ANY TEACHERS CURRENTLY ON MATERNITY LEAVE - OR ABOUT TO START IT?

[popsycal]

A few questions.....
SHout if you are please
tia

Which subject do you teach rowlers

MFL

Optional after KS3- what's the take up rate? What's the a level contingent. Our head of MFL has gone on mat leave for 12 months and the 2 other staff (who happen to be HOY's) are going to do the work between them. Would the rest of your staff do this if there was say an honorarium involved?
Surely discipline is a HOY issue?
Most things would wait... if they didn't then they're severe enough to call HOY or senior management anyway are they.

MFL has just gone optional at our school from this September and take-up was very low, unfortunately. My mum keeps telling me that I should look on the bright side and think how we will avoid all the rotter pupils who hate MFL and therefore disrupt lessons. True but the idealist in me still can't believe what a backward step it is..
Anyway, A level take-up is good for us as we like small groups, about 6 or 7 in each of F and G.
Discipline? It's interesting that you see it as a HOY issue. My school expects ALL discipline issues to be dealt initially (and it seems until a pupil does something so awful someone else is forced to step in) in faculty, from teacher first, right through to HOD setting detentions, taking pupils out, seeing parents etc. It drives me mad as 9 times out of 10, it's the same pupils who cause problems round the school. It means that pretty much all HODs spend a huge amount of time on disciplining the same pupils. A complete waste of human resources!
Anyway, mustn't think about it too much as it really gets my back up. Have had numerous heated "discussions" with the deputy on the issue.
Basically, the school is very demanding of its staff and as HOD, I seem to be on call all of the time to deal with anything MFL related. This means I often have to temporarily leave my own classes to deal with problems. I can't see the school changing its approach in the short term so probably the second in dept would have to deal when I wasn't there.
As there seem to be so many examples of this already happening, I'm now wondering how best to go about putting in a request. Does one do this formally i.e. in written form? Would I need to have everything planned out before I put my case forward? Will unions be able to give advice on this?
As I'm currently on mat leave until Feb, was also wondering if it would be best to return FT first and then put in a request or put in a request soonish so preparations can be made?
Only complication for me is we have a new HT. I've never met her so haven't established any form of relationship with her. All I've heard is that she is quite "mumsy", whatever that means.
SORRY, taken ages, thinking aloud.
Any thoughts?

don't leave it- your position is stronger before you go back.
NASUWT were fantastic with me.
Don't put your request in writing straight away- if they refuse a written request you can't ask again for 12 months. Try it informally first- I phoned our head and asked him and he asked the governors- they're obliged by law to consider your request. You'll have no probs going part time as an ordinary classroom teacher- the issue is really your HOD's job... and how much the school want to keep you in the long term.
Also ask for it for 12 months initially- then there's a f/t job for you in 12 months if you want it and if you don't then just apply again for flexible working.
Again i don't know what atl are like- you may be better changing unions on this- atl a bit weak in this area- nas are stronger.
As for discipline being dealt with 'in subject' so to speak that's a bit daft IMHO. What do your HOY's do then???
Our discipline is class teacher- tutor- HOY- SMT- if it's really urgent then you can bypass the route and go to HOY or SMT.
HOD would deal with homework issues and classwork etc- work issues but certainly not discipline.

I am soooo jealous. I had heard rumours that discipline was not an issue for HoDs at other schools. It is my major task. It takes up many hours each week for all HoDs and HoYs at my school. When I was on maternity leave it was just about all that my replacements did - there didn't seem to have been much else dealt with in the 2 terms! I guess that's just the nature of inner city school life.

I think you would have a strong case, Rowlers. I would do as pixiefish says and talk to the head informally first. Have you taken your baby in for the office staff etc to ooh and ahh yet? That would be your perfect opportunity!

We have an AHT who will be coming back PT at first and then FT.

Doing some tidying/binning of my papers and came across my letter back from the authority about my ml.

"During the first 18 weeks maternity leave you will accrue 4 days special leave entitlement"

I stopped on 28 October ( and avoided the Halloween party which we HAVE to do in class)This must have covered the Christmas/New Year statutory days and meant that I could delay my return for a few extra days- every little counts!

Thanks pixie for all that info / advice - I am much indebted to you. Will phone atl tomorrow to get a feel for whether they know much about it.
Fisil I know exactly what you mean, think our schools must have similar (daft) policies on discipline.
I have been in to show off dd but not for a while. Need to go in to pick up a few things, was going to "pop in" to introduce myself to the new HT. I'm hoping she does know of my existence... Won't mention anything yet but would like to make a good impression on her so she's on my side.
I read the other thread (was it berrie?) earlier. Just wondered what everyone thought re: "it wouldn't be fair on the faculty" arguement. Would it really be a big issue for staff in my faculty if I weren't there 2 days a week? Or is it just something they'd get used to? I really want to do the HOD role, but not 5 days, but also don't want to do it if it is not easily workable.

