Headteacher having a baby.

[newbieman1978]

Should a headteacher have to discuss/justify their maternity leave plans? (with parents)

Just to add parents have been informed of the plan governors have put in to place. Deputy will act up and temp brought in to cover deputy's class.

No. Dont justify it to any parents. All requests for 'discussion' of provision should be met with the same answer- the one you suggested, that they speak to the board of governors if they have a problem with a woman exercising her human right to have a child and her legal right to go on maternity leave. The parents seem to have been told of the perfectly reasonable provision being made- unless you are party to the information as DH of the headteacher and they are not ( unlikely?)

I think the problem is that the deputy head is a bit of an unknown quantity. I think I would answer any enquiries with a polite 'we are lucky the school will be in the safe hands of Ms X and the new acting deputy.' I wouldn't engage beyond that to be honest. I'd only entertain meetings with individual parents if their child would be more that averagely affected by your DW's absence (say she'd been working direct with them).

Of course not!

Letter from the governors noting the meeting requests have come to their attention and reiterating the plan?

Even though they are acting like a bunch if utter PITA pillocks, someone (not your DW needs to listen to them (a nice no nonsense governor?) just in case that amongst the squawking there is something the school management would be in a stronger position if it new about.

But as it's also very important that this does not turn into parents thinking they can run the school, it should perhaps only be attempted if there is someone with the right attitude who will listen but not discuss.

...along with a note asking any further queries to be put to the governors not the HT.

And congrats!

Yes the parents are aware of the plans and yes the deputy is being "bigged up" to anyone who will listen! My wife thinks the deputy will do a fantastic job and the temp who is coming in