State teacher in Glastonbury bender?

[Windermerewanderer]

Aibu to think that a head of department in a large state secondary school (of a core subject - English/maths/science) is a CF for taking two days off school to go to Glastonbury?

The school fines parents who take kids out of school for holiday.

Not the first year this has happened.

Money too short for laminating and photocopying but not for two days of cover.

I'm a teacher. Other schools might be different but we can't just take days off to go on holiday. The only way it would be possible is if we build up lieu days from doing extra days e.g. summer school or weekend residential trips. If he has lieu days then he can use them whenever he likes and Glasto falls at a reasonably quiet time of the year.

I'd be gobsmacked if he was simply allowed to 'book' 2 days off every year for Glastonbury --and I'd be applying for the next job available at that school-

Oops strike through fail!

Can I ask a question? Often on here teachers say they are not paid for the holidays. If that’s the case, but term time annual leave is also unpaid where do they take their allocation of statutory annual leave from?

I'd be gobsmacked if he was simply allowed to 'book' 2 days off every year for Glastonbury --and I'd be applying for the next job available at that school

I wouldn’t. I’d be wondering what other dodgy interpretations of the Burgundy Book I was going to have to put up with.

I reckon teachers give up many, many hours of their own time to school and pupils so deserve some down time.

cool story

The school fines parents who take kids out of school for holiday

NO. They really, REALLY don't. The school fines NO ONE. The school simply follows the local education authority rules and doesn't see ONE SINGLE PENNY of this fine.

You are HUGELY ignorant. If you want to have a whine about how schools manage teachers then take the time to find out how it all works before chirping off.

Where does one find schools like these, that let you have time off for music festivals or sporting events?! My colleague was denied ONE day off before her wedding - and was told that the Governors thought it was a “very odd request”. Not one of us on the teaching staff would have minded covering for her. The SMT were shit. Then they wondered why 10 of us left one year!

You need to say who you are and give more context.

@Passthecherrycoke Teachers receive additional pay instead of holiday, so 28 days pay spread over 12 months.

*passthecherrycoke’ 30 days is paid.

I don’t think teachers should have time off paid to go on holiday. As you said, not enough money for glue sticks. They get enough time off work.

Yabu.

I wouldn't give a shite.

Yabu

I’d i was a teacher I’d be on tons of benders frankly.

Cool story bro

These schools do exist, Christmas! They are just few and far between...

My last school, I was refused the FINAL PERIOD OF THE DAY off the day before my wedding... which was in fact my PPA! As if I was going to get anything done in that one hour 24 hours before I was getting married.

Conversely, my new school sent out an email the other day... they want us to send them a list of all the times we had to internally cover another member of staff this year, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO PAY US FOR THEM.

Actual paradise.

I think sometimes people on here forget that we are adult working professionals, and not children ourselves. I’m sure this teacher has done more than enough this year to be awarded the two days off for Glastonbury.

Aha, of course, you can have your holiday paid instead. Thanks both

@Passthecherrycoke annual holiday pay is factored into yearly pay which is then paid pro rata throughout the 12 months. Hope that helps

Meh. Life is too short.

Everyone is entitled to a personal life. Employees of the stare included. But if the HD abused their position to get the time off on those dates when ordinarily it would not be granted then that’s different.

My colleague was denied ONE day off before her wedding - and was told that the Governors thought it was a “very odd request”

Governor here. Your SLT is passing the buck. It's not our job to get involved in something like this. We don't manage day to day school business. This is something solely within the head's jurisdiction. If your colleague was told that governors felt this an odd request then either your head is lying or your board of governors is overstepping its mark.

YABU I know of a teacher that worked a full week extra during holidays to cover exam prep with children who needed extra support. In return the head gave the option to take days off in term time. You have no idea what has been agreed and why. Why shouldn’t a teacher go to Glastonbury? Hope they have a fab time.

Have you heard about the recruitment / retention crisis OP? Its incredibly difficult to hire good teachers, especially good core teachers, even more difficult to find good HODs for core subjects. If I was a head of decent HODs, I’d give them any perk I could afford to keep hold of them. Two full days of cover (which it really won’t be at this time of year) will be MUCH cheaper than recruiting a new HOD.

YABU

It's very common if you live near the site. Glastonbury organisers seek volunteers from schools and charities to work as stewards. They are given a free ticket and the charity / School are paid NMW for the hours worked. Our school really benefit from the money and as a result Friday is an inset day so as many people can attend as possible. It's a win/win as the site traffic makes getting to school difficult.

Exams are over? It's once a year. He will take it UNPAID. I had a family wedding. I took it unpaid.