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?

Well if the school are smart they will see that at the moment the OP presents a massive disruption to the role, with the possibility of having a bad flexible working arrangement foisted upon them when she returns. Although OP states she has verbally been promised a job, the matter of a recruitment process suggests that the job is to the best candidate. That may be the OP, it may not. It may make sense for the budget to economise, the role may change, there are any number of variables.

If the recruitment team is smart they will utilise one of them that can be defended from the inevitable cry of discrimination liable to come from such a 'go-getter'

Thanks @DrMantisToboggan

Of course it's happened that the two parts of my life - career and family - have both thrown up a beautiful opportunity at the same time.

I care about both immensely.

To those who think I'm selfish, I understand. I did ask for opinions. But I'd encourage all women to continue to be driven in their careers even when starting a family.

I’m not sure if I would have read ‘you need to start doing the work NOW’ as code for ‘the job is definitely yours and no one else could do it as well’.

I would possibly have read it as, ‘you need to do the work NOW but we’re not going to pay you or recognise it as the post holder doesn’t go on leave until January’...

I'd add an addendum to that of be realistic, the myth of having it all is just that - a myth. If you expect people to hire you to senior positions that require massive input and working hours whilst stating you need compressed hours, school holidays off etc don't be surprised when someone else is placed into that role.

Of course the public sector has less of an efficiency imperative than the small businessman, so can probably absorb these part time seniors a lot better.

I would be clear as soon as you can (ideally before the interview process) about your pregnancy and that you are putting together a transition plan. Ultimately 3 months on your CV isn't going to mean a whole lot, but showing your school that you can step up and put together a plan do the job and training someone else will score you points with them.

Other things I'd consider before going in:

• would you come back early if your colleague doesn't come back
• would you come back early and job share the HOD role
• does your husband want to take the shared paternity leave? Could you come back early off maternity leave?

From your schools perspective the job would be less appealing to advertise as a 9 or 6 month cover than a one year cover. I wouldn't consider thr job 'yours' yet as the school might consider that transitioning the job twice is too difficult. Legally it sounds like you have good grounds, but we live in the real world. If they are asking you do to work now, I'd ask atleast for a job title bump if your CV is what concerns you.

whilst stating you need compressed hours, school holidays off etc don't be surprised when someone else is placed into that role.

The OP hasn’t mentioned anything like that

In our company, maternity cover can only be done by someone who can actually commit to the role. So I'd say I wanted to cover a maternity leave but couldn't commit to the entire length of cover, I wouldn't be able to apply.

Obviously it's not a school and then may have different rules.

However I wouldn't class being asked to cover maternity leave as a "promotion/job offer promise" or anything so I can't see why they couldn't say you can't do it as you can't actually cover this persons maternity.

I am sure they don't want to get maternity cover for the maternity cover!!

Slightly off topic but why would you turn down a permanent promotion for a temporary promotion to cover maternity leave?

Surely its better in the long run to have the permanent position or am i missing something?

I would worry about leaving colleagues, pupils and management before the end of the cover. Mainly that I would not be seen as a team player and might jeopardise the permanent position.

Yanbu. The extra promotion bit is admin only really, so no difference to your classes.

Seems odd that you have been verbally promised the job when interviews have to take place.
I was verbally promised a teaching promotion once. At the interviews a candidate was interviewed who was vastly more experienced than me and obviously was appointed.
School leaders and governors have no obligation to be loyal to existing staff if a better candidate comes along.
It would be very arrogant of you to think this definitely won't happen.

@storynanny
The job isn't being advertised externally and no other member of my department is planning to apply for it.

@Poptart4
The permanent role was in another area of school leadership. HoD is what I need in the long run for my own career progression.

In which case clearly they’ll give you the job as you’re the only applicant??

Although not sure how you know no one else is applying.

So its a 'crap, there is no one else to cover this' promotion? Well won OP, must have been hard fought. Such a go getter.

I genuinely think it would be unfair if you accepted the secondment without discussing the fact that you can only fulfil 12 weeks of it.

Your school may well then have to advertise externally otherwise who will fill the role when you leave after only a few months?

Why are you being such an arsehole, borgaz? It’s not edifying in the slightest.

@Dorsetdays I'm not planning to hide it. I've said upthread I'm going to speak to them post-12 week scan.

Sorry I missed that. In which case not really sure what you’re asking then?

You’re the only one applying, they’ve told you it’s yours, you’re going to tell them you’re pregnant.

Sorted

@Dorsetdays They're unlikely to advertise externally - A candidate strong enough to be a good HoD wouldn't be interested in a 5 month role.

More effective would be if I'm given the opportunity to do the 3-4 months mat cover with a member of the team who is strong but with less KS4 experience shadowing me. Then they will be ready to take the reigns when I go.

This is what I'm planning to suggest to SLT.

@Dorsetdays Hopefully 🤞

I think you're getting some unfair comments here. I don't think you should be denied the opportunity for some more senior level experience because you're pregnant. 12 weeks can make a difference on your CV as it shows you achieved that role.

You don't know what will happen to the woman whose role you are covering. She may want to come back to reduced hours or not at all so there could be future potential, depending on when you return yourself.

I don't think there's harm in going for it but I wouldn't think it's in the bag until you have a formal offer in writing.

Thanks @Doyoumind

I've clearly irked some people and I think the poster who said "you sound like a know it all and you've already made up your mind" is right! I am going to go for it and the more I read/post the more certain I am of that.

I plan to have a very honest conversation with my Headteacher and we'll see what happens. My HT is very fair and good at what he does and my ambition is one of the things he values about me.

I agree that I should put myself and the little bean first, but I also genuinely believe I'm entitled to it

So why the hell have you started a thread in AIBU then?

I also said you were condescending and signposted you to a good source of advice... you’re welcome.