Schools should close early on a Friday

[Goolagoo]

I know this will be very mixed opinion - especially for working parents .

But , I’m a teacher . Over the years I have seen so much in schools regarding PPA time and really unfair practices . I have seen , and experienced , teachers having PPA taken away due to staffing issues . I once saw a teacher have a day of PPA ( a whole day because she wasn’t having it the week after due to staffing issues so would need to plan 2 weeks work in this PPA session ) taken away - it was a Friday too so she was supposed to be having that day to plan for lessons beginning on the Monday . It was taken away due to staffing issues and she was in tears - she had plans that weekend that she had to cancel so she could plan for the week ahead ( I didn’t work in that school , she’s a teacher friend ). I have also had PPA time taken away from me before and I also have never had a class that didn’t get upset at me not being in class and having a supply or a Ta cover . Usuall work that’s done during the cover whilst class teacher is out on PPA isn’t ‘important’ work - it’s a lot of filler work , or work that doesn’t go in books . A lot of children also get anxiety over their class teacher being out and children with SEN especially suffer with this .

I read about a school that decided to close at 1pm every Friday to allow teachers to all have their PPA time . They said that they made the time back with a slightly later finish time / slightly earlier start time and they found that behaviour improved massively. Fridays are usually the end of a long week and filled with behaviour issues and this reduced along with attendance improving . I know some schools around the area do Finish at 1/2 on a Friday and I wonder if this is the reason why .

It seems like it would really make sense !

Maybe even , as TAs don’t get PPA time as they don’t plan , they could offer a kind of after school club ( until normal pick up time ) where the TAs watched the children who’s parents couldn’t do an earlier pick up time .

Can I ask why you think you should get a ‘significant pay increase’ if you don’t go into a leadership role? Who gets a significant pay increase in any industry unless they train, upskill and move up the ladder?

Do you not think the best teachers should be teaching? and upskilling themselves all the time to evolve, teaching has certainly moved in hugely from when I first trained, and my skills have certainly evolved.

To be honest, I’ve been in leadership. It’s actually far from a significant pay rise and it was 70 hour weeks, so unfortunately not compatible with having a family. Also very few part time roles available. I just want to pay my bills, have a some sort of work life balance. I admit I chose the wrong career ( although I am very good at my job) I also want it for my children’s teachers and all over people who do other roles. Am I really so unreasonable for wanting that? I am quite passionate about ensuring people can remain in the work place when they have a family, why are you trying to make it impossible for them?

I get your point, but my point is that yet again, teachers are suggesting that the predicament they find themselves in is unique - it is not - its the same across the work force - 'significant' pay increases require training and moving up the levels to higher pay scales. And, once again, teachers are paid well, especially when taking into account their pensions (which is something that is always brushed under the carpet in these discussions).

I don’t know how clearer I can make it . I am not saying teachers are unique , that I can only give my personal experience and I believe that everyone should be entitled to fair pay and conditions. It’s you that keeps singling out teachers.

Like I said, I’ve had significant training but I have no more hours to give so can’t do leadership at the moment. I’m barely managing teaching. I don’t think 50+ hours should be the norm for anyone. Not just teachers.