May be offered a perm position at a teaching job from September but it’s a 55 mins drive each way

[Sk999]

I’ve been the many schools and don’t easily like most places, not over the moon here either but I’ve come to know that there is no perfect place really.

I started as supply end of March and can continue as perm from September. Bit the distance is far, doable but I’m losing almost 19 hours a week travelling.

The point here is me and husband are planning to try for baby next Christmas and if it did happen I can get maternity pay and if I was very unwell I could have paid time off etc.

Then I would also be off for a year and could go back 3 days. Has anyone ever gone back 3 days to a school that was this far ? I think that is the hope that I will eventually go 3 days meaning I stay home 4 days and only travel 3 days.

WTF?
Never heard of human rights then?

Also. How on earth do you justify leaving at 3.30? I'm an EYFS teacher and that is insane.

Well, yes. But I'd say it isn't the wages that are driving us out, it's the totally inhumane workload.

Possibly I am doing it wrong. But if I am, so are a large percentage of my colleagues despite getting outstanding results.

What a ridiculous comment! Teachers want jobs with sick pay and paid maternity leave just as everyone else does. It doesn't mean they lack dedication.

I would take the permanent job. If you find the commuting too much, you will have to look for something closer. The worse that can happen is that you go back to supply.

Of course it's allowed. Obviously it's legal. But it's why lots of teachers are now struggling to get permanent posts because people do this. You need to at least work there a few years before you take maternity leave. It's just awful to think she would do this.

Equally ridiculous and sad

Not necessarily. I work for a MAT- all lesson materials and planning are given to me. I spend an hour or so on Sunday downloading materials from the shared portal for the week ahead and checking them. I mark in my frees. No evening work. I know I'm really lucky (this is my first job like this, I've spent thousands of hours planning!) but teachers should be collaborating more instead of thinking they can do everything themselves always.

@DrAnnaTaylorRyan Teaching is bloody hard work. But teachers do themselves and their profession a disservice when they make out they are the only people working evenings and weekends or working outside their "public facing" hours.

Apologies if I gave this impression. I know many other occupations work many hours outside of work too.

I used to have a commute like this as a teacher. It was quite enjoyable pre-kids, I liked the time to decompress between work & home. Once I had dc it didn’t work very well - I felt like I barely saw them. I’d leave school at 5:30 and people felt I was leaving early…and I’d still not make it home before their bedtime.

Now I have a 5 min commute and I’d have to think really carefully before taking on a longer commute again. I have so much more time in the day!

I understand that 55 minutes seems a long commute. Can you do it by public transport, so that you can get work done on your commute?

And think about it. You've been a supply teacher; they're offering you the security of a permanent post. What are your alternatives?

Also, it's easier to find a better job if you're already in a job. Take the permanent posiution & do well - get further training if it's offered. Take on stuff, develop a professional network, make good word friends, so that you're in a good position to move onwards- sideways or upwards, hopefully.

A good network and good feeling from colleagues will go a long way in getting a better position eventually!

I've worked in a MAT and honestly, I prefer doing my own planning EVEN THOUGH it's more work. I find it very hard, teaching from someone else's planning and it doesn't always fit the needs of my cohort.

55 mins is a decent commute. Your commute is madness. I say this as a London commuter!

No, you really don't.

I got pregnant 3 months into a permanent job. Since been a loyal employee for 25 years at that same company.
My sister interviewed pregnant, in a long drapey scarf.
Women have rights, and it might be annoying for employers but it's not unethical. Family first, always.

I’m a teacher and I think the commute is fine whilst children are in nursery as I would drop my DC off at 7 and collect them at 6, when they start school it’s another matter. DS’ primary offers wraparound from 7.30-5 and that’s better than some primary schools near me! My commute is 15 mins in morning and 25 in afternoon. I don’t get much time after school before I have to leave to collect DS. DH is a PE teacher so he only does pick ups when I have meetings as he runs extra curricular at his own school. Next year I have the gift of time when DS starts secondary but it’s been a long 10 years seeing DD and DS through primary!

Maybe schools should stop employing women of child bearing age in case they get pregnant?

Schools employ young teachers over more experienced teachers to cut costs. My niece has been let go from her temporary job and an unqualified teacher is taking her place. They can't afford to think of others and nor should you.

Tbf it sounds like you can’t cope with the workload. All the teachers I know don’t work long hours and are all gone from my kids school at 4 (after school club is on)

Teachers haven't said that they are the only ones.

I wish those that supposedly know about teaching would recognise this.

Please don't apologise for something that you haven't said.

You are just posting what a lot of teachers recognise as their working day.

IME it isn’t the planning that takes the time. It’s the data- collecting it, inputting it, and making sure you update it as often as SMT want you to. Then also (I work with older kids and young adults) making sure they know what their targets are and how to achieve them, so that when they’re asked as part of an observation or “learning walk” they can answer confidently. Also providing things on a particular platform or in a particular format, using particular language and making it clear what purpose the data has (communication, recording, evidencing…)
It only takes a couple of busy weeks with parents’ evenings or an ill child or partner at home, for that stuff to pile up to overwhelming, if you can’t do it then and there.

Anyway, if the commute is easy (not sitting in traffic the whole way) then it’s probably worth it as you feel comfortable in the school and are already doing the job so you know you can do it along with that commute.

@FrippEnos That is exactly what that meme suggested. Teachers everywhere are sitting grading papers evenings and weekends while you are watching TV.

https://neu.org.uk/latest/library/maternity-leave-and-pay-overview

I do full time supply teaching these days, but back in my "applying for jobs" era, I'd put every potential school into Google maps, and if it was even a minute over 30 minutes commute, I didn't even bother applying.
I believe you have to have a mental cut off somewhere, and for me it was 30 minutes, but I know plenty of people would consider that nothing.

That's not something to aspire to. I'd travel that far for a holiday or special family occasion, but every day? Forget it. You must be utterly exhausted (and utterly broke)
Is it really worth it?

What is stopping you from moving nearer the school and grandparents (as you imply they’ll be doing some childcare for you)? Even if it means your partner doing more travelling, that seems sensible.