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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for your school job help! For tomorrow!!

64 replies

GalactatingGoddess · 23/08/2022 16:42

I have a visit to a school tomorrow, to see if I want to apply for a role there (non teaching).
This is a multi- question:

1.) The Head has just confirmed the annual salary and I've just realised it's too low due to being 2 days only part time (more than my salary technically but not enough hours). If I got the post do you think it would be out of order to see if they could offer more hours/an extra day?

2.) What do I need to wear/brush up on.

OP posts:

goshy · 23/08/2022 18:46

What are the specific perks to school working if I am already term time only!?

is it better pay, better pension or flexi hours?

JanglyBeads · 23/08/2022 18:47

I'd say main advantage is the kids / relationships side.

What's a TTO?

Would usually say "not a chance of upping hours" but in current weird job market we are having massive recruitment problems therefore there may be more work going - but it might well require fewer qualifications IYSWIM.

There such a need for MH support in schools atm. I suppose the DfE might eventually put pre funding in but I wouldn't hold your breath.

goshy · 23/08/2022 18:47

Rarely any opportunity for flexibility to go to sports day, for example

I've worked in many schools & know lots of teachers & have never found that to be the case but it depends on school/headteacher.

goshy · 23/08/2022 18:48

oh one other advantage potential school place for dc

goshy · 23/08/2022 18:49

At most places I've also got paid overtime.

JanglyBeads · 23/08/2022 18:52

State schools can't give preference to staff children though. OP hasn't mentioned that it's in a private school which would probably make quite a difference to hours and suitable dress....

CorsicaDreaming · 23/08/2022 18:53

GalactatingGoddess · 23/08/2022 17:34

It's such a tough call!
I know I'd be losing a lot, and many would give their right arm for my role (TTO, part time, super flexible, wfh 80% of the time and only in office by choice)

I'm really torn!
I thought about going for the role, then asking my current work if I could go part time there but that's just a lot of bother really

I'd say many things in life is worth doing can be a bit of a bother to set up and this might be your best option.

I agree with you that the idea of working from home all the time seems very appealing but in reality I agree it is quite isolating and much more difficult to stay motivated than meeting up with colleagues and being in a work environment at least part of the time.

I would go to the meeting tomorrow and personally not mention anything about changing hours until you have had the interview with the Head and actually been offered the job. Then think about what to do and discuss options with both employers .

Otherwise you are basically just spoiling the chances before you even start an interview process - and you've already got her to go in at 8:30 am tomorrow morning so you will be inconveniencing her whateverat this point (thinking about what a PP said).

OutDamnedSpot · 23/08/2022 18:54

JanglyBeads · 23/08/2022 18:52

State schools can't give preference to staff children though. OP hasn't mentioned that it's in a private school which would probably make quite a difference to hours and suitable dress....

That’s not quite true. ‘Children of staff’ is in the admission criteria of some state schools.

spirit20 · 23/08/2022 19:08

I work in a school in a middle management position - It's really unlikely they'd up the hours for the position. I'd bet a lot of money that the job is advertised at the maximum hours they can afford, rather than the fact that they only need someone to work those specific hours.

What might be an option though is combining that role with another part-time role in the school, such as an Learning Support Assistant or even an admin role. We have quite a number of part-time staff who have an arrangement like that. But it's unlikely it would start straight away, it would probably be more a case of you'd take the initial job, and then when a suitable other part-time post came up, you could combine it.

Good luck!

goshy · 23/08/2022 19:11

@JanglyBeads did you miss the potential part of my post? And some schools do indeed have children of staff in their admissions criteria & yes I mean state ones.

JanglyBeads · 23/08/2022 19:21

I do apologise then @goshy, I'd never come across that!

goshy · 23/08/2022 19:34

no probs

Hankunamatata · 23/08/2022 20:01

Why not as your current job if you can go part time. If school job is only 2 days that 3 days you could do your current role

PandaOrLion · 23/08/2022 20:09

I’ve had the mental health lead job at a few schools. I wouldn’t do it in anything less than four days per week - even then I struggling to get everything done. I was DSL though too so some
of the time was taken up with that.

In one interview I negotiated salary but I knew they wanted me and I knew I had the power to do it. They agreed but said it could only be a yearly rolling contract. This isn’t unusual though.

feel free to pm me any questions. It was my job in three schools over ten years.

Original poster

GalactatingGoddess · 23/08/2022 20:16

Thanks all, to clarify:

it's not a private school
I don't want or need my children to go there (not in my area)
I already work part time so would have to ask my work if I could go even further part time which is unlikely although I did toy with this idea

I'll go in tomorrow and I think I'll do as a pp said and not mention the hours but maybe ask around it? It is unusual to have this sort of role part time so I'm wondering if it's a share with someone who is already at the school I

OP posts:

MumofSpud · 23/08/2022 20:17

So it's pro rata
You can ask but .....
Be careful though if the Head promises this - says this will happen by Christmas (for example!) it (probably won't!)

2.) What do I need to wear/brush up on.
Smart casual
They will definitely ask you about safeguarding

3.) I currently wfh fully, this would be a good career move in terms of where I'd be wanting in the future (retraining) but id lose the wfh perks. What are the specific perks to school working if I am already term time only!?
Perks? Only one - term time working but this can be rubbish if you need time off for something! Missing DC's school stuff?

MumofSpud · 23/08/2022 20:20

@goshy school paying overtime - where is this wondrous place

MumofSpud · 23/08/2022 20:20

JanglyBeads · 23/08/2022 18:52

State schools can't give preference to staff children though. OP hasn't mentioned that it's in a private school which would probably make quite a difference to hours and suitable dress....

My (state secondary) school gives children of staff priority

JanglyBeads · 23/08/2022 20:21

Yes, Job Share quite likely I would have thought. I think they'd be delighted to have a sw/youth worker so in that sense you're in a strong position.

MumofSpud · 23/08/2022 20:21

JanglyBeads · 23/08/2022 19:21

I do apologise then @goshy, I'd never come across that!

Should say - I wouldn't see that admissions criteria as a positive - I go to work to get away from my own children!

JanglyBeads · 23/08/2022 20:22

Schools pay overtime (in some, agreed cases) to non-teaching staff.

topcat2014 · 23/08/2022 20:30

My school pays extra if, for example, you do a lunch time duty. These are available to support staff to do.

goshy · 23/08/2022 20:37

@MumofSpud this is true

goshy · 23/08/2022 20:39

@MumofSpud london & for teachers eg who do revision classes, etc.

treesandweeds · 23/08/2022 20:56

MumofSpud · 23/08/2022 20:20

@goshy school paying overtime - where is this wondrous place

My school regularly pays me overtime when I work it. I'm Office staff.

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