To go for a promotion I can only do for 3 months?

[AmyRhodes]

I'm a teacher. My Head of Department goes on maternity leave in December. I'm her deputy. In June, my headteacher and two deputy headteachers all verbally told me I will be covering her maternity leave from late December/January.

I've since found out I'm pregnant, EDD April 15.

Basically, I want the role (and the appropriate maternity pay), but I'll only be able to do it for about 3 months before my own mat leave starts.

The role has been promised to me, but I'm fairly sure my school will be planning an official application/interview process around November/December. By this time, I'm likely to be showing. I doubt I will get anything in writing anytime soon.

What should I do?

You need to decide if you're going to tell your employers so they can keep looking now or decide to bring someone in for the period you can't cover.
If your the best person for the job then they'll still choose you.
Surely trying to hide it isn't going to do them any favours to find someone for cover, especially as you're so adamant no one else would be good enough.
If they need to find someone, hire them, and train them, or even train someone who is already employed at the school, the more notice they're given, the better.

@HollyBollyBooBoo It's just the teacher way, from my experience of promotions. When my deputy head told me to withdraw from the other application he said "I know Lindsey isn't going until December, but you need to start doing HoD NOW." Not that I'm being paid for it, but that's the teacher way, you do something for free, then you get it. But that's how explicitly he's told me it's mine.

They then go through a formal application and interview process because that's the law (I think?) But it will only be advertised internally and I am likely to be the only one who goes for it.

Tiny bit of advice...can you change the word 'entitled' when you talk to them? It somehow sounds so inflammatory! Nobody is entitled to a role.

Go for it, mama! My dad is in an academic position in which he often is responsible for hiring. When I was considering aiming for a promotion before my first mat leave, he told me he always appreciates women who put themselves forward before going on leave. He says it shows him that they have courage, and if that they think about their careers with a long-term view (I.e., he knows he’ll still be employing them in 18 months or whatever when they’re back from leave, and they’re likely to want the stability of the job as parents and not jump ship as quickly people in more carefree stages of life!)

@theymademejoin

Spot on.

The disruption to the classes I actually teach will be unaffected.

I'm already Deputy of English and Year 11 leader, so I'm already leading on many areas. This just gives me the opportunity to get some recognition for it.

Hi! Something else to be aware of is how your mat pay is calculated. They take your due date and count back 15 weeks from this date to get your qualifying week. They then take the amount that you were paid in the two pay cheques prior to this qualifying week. So your mat pay will likely be based on your currently salary as opposed to the new one. Just so you’re not surprised!

yes you do sound entitled, selfish and entitled.

@worridmum

1. We never put supply on exam classes - ever.

1. The classes I "teach" will be equally affected by my maternity leave whether I am HoD or not. This is a leadership role, it has literally nothing to do with the individual classes I am allocated.

1. If I get it you hope my students fail? And you criticised me for not caring about my students?

Then I stopped reading your post.

Thanks @MsHopey I'm not planning to conceal it. When I have my 12 week scan I will get together with my HR manager and headteacher and have an honest conversation.

@HollyBollyBooBoo You're probably right (even if I do feel entitled to it 😝) !

Thank fuck you don't teach and my DC's school.

Do people really behave like this? 'I want more money whilst on maternity leave so I'll take a job I can't do and not give a fuck about any mess that causes anyone else'

@NoFucksImAQueen

What can I say, I'm I go-getter.

The 87% of my GCSE students who achieved a good pass and the 27% who got grades A+ in their results today would agree. In the year group I already lead.

Great, just what we need. Another empty suit where the worker is off on maternity, back for a month for that all important statutory, then off again. Rinse and repeat 2 to 3 times, then expect someone who remains befuddled when they don't get promotions against someone who isnt working some sort of flexi time 3 days a week nightmare. I'm sure your subordinates are looking forward to their boss not being there for a year.

I thought the private sector had it bad, sounds like the public sector is afflicted with the same problems!

So this is actually about you being able to claim higher wages during your maternity? If so, you really should check your entitlement because maternity pay is calculated on your average earnings in the 8 weeks leading up to your qualifying week (15 weeks before baby due) so doesn’t sound to me as though you would get higher maternity pay anyway.

It’s an odd approach that your employers have ‘promised’ you the job but are still going through an open recruitment process so something doesn’t add up.

For clarification, as others have said, it is discrimination (even for a fixed term contract) however sometimes it would be nice to think about the bigger picture and weigh up what issues you might be causing in your pursuit of a few weeks working in a promotion.

Sure, if you’re able to have an honest conversation with your employer and get the promotion based on that then fair play. Otherwise I think it would be a bit shitty (particularly on your pupils).

The role has been promised to me, but I'm fairly sure my school will be planning an official application/interview process around November/December.

If they've "promised" it to you, why are they bothering with an 'application' process? They don't have to - or don't they know their jobs well enough to know that?

You're the deputy - it's your job to deputise in the absence (any absence) of the postholder.

Thanks @Tumon Yeah I'm not exactly sure how it works. The pay won't make much difference while I'm on leave, it's more the CPD and the role on my CV that would really make a difference to my (and ultimately my little one's) life.

But fancy that, eh @DonutCone 😂

I'm sure the 13% who didn't get a good pass might tell a different story.

No @Dorsetdays The pay will be nice for the two weeks I get full pay (al5ough as you say I might not get it)

It's more the CPD opportunity and getting the role on my CV. I've worked towards it for years.

Sounds like they have been smart, if they havent started any official process yet then nothing is solid, a better candidate may be found or they may decide to economise and make someone step into the role. Depends how legislation savvy they are.

Where is the 'DH' in all of this? Can't he pick up some of the financial slack if the money is a real necessity?

It’s a difficult one, if the role is yours why are they interviewing? The fact you know they are interviewing would legally be enough for them to say you were never guaranteed the position and it was pending interview. If nothing is in writing you will find it hard to prove discrimination.

The role will be on your CV for 12 weeks, not sure that would make enough of a difference to warrant the hassle it could cause your school and pupils.

However, as I said, if you do this by having an honest conversation with your employer then go for it. Otherwise, it feels deceitful and unfair to me.

I’m not even sure why you are asking as you seem to know it all and only want answers that say YANBU ? Your comment to worridmum was nasty, condescending and unnecessary. If you want proper legal advice then get it elsewhere at maternity action.

Me me me me me me...you’re being selfish and very self opinionated.

I hope that you wake up to that and give them the time they need to fill the position externally.

You knew about this, if it was that important to you, you could have taken a break from TTC, but you chose not to, so now you should do the decent thing. Tell the HT & say whilst you’d love to still take the position if she feels it’s for the best, but that you understand if she recruits externally to provide continuity to the students.

Go for it OP.

This is why working mothers’ careers sometimes stall, because they don’t put themselves forward for fear of not “being fair”. Go for the post, and if the school feel like you’re the best candidate for the job then they should appoint you (and not discriminate against you because you’re pregnant) b

We don't all have the luxury of "taking a break from TTC" @AnnieAnoniMoose