If you want to do it i'd say go for it, I think i've said before I found my part time hod role fine with one baby, less so with 2 and am planning to call it a day with number 3! Admitedly my department is small me plus 1 full timer (who is a HOY and more than capable of dealing with his own discipline issues)plus one or two others teaching odd periods from other departments (more of a pain in my experience)anything that needs dealing with just has to wait if i'm not there. I've had the odd parent get arsey about not getting responces to queries as quickly as they'd like but most calm down once they realise the situation. I have rarely been bothered on days off (except being expected at parents evening which really pisses me off), my only major issue has been residential fieldwork but in the end I did a deal with the school where they agreed to pay for transport and accomodation for DS and DH to come too in exchange for the extra days I worked.

I don't think it's really a policy, rowlers, I think it's just in a school like ours you need as many hands on deck as possible. I am responsible for all the students in my school learning mathematics. In a school like ours, this means supporting my colleagues with discipline! Oh, and I generally manage about 14 people, but it can rise to 20!

Good luck with the pt!

sammac - could I ask which LEA you work for so that when i ring mine up, I can quote it?
I would therefore be entitled to good friday. easter monday, 2 bank hols in may....

which may mean i dont have to go back until spet 2005!

Sure- I work for Glasgow City Council. Don't think there will be any difference because it's Scottish as these laws are national surely.

thanks sammac

Hi Popsycal - sorry, I missed the question in your post much earlier. sadly, I am as confused as everyone else, why can'tteachers accrue holidays when on maternity leave? Leaving the practical problems for employers of doing so aside, my understanding is that all contractual rights accrue during maternity leave and holidays are surely part of a teachers contractual rights. The law hasalso been interpreted so that during additional maternity leave, employees at least accrue statutory holiday entitlement (ie pro rata of fourweeks for a year). This is as set out in Popsycal's post on 30th Sept at 8.45.55pm - why is the union saying you don't accrue holidays whilst on maternity leave? I am not aware of any exemptions for teachers in the legislation relating to holiday entitlement!

I contacted payroll who almost laughed in my face when I asked if we could accrue bank holidays at the very least.....I have FOUR bank hols when on maternity and this would make the difference of whether I went back to work before the summer hols or not - it is that close!

Actually, DH has a friend who works as an employment law solicitor - so I might speak to him!

I am going to push this though, as sis is right - why shoudl teachers be different. i don't want the whole holiday entitlement just what the 'average' annual holiday entitlement would be!

Right - i am on a mission here.

Sis has got my mind going - I want to find something definitive which explain in black and white why teachers are not able to accrue holiday. i am finding this really frustrating. Every other profession can do it so why can't we.

CAn anyone point me in the direction of where to look before I start composing a letter to someone (who???)

Is it to do with accruing the statutory days when you are on the full mat pay and then not being eligible for the others? That's what I thought mines was for. I was receiving full pay during dec and jan when the stat days were, and presume that's how I 'got' them back.

The employment lawyer sounds a good idea as the whole thing is a minefield. Remember that most payroll staff will not be legal experts and will be doing what is 'normally' done.

sammac - they didnt say what it was 'to do with' they just sort of brushed off the query both the union and payroll....

will ring dh's mate i think

I wish I could help you further- am racking my brains I used to deal with mat pay when I worked in personnel yonks ago and we had a law book which was kept bang up to date to refer to. But this was before the most recent syuff came into force. Hopefully your friend will be able to access such info easily.

thanks for your help sammac - it has made me realise that i ought to pursue this until i get referred to an exact document or legislation which spells it out clearly!

found this not much help

do you think it woul dbe worth contacting these people?

\lonk{http://www.delni.gov.uk/docs/pdf/ER16_MaternityRights.pdf\look here section 4 - page 20}

think i need to dig out my contract,,,,

right - just found my contract - although it doesn't seem to have that title......

Under the section PERIODS OF SCHOOL CLOSURE
it says this
"You will be paid full salry during these periods of school closure unless you are receiving less than full salry arising from the application of the sick pay scheme, maternity scheme etc".

That is all it says about holidays

Apart from:
"Full time teachers are required to be available for work for up to 1265 hours of directed time over 195 days per year."

Nowhere does it specifically mention holidays....

this site is excellent
tiger site