Page 8 | To be tempted to pull a sickie?

PermanentlyExhaustedPigeonZZZ · 02/12/2025 09:00

Surely there's someone else that can go. A DH, grandparent or close family friend?

cocog · 02/12/2025 09:02

I definitely would why should you miss your own child’s first play I think you will regret it forever if you don’t. Also why should your kid be the only child without a parent there. Just do it you won’t regret it x

Hellodarknessyouoldprick · 02/12/2025 09:06

socialdilemmawhattodo · 02/12/2025 08:47

And you think it is acceptable for a school to have to pick up that cover cost? A supply teacher through an agency £200 per day (incl agency fee)? I regard you as unprofessional.

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In 100 years, everyone posting on this thread, all their bosses, all their co workers will be dead.

I pulled sickies in every job I ever had in order to get some joy out of the one short life I have to live. If you thought I was unprofessional - oh no!! What ever would I do?

I’m not going to be laying on my deathbed thinking about my wonderful work attendance and how my boss thought I was professional.

Scottishskifun · 02/12/2025 09:08

I would probably "vomit" the end of the day before then you have to be off the next day due to 48 hour rule.
That way your not saying your ill your just not allowed back the next day.

Lastfroginthebox · 02/12/2025 09:12

This reply has been deleted

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Don't use the 'K' word as an insult. It's not fair to real Karens. And having a substitute teacher isn't the same as having the regular teacher who knows the class. (Ask any child!)

Ahfiddlesticks · 02/12/2025 09:13

Just do it.

Even if someone finds out, you can be too sick for work but well enough to sit through a school play.

AndSoFinally · 02/12/2025 09:13

Have you got any other kids/caring responsibilities? Can you take it as emergency carers leave as one of them is sick rather than taking sick leave for yourself? That wouldn’t stop you popping out to a play, especially if you took the younger one with you

Ahfiddlesticks · 02/12/2025 09:14

PermanentlyExhaustedPigeonZZZ · 02/12/2025 09:00

Surely there's someone else that can go. A DH, grandparent or close family friend?

But the PP would still miss it - they can't take her brain with them.

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 02/12/2025 09:25

PeachRings · 02/12/2025 08:22

Congrats on going to work when poorly and spreading things around?

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You seem to have totally missed the point We're talking about skiving when you aren't sick not going to work when you are

What in my post suggested to you otherwise?

Uselessgenerally · 02/12/2025 09:25

ofthelandandsea · 02/12/2025 06:28

And yes it’s morally reprehensible but …

Work in a school, so can’t take annual leave or anything like that, and it’s my DDs first school play Friday.

My school won’t let you have time off for anything like that; they just won’t, it’s just no, no, no. It’s similar if a teacher needs to leave the site during the day, you just can’t get out.

I really am tempted to say sod it and say I’m unwell.

Life is too short especially with kids. Before you know it they are grown up and you will wish you had gone to these types of things. Phone in sick.

NO JOB IS WORTH SACRIFICING FAMILY TIMES.

Maybe think of getting a more flexible job.

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 02/12/2025 09:27

Scottishskifun · 02/12/2025 09:08

I would probably "vomit" the end of the day before then you have to be off the next day due to 48 hour rule.
That way your not saying your ill your just not allowed back the next day.

I hope you aren't a teacher of pupils in a public exam year.

Do you seriously think it's in any way acceptable for them to miss two days of their regular teacher while she sits at home?

The schools inflexibility is a problem, stupid solutions are just that

MincePudding · 02/12/2025 09:28

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Yeah well don't whinge to me when your school are skint because they are employing costly TAs to cover sickie staff AND paying people skiving off.

Justwanttocomment · 02/12/2025 09:30

Mumsntfan1 · 02/12/2025 06:35

I understand why you'd like the day off. I think you need to decide what's more important. A Job that means you have the school holidays off with your child or being able to take holiday when you like. Also will it stop at this one day? What about sports day and other school events?

This. I’m a teacher and realise the incredibly lucky position that I’ve been in when it comes to school holidays. Unfortunately that comes with the price of missing school plays etc.

Imissgoldengrahams · 02/12/2025 09:30

PersephoneParlormaid · 02/12/2025 06:34

I can’t believe that the school aren’t putting it on at night too, as so many parents work. My kids school offered you a ticket to watch, and you chose a night or day slot.

My children's school have never done this. School plays are always during the day usually around 11 and last until 12.30
I start work at 12, with an hour commute so that doesn't work for me, can't do an evening as I'd still be at work so that also doesn't work. No choice but to ask for a half day or pull a sickie🤷‍♀️

SweetnsourNZ · 02/12/2025 09:36

landlordhell · 02/12/2025 06:36

No I wouldn’t. I also work in a school and I get the temptation but these days with social media etc o would t risk my job. Our head let someone go last year to their child’s nativity as there was no evening performance so I think you should ask your child’s school for a start to put in an evening one and then asks your head. You won’t relax.

