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.

Would you expect to be contactable whilst not at work?

As I have said a number of times, I am referring to the non-holiday days of the year. If a head really gets 13 weeks of holiday then that is too much.

Having said that, everyone I know on 70k+ is contactable at all times. It comes with the salary even though it is often annoying.

EloiseMinch teachers do NOT get 13 weeks holidays. They are contracted to work annualised hours and get the annual leave they are entitled to by law. YABU why should they work more than their contracted hours?

Yabvu that holiday is spent marking work, organising the next year, planning and working

What agedknees said.

YABU - she basically is on 13 weeks of unpaid leave.

I took unpaid leave from my (not teaching related) senior role, HR were adamant that it was leave and they would only contact me in an emergency. I fail to see why anyone else should have to work in those unpaid weeks either, regardless of seniority or salary.

OP, I don't get weekends off, but you do. Therefore, you should be available for work-related queries at the weekend, even though this is outside of your paid work time. Because I said so.

Having said that, everyone I know on 70k+ is contactable at all times.

Maybe the people you know. Generally, bollocks they are. I have earned close to that (I don't anymore - teacher). I went home and was not contactable except in an emergency. Since you are responsible for your child, anything you might need to discuss with the Head can wait.

Nope! My Mums a headteacher and with the amount of crap she's had to deal with this year she deserves a break.

What if they go abroad OP do you expect them to be ready to answer parents whilst away?

HT here. I will respond to parents in an emergency at any time, however, school holidays tend to be protected for strategic work that you just don't have time for during the term as most of that time is spent dealing with parents, staff and students. The amount of pressure you are under as a HT is a significantly magnified version of teacher stress and time out is even more important to avoid mental burn out. I have to deal with multiple, complex and constant issues from parents and I can guarantee many of those are more urgent than your seemingly non existent reason for needing to contact the HT. Give them a break, I guarantee you can't even begin to appreciate how hard they work or the amount of pressure they are under. The 'holidays' are never really that but sometimes we do need a break from parents.

If you break down exactly how much work teachers and heads do they are probably on less than the minimum wage. Head teachers and ALL teachers deserve decent wages, it’s not a job I could ever do. So thank you teachers and heads, enjoys your well deserved holiday.

Yabvu that holiday is spent marking work, organising the next year, planning and working

She doesn't teach so there is definitely no marking.

I am still confused about whether a head really is paid for 39 weeks a year and works in the other 13 weeks selflessly because of their professional pride or if they are paid for more like 46 weeks a year with 6 weeks holiday.

The head is available to you 39 weeks of the year. What can possibly be so important (barring death, serious illness, life changing events) that you can't deal with it in the designated 39 weeks of the year this person has contact with parents?

Do you have contact with your clients 100% of your working time?

How about the average of other public sector employees at a comparable level of seniority and pay? *

I think you'll find they are on a comparable salary. Bear in mind they're part time, so the full time equivalent salary of a secondary head might be £90k. Which seems about right for a role managing a hundred staff, a thousand kids, a substantial estate and multi-million pound budget.

What if they go abroad OP do you expect them to be ready to answer parents whilst away?

If they go abroad for 13 weeks then yes! If it's for their holiday then no.

I think you need to take this up with the Head concerned and discuss why you have been let down by not able able to contact him/her

You’re being ridiculous

Do you have contact with your clients 100% of your working time?

As I say, no one I know of on 90k+ (as was just calculated) has 6 weeks, let alone 13 weeks where they can simply ignore their clients.

Why couldn't this issue be discussed before the school broke up? Also you may want to check your salary figures not all HT earn above that

Have you thought of becoming a school governor OP? They are always trying to recruit interested people.

Wonders if the headteacher at the OP's school has been plagued so witlessly by the OP that she is just refusing to entertain the OP any more...

If the school and the HT is as bad as you claim then I would be spending my time looking for a new one and moving my kids. However I suspect it’s not...

The amount of pressure you are under as a HT is a significantly magnified version of teacher stress and time out is even more important to avoid mental burn out. I have to deal with multiple, complex and constant issues from parents[...]

I can well believe it. I am sure it can be a very stressful job.

EloiseMinch

The HT isn’t uncontactable. They are just uncontactable to YOU. And good on them. They will be in contact with their deputies and governors. The actually relevant people to running the school.

They obviously need a break from your orchestrates hate campaign.

Do everyone a favour and home school your kid. At least then you can performance manage the staff to your hearts content.

Oh god don't suggest they become a governor! They'll expect meetings during school holidays...

OP you must be a nightmare, moan, moan, moan.