Headteacher says I can't go on holiday

[Scuzzymummy]

Ok so this might not be a problem in a few weeks and please please believe me when I say I have done everything possible to ensure my pupils have had my attention and expertise when needed during lockdown. I have recorded lessons, marked work, given feedback etc... I know lots on MN have some very strong feelings about teachers at the moment 😬.
So I have a holiday abroad booked for the 18yh August. I have been hanging on and hanging on to see if we can go. We are so desperate for a break- who isn't- but my headteacher has emailed today and said that of quarantine measures are still in place in September then holidays at the end of August need to be cancelled. What do I do, I know I need to be back in September, god knows I want to have actually children in front of me not a bloody screen. But if we cancel we will loose hundreds and hundreds plus the holiday. We can't change the date, my husband is not able to change. Help!

As an ex teacher this is a difficult one. Many PP don’t appreciate how teachers’ contracts are set out. Most contracts have a clause which says something like you have to do what a Headteacher can reasonably expect you to do. If you have a union, you could get them involved to fight your corner as to whether it is reasonable or not. Unfortunately, if you do this it might be held against you in the future- I know from bitter experience!

OoohTheStatsDontLie
I agree with you to a point
I too would want a good relationship with my head, but then if my head came to me, told me that I had to cancel my holiday and be out of pocket financially when the union line is clear then they're unlikely to be the sort of head that I'd have a pre-existing good relationship with. They're probably a head who is all about taking from staff but with little give in return.

I used to work for one of those heads. They're not nice to work for.

I’ll just go you haven’t got to tell him how is he going to know

@Pinkkgaga

I’ll just go you haven’t got to tell him how is he going to know

Ah great idea. Sure who cares if our teachers are lying and irresponsible. What a role model.

@Venue20 Just honest. Guarantee most people on here will do the same.

Yep. Whixh is why the UK have the most appalling figures. And an appalling education system.
Shameful.

Actually @Pinkkgaga it’s dishonest! How would you hide the 2 week isolation period, or would you lie and not follow those rules either?

I'm quite confused by this. At the moment we're due to go to France 8-22 August and are currently feeling quite hopeful.

I haven't had any comms from the kids' school saying don't go on holiday as you may not be allowed back straightaway in September. What's the difference between staff and pupils?

I don't know if it would be in your best interests to do so, but when I had an extended period (over a couple of years) of "goodwill working" (late hours, lots of stress, extra days etc) and my boss has turned round and said that i have to cancel a holiday, or cut it short for a "vital" meeting I've politely reminded him that goodwill cuts both ways. And good luck a) covering the work that I'm now not going to be doing (extra stuff) and b) making any subsequent sanctions stick (union will help)

And i haven't put it quite like that, I have been much more diplomatic about it and subtle. But he's not a fool. And he's never done it again.

You booked when none of this was happening and within your stated holiday period. I believe your head is being unreasonable. (Not a teacher.)

Ultimately

You may not but I can assure you that some schools have been working throughout.
If you have a school in close probity to three large teaching hospitals, one of which was the first taking in Covid patients, plus close to places where other key workers are based, then yes - you have a lot of Kw children right from day 1. Since Easter many of our staff have been in FT and the rest working from home. The in school numbers has increased weekly.

Support staff such as the caretakers and office staff have also been working full time throughout in these schools to ensure those children can attend.

Our home learning provision be on 16 March, a week before lockdown. This has been maintained every day since, including the odd weekend activity.

Contrary to what MN posters say there are some schools who have worked throughout and not just had teachers sunbathing for three months.

And why am I here now? I'm in the wrk from home group. I started at 7:30 but am not taking a short breakfast and shower break before my next meeting.

Ultimate - we are a state infant school and I think this has played a big part in why our kw numbers have been so high. The children aren't secondary so can't stay home alone, and their ages mean they are harder to have around for parents who, although may be a kw, can't really work as easily with under 7s around. We have been oversubscribed with KW children throughout.

I think your HT is overreaching, tbh. I can completely understand why but, teachers aren't even paid for August, right? (They are paid in August, because the annual salary is split over 12 months, but they are only paid for 11 months of work.)

I don't think they have any authority to tell you what you can and can't do with your unpaid leave. They can, of course, insist that you observe the full quarantine period, and they could ask that you consider whether it's possible to make alternative arrangements this year to ensure that you will be able to turn up for work at the start of September. But if you choose to go on your holiday, and then the government requires you to quarantine, I don't think there's any way you could be subject to a disciplinary measure.

BUT: talk to your union. They'll be able to give better advice.

By cancelling you'll lose all your money - whether you do it now or later. So definitely don't do it now, because that guarantees that you'll lose it. (Unless the school is prepared to make good your losses?)

I'd wait for the quarantine to be inevitably lifted. You might be able to claim on travel insurance (though probably not yet) since Foreign & Commonwealth Office advice is currently that people should not travel abroad unless essential.

Just honest. Guarantee most people on here will do the same.

And that's why we have some of the worst CV statistics in the world. Because of selfish people like you, who bend and break every rule and happily lie about it, regardless of the danger to other people's health.

Most contracts have a clause which says something like you have to do what a Headteacher can reasonably expect you to do

I think it's unlikely that they could use this to direct staff during the school holidays, for which the teacher isn't paid.

We have the worst CV statistics because of govt incompetence, not because of ordinary people just trying not to lose their money.

@CoffeeBeansGalore

Is your school state or private? If state, check your local authority guidelines. Ours have stated any holidays booked before covid 19 issues will be honoured.

If this is the case, surely you would be able to argue you are being treated less favourably than teachers in other areas of the country? Well worth seeking legal advice. Do you have legal cover as part of your household insurance or are you in the union?

[quote Musmerian]@Nihiloxica - very goady and aggressive. My school is honouring pre booked holidays. You also have a very skewed view of teachers’ unions which are pretty moderate.[/quote]
Neither goady nor aggressive. So far, union advice is that it's up to the school to make decisions on how to deal with this. That's gone out to all schools, and Heads are acting in this advice. Anyone who's been foolish enough to book a holiday since April can't expect their bosses to give them extra time off. The OP booked her holiday last year, pre covid, so there may be some leeway for her. However, what if 50% of the staff n her school have done the same? Does that mean school should start either with a load of supply teachers after being closed for 5 months, or open two weeks later? As a parent, what would you Prefer?

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

We have the worst CV statistics because of govt incompetence, not because of ordinary people just trying not to lose their money.

It's spread by people. People's behaviour.

OP, we're also booked to go to Croatia and are fully expecting the government to include in the first tranche (this weekend) or second tranche (early July) of quarantine-free destinations. I know it's horrible not to have it all confirmed, but sit tight - they are proactively negotiating with the UK and have had v low infection rate.

And you would bring your very high infection rate to there?
Could you be any more selfish????

Nobody needs a holiday abroad and not many deserve it.

People do need education and they are entitled to it. People need jobs and they are entitled to them. But it’s a social contract just as much as an actual one.

The HT may be over reaching. But she may have assessed that the school would be non functional if a significant number of staff are in quarantine in September. That’s a massive impact on the children and their families. Maybe 30+ kids unable to go to school and parents unable to work.

The OP has had a few months to try to recoup costs or rearrange the holiday. I’m sure the various companies would allow her to bring it forward into early August. Because their are still millions of cancellations even where lockdown has lifted.

This is what I would do instead of posting on MN to get a froth going.

Hi,

I’m a primary school teacher too. We were told that we would need to quarantine for 14 days and that if we had already booked a holiday this would be honoured. I think your headteacher is being very unreasonable.