AIBU to reduce to three days despite a more intense timetable?

[Worklifebal]

I’m currently doing 4 days and have been offered 3 days from September. Will it make a difference? In terms of my mental health? I’m overwhelmed and cannot cope right now, so hoping it will make a positive change for me. I have kids in primary school so will mean they get to have more sleep for those 2 days during school week too as right now they are in breakfast club at 7:15 four days a week and get picked up at 5:30.

Issue is due to timetable they can offer 3 days but all my lessons will be squeezed into 3 days so 4 days of work into 3 days meaning I’ll have no free periods and there will be lessons back to back. I will also be doing break and lunch duties so will be intense.

You need PPA time too

If you are working 15/15 lessons and have no breaks out of those three days because of break duties and v limited lunch breaks due to lunch duties then a) I would check that your work time is being monitored (you might be going over what unions allow regardless of the fact that you are 0.6) and b) it sounds like a recipe for disaster if you aren’t coping now.

The years I did 3 days off the bat without any frees were horrific.

it’s a compressed timetable so I will be getting paid 4 days

Oh, so they don’t need to give you designated breaks or PPA?

I’d say still say no. Those three days are going to wipe you out. Not having any breather at all during the day will really start to build up by the first half term.

@Northerndoglover how Sbout I say no to the lunch duties? I have to do break but lunch is opted in

Don’t do that. It sounds exhausting and you’ll end up catching up on so much work on your days off that you may as well be in school. Can you afford to drop to 3 days and be paid 3 days? Or will they not do that for you?

You certainly don't have to do the lunch duties.

Teacher here.
So, you will be teaching the same number of hours as if you were working 4 days, but compressed into 3 days. The disadvantage is that you'll have 3 super busy days - no breaks or free periods, and also the same amount of prep and marking. The advantage would be a little more flexibility - you could do some prep and marking on one of your days off while your kids are at school. Only you know you - would you cope with 3 intense days easily, and would you appreciate the flexibility? If the answer is no, you may as well stay as you are.

i can’t afford to just do regular 3 days as pay will be less. I’m in the process of trying to leave DH so need to save. I really feel like I could benefit with not having to deal with work for 2 days. Even on my frees I don’t manage to do much as we don’t have our own classrooms so I have to sit in a busy staff room and don’t get anything done. I get overwhelmed and overstimulated with the noise and conversations during my frees.

Worth a try then I guess? What is the subject, or do they all have intense prep times these days?

I suppose you’d have to see it as working 4 days still but the 4th is from home and you do your admin then? But at least you can do school drop off/pick up and be in the comfort of your own home. I would think your 3 days sound exhausting though- will they be consecutive?