Independent school teachers-has your pay been cut?

[Whatsallthisaboutthen]

Just that really. (Mine has.)

@Dahlietta 'voluntary'? Did you all agree or was a pay cut imposed unilaterally? Applying a pay cut to the whole staff without their consent is illegal

We had a letter inviting us to give up 10% of our pay. We didn’t have to do it and I know some have and some haven’t.

The fact is that lots of schools will go under if they don’t act now. The school I work is that fairly secure but my previous one was in financial difficulties anyway so I have no idea how they’ll survive this unless they take serious action.

I’d be interested to know whether you all teach at preps or senior schools? I’m in a small/medium prep. I imagine the large senior schools have bigger reserves although if they rely on boarding that’s obviously an issue.

@AppleKatie it is obviously the non furloughed staff who are still working very hard

I think my DC's school have furloughed staff and also invited others to take a voluntary pay cut. This works as the staff are in massively different financial positions. I know one is a single parent to three kids and another has one grown up child and a husband who is a very high earner (he came to give a career talk to the kids which is why I know). Likewise there's been a 30 % reduction in fees but parents are invited to pay full fees if they're able and willing so as to help keep the school running and compensate for any parents suddenly unable to pay.

No pay cut but no increase in September.

Friend of mine works at a big name senior boarding school. Busy day for her of furloughing staff - as no boarding now, it effects everyone from house parents over matron to caterer. They add 10% to the 80% from the gov but future pay will depend mainly on when - and if - boarders can return. The smaller name day schools or mixed day/boarding schools seem more financially viable right now than the prestigeous full-boarding schools (apart from Eton maybe which has loads of endowments).

@NellyBarney are the school providing no teaching or support to the students while it is closed? Most schools are providing lessons but of course you can’t do that if you furloughed your teaching staff

They of course provide online teaching but a boarding school has way more staff than they need for teaching a basic curriculum online. They keep the heads of department, English and maths teachers etc, but they furlough pe teachers, music teachers, TAs, woodwork and textile teachers, artist in residence, and also more juniour teachers as teachers can reach more children online than in their usually very small class sessions. Boarding schools have a huge amount of staff that they simply not need if there are no pupils. How do you do swimming or dance online? And many teachers at boarding schools teach few hours and spent most of their time as house parents and tutors on pastoral work in place of parents. They don't need them now for that as kids are with parents so they furlough them and other 'main' teachers cover their few lessons.

I'd be pretty annoyed if I had to teach huge classes and do all the marking for that group too and write reports on pupils I didn't normally teach while furloughed colleagues on the same pay have a nice long holiday. I can tell you are either not a teacher at all or are SMT

I work at a boarding school.

No teaching staff have been furloughed.

It is absolutely not a blanket policy across all similar schools. It might be the actions of one or two schools.

It’s also entirely possible that furloughed staff haven’t been in contact with those still working.

Our Arts/PE subject teachers are also still working and I think would be quite insulted by the notion that creative subjects can’t be taught remotely.

We’re also offering remote pastoral support and fulfilling those functions of school life remotely.

I would be gutted if teachers at sons school got wages cut - the fees are for the education/support they are providing

Well I am very happy our school has made use of the furloughing scheme as it means they can cut fees accordingly and we can be assured the school is still there once this is over. It's obviously the policy of a single school. No idea what others do but it seems to make perfect sense. They e.g. don't teach larger classes now - they record teaching videos a la Khan academy that as many pupils can watch whenever. And they really can't teach swimming, horseriding, rugby or rowing online. Why should they not furlough sports coaches? A large boarding school has loads of them. They tried music lessons online but it didn't really work, so music teacher was happy to be furloughed for now. Individual lessons continue and music teachers are paid individually for that directly by the parents. I am really glad that the teachers trying to do the best for the school and accept that some work now harder while others get 90% and wait for things to get back to normal and hopefully everyone, including the TAs and the gardener, having their job back.

@Whatsallthisaboutthen what region are you in? North, Midlands or South? You are genuinely the only case I have heard of where pay has been cut? Prep or secondary?

No pay cut, but we were not awarded the 3% rise expected in April.