That's a good point. People are bound to be videod watching it. Could you not ask someone to video her for you? There are going to be lots of days like this and unfortunately it's just life as a working mum.

Scottishskifun · 02/12/2025 09:40

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 02/12/2025 09:27

I hope you aren't a teacher of pupils in a public exam year.

Do you seriously think it's in any way acceptable for them to miss two days of their regular teacher while she sits at home?

The schools inflexibility is a problem, stupid solutions are just that

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Nope not in the teaching profession but always follow the vomiting rule!

The liklihood of doing any proper work that late into December (as that's when childrens concerts/plays are) is extremely slim. Even my exam years it was either revision sessions, past papers etc which is not hard to cover as its self learning!

movinghomeadvice · 02/12/2025 09:40

Sorry OP, fellow teacher here and this is the trade off that we've made. We get all the school holidays off with our DC, plus more child-friendly working hours, and even the possibility of having our DC at school with us, which is what I've managed to do.
The downside is that there is ZERO flexibility during term time.
I wouldn't fake a sickie, no. I'd just accept that it's part of the deal that I've made in working as a teacher.

My school is also Fort Knox and it's impossible to leave during the day. So I understand why you're saying you'd have to take a whole day. I just wouldn't do it.

movinghomeadvice · 02/12/2025 09:41

Justwanttocomment · 02/12/2025 09:30

This. I’m a teacher and realise the incredibly lucky position that I’ve been in when it comes to school holidays. Unfortunately that comes with the price of missing school plays etc.

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Absolutely this.

LittleBitofBread · 02/12/2025 09:43

ofthelandandsea · 02/12/2025 06:51

I know some schools are a lot more reasonable. But if we want to leave in the day they won’t authorise medical (unless pregnancy and then only very reluctantly and because they have no choice) and if it’s an emergency then you have to find four people to sign a form and then find the original person to sign it. Generally by the time you’ve done that (bear in mind the size of the school) an hour has gone by and given it’s the last period of the day it would be time to go home anyway.

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Do you work in Stalag Luft III?
This environment sounds unbearably oppressive. Why on earth won’t they authorise medical absences and why do five people need to sign a form?

If you haven't already blown your cover by asking for the time off, I'd say pulling a sickie is the only option left. As there are no implications for cover and no children are going to go untaught, I think you can do it with a clear conscience.

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 02/12/2025 09:50

Scottishskifun · 02/12/2025 09:40

Nope not in the teaching profession but always follow the vomiting rule!

The liklihood of doing any proper work that late into December (as that's when childrens concerts/plays are) is extremely slim. Even my exam years it was either revision sessions, past papers etc which is not hard to cover as its self learning!

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The play is this week, I know all schools are different but at my children's school it is very much business as usual with mocks coming up. Id be pretty annoyed if a secondary school wasn't operating as normal

SockBanana · 02/12/2025 09:53

I'd do it - but carry the lie through to primary setting too just in case. E.g. Fell down the stairs, sprained ankle. Hobble in to the nativity with your ankle strapped up - thank God you were able to make it there.

You might be sure there are no connections, but at ours (further that 20 mins away) one of the teachers at the secondary is married to one of the teachers at the primary. Unless you're 100% sure of everyone's relationships I'd make sure you're covered.

angelos02 · 02/12/2025 10:00

Scottishskifun · 02/12/2025 09:08

I would probably "vomit" the end of the day before then you have to be off the next day due to 48 hour rule.
That way your not saying your ill your just not allowed back the next day.

Yes but then the OP wouldn't be able to be 'spotted' in another school.

tryingtobesogood · 02/12/2025 10:00

ofthelandandsea · 02/12/2025 06:39

I’m trying to think of how it could bite me and I can’t.

DD attends a very small primary school in a rural setting. I teach in a huge sprawling secondary in an urban setting, although it only takes me about twenty minutes to drive there it is a good eight miles away. There aren’t any connections between the schools.

It is silly because if it was OKd I’d only be missing the last period of the day which is actually my PPA anyway so no implications for cover.

Instead of taking a sickie have an appointment that can’t be moved at a time that means you can go. A very personal appt that you don’t want to discuss.

ilovesooty · 02/12/2025 10:03

bigsoftcocks · 02/12/2025 07:09

If you don’t give a shit, per your more recent response to someone why are you even asking here ?

You're going to do it anyway. You say that the union is no support but they certainly won't support you on matters of professional misconduct. Why do you think people should cover your absence for the day while you lie about being ill?

Timespentwithcatsisneverwasted · 02/12/2025 10:03

Pull a sickie. You'll never get this time back. Say it's cystitis or something so you couldn't possibly teach. I've been a teacher, I know what schools are like, there's no other way out of it. And it'll be fine