feel guilty? No? The amount of head space my work takes up in the rest of the year is insane. This is the time I get to actually live.

It isn't up to you to decide on an appropriate salary and holiday package for an employee under a local authority or academy. Go to Parliament if you want to make things harder for Heads. But good luck getting someone to look after your child's education.

*Conversation at the classroom door I meant

Teacher (including Heads) aren’t paid for their holidays, their salary is prorated through the year.

I can guarantee that the Head will be working during the holidays.

But the work of a headteacher has all sorts of things which don’t relate to direct interface with pupils and parents.

Running a school is akin to running a business. Staffing, planning, buildings maintenance, regulatory responsibilities, budgeting, dealing with government bodies etc etc etc There’s piles of work you’ll never be aware of as long as the school runs properly.

Given what they do and the stress involved I don’t think it’s a particularly high salary tbh.

They will be contactable, just not by you OP. If the school burns down etc someone above them can contact them. I have been contacted by a HT about a pupil sadly dying, for example. I suspect that is not the kind of thing you need to contact her about OP.
As far as I am aware HTs have the same terms and conditions re holidays etc as any teacher. If you took holidays away that would be a pay cut.

Is it really urgent why you need to speak to your headteacher or would you just like them at your mercy just in case ? Look you know your being snidey why don't you put your energy elsewhere maybe MPs expenses /2 houses or something.
A head teacher is not on call 24/7 to ridiculous parents who demand their attention.

Didn’t school only break up last week? What on Earth is so urgent today that didn’t need attention on Friday?

I don’t blame her not giving her email out, I wouldn’t either if the rest of the parents are like you.

Aaah @Tinywhale yes I recall now-the witch hunt/lynch mob thread peppered with the royal 'we'

Thank you for reminding us!

From your other thread:
We'd like to make some concrete suggestions about how the head should be performance managed.
Absolutely fucking outrageous.

Fairy the OP could be in Scotland or Ireland.

I sincerely hope that our exec Ellen’s headteacher gets a break over the summer and doesn’t spend the whole time monitoring her email account. I earn more than the figures you have quoted in your OP but have far less responsibility.

Why on earth would you need to contact the Head during the summer holidays?

She doesn't. She just resents the fact that they get more "holidays" than other public sector employees.

Once again, Ill informed comments slating the teaching profession. My daughter is head of HR for a large online retailer, she's paid £70K plus. She has 6 weeks holiday a year, and can take them when she wants. She works on average 50 hours per week. I teach for 39 weeks, on average 50 hours, work in school for a further 4 weeks during the 'holidays', work every Saturday or Sunday during term time, and can only take holidays during the most expensive times of the year. There are many nights during term when I work til midnight. I'm paid £42K. I actually work more hours than her but get paid much less.
Have a bit more thought before you post such idiotic comments.

Given what they do and the stress involved I don’t think it’s a particularly high salary tbh.

I don't think it's too much either. However, if they are not actually on holiday outside term time then they should have the same availability to parents as they do during the term. If they are in fact not employed at all outside term time as was suggested, then they shouldn't be working. In other words, I am confused.

Do you need to contact her?

I've just done a search of the OP and ALL her threads are moaning about school.

Number of parents evenings, attendance awards, headteacher performance review, alleged nepotism at their child's school, etc etc.

The OP clearly has issues.

She has 6 weeks holiday a year, and can take them when she wants.

How does that square with:

Teacher (including Heads) aren’t paid for their holidays, their salary is prorated through the year.

?

You think they should be contactable for the whole holiday? Why?

Totally agree with you OP.

There is no other public sector profession that has that much time off. No-one at all.

And I don't care how awful people will tell me it is being a teacher, hard work, etc ad nauseum it's not that bloody hard. And boy do they like to tell us it's hard!

Front line A & E nurse? Pediatric neurosurgeon for the NHS? What do they get, 6 weeks?

Teachers have absolutely had it gold for so long.

To be fair, according to your previous threads, she is equally contactable in term time and during the holidays, in your opinion...