Teachers - is TLR expected here?

[Harriet41]

Sorry I’m posting here. I have posted in staff room but no reply yet so hoping to get one here. I’m the only teacher in department teaching the course. No one else in department to manage. Should I be getting a TLR or not?

Why would you get a tlr if you aren't managing anyone?

Have you read the tlr criteria?

What makes you think you should be getting one?

It depends on the school usually. Also, did you take on the subject yourself, or was it pushed on you? Also, how many lessons a week - is it GCSE, A Level?

Sorry, my gut spoke before my brain kicked in

Do you have a significant responsibility above that being expected of other teachers?

In my school that would generally involve leading others / whole school accountability

There is a huge difference in what constitutes a tlr in primary vs special provision vs secondary -so depending on your sector you will get different responses

I’m only enquiring! My title is lead in charge of...... I’m glad responses are that I shouldn’t be as I’ve already signed the contract. Can you point me in the right direction of what TLR criteria is. I won’t be technically managing anyone as I’m in the department alone but non subject specialist will also be teaching so I am to prepare SOW and all resources by myself do us both to follow

It’s a tough one.
Presumably you have to plan the course, sort out entries, run recruitment etc or do you just plan and teach and your line manager does the course admin?
I think that would be the dividing line between whether you should get one or not.

Are you UPS. Part of that says you need while school responsibility so it will be covered in that with no TLR.

Sorry I forgot to add I’m in secondary. Haven’t even started yet but getting requests for weekly meeting. Been doing meeting and preparing Sow but won’t be getting paid till September and with no TLR. I’m sure it’s okay but just making sure incase being taken advantage of. My last school was known to take the piss that’s why a lot of people resigned last year

It really isn't unusual to be the only person teaching a subject without a TLR, but it's hard to judge without knowing quite how much extra work thus would involve. If its an A level with 10 students on the course then I would happily be doing that for the pleasure of teaching it! Especially if was a subject I enjoyed myself. If its a GCSE to over 200 students with all of the exam entries paperwork etc to deal with , then maybe not so keen.

But again, it depends, This could be a good stepping stone to future promotions, and presumably better than what you were doing, with or without a TLR. Also if you are not managing anyone else that is a lot less work than running a team.

neu.org.uk/advice/tlr-payments-and-other-allowances

Hopefully this guidance is useful

To be fair tlrs seem to vary on a school by school basis so no harm in asking

Interesting - just read the TLR criteria (I know should have done this before I posted on here lol) according to that I should be getting a TLR. I’m even more confused now.

@PotteringAlong this is a frequent misconception. There is nothing in the UPS criteria that states you must accept whole-school responsibility. A UPS application being successful should be contingent on the teacher being highly competent in teacher standards and making substantial and sustained contribution/achievement to the school. This does not necessarily denote whole-school responsibility. Read the TLR criteria, consider whether you have a case and, if so, ask for it. They can only say no!

@worldweary45 thank you! I just found same document.

@CamembertIt - thank you. Do you mind if I message you - I don’t wish to put all details on here so maybe you can give me an unbiased opinion based on what they asking me to do?

Schools are very short of money. If I had accepted a job and signed the contract I don't think I would be asking about a TLR after the event. Maybe wait till you are in post, log how much time outside of normal working hours it is taking up and then request a TLR if you feel you are being asked to do above and beyond a mainscale post. Keep an eye on how many extra meetings after school you are asked to attend - eg if you are expected to attend HOD meetings and HODs get a TLR then you would be in s good position to recieve one.

@Harriet41 please feel free :-)

Sorry @noideaatallreally I don't agree with you. The OP may not be able to effect any change now, having signed a contract, but she or she should certainly ask the question, if the job description seems to match TLR criteria. Schools are short of money but that doesn't mean the OP should do significant extra work for no extra money, if they are, in fact, entitled to it .

I also don’t understand why you’re going to weekly meetings and preparing SOW when you don’t start the job till September?

My partner is saying I shouldn’t make a fuss right now as I haven’t even started. He thinks I should start work then raise the question.

It's not making a fuss - it's going away, doing your research and asking a perfectly reasonable question.

You accepted that you’d do the work and didn’t ask about a TLR at the time. I think that was a bad move. Establish salary during interview or discussion to take on another/different role. I think you should do the role then ask for a chat about a TLR a few months in with a view to being given one as I/c of/head of subject. Generally, a TLR is decided with the amount of people you manage in mind, amongst other things. You could also ask for a TLR3, which is pretty much a token amount and is temporary.

I agree - schools will very often to get you to do more and more work and try to get away without paying you, but I was thinking of this particular situation. If I were a head who had offered someone a post, they accepted and signed the contract, and then before they even started work they came back to me asking for a TLR I would not be impressed.

If it were me I would start the job, weigh up if I was actually doing the job of a TLR holder and then if so go into ask about it, taking my evidence with me. I don't think people should do TLR work without the salary, but if you have already accepted this post without one the it may be too late.

My partner is saying I shouldn’t make a fuss right now as I haven’t even started. He thinks I should start work then raise the question.

I think you’re too late, not too early. The time to raise the question was at interview

If you are expected to lead the course, develop resources for others and complete admin for exams etc then I would ask about a tlr.

OP, as long as you are professional about it, it is absolutely fine to check out whether you might be entitled to a TLR and then politely and professionally ask the question. Be prepared to accept a no. PP is correct that it is all too common to ask people to do extra for no more money but that doesn't make it right. Seek advice, look into what other schools are doing, find out exactly what the role entails and, if you have a case to ask for s TLR, do so in the appropriate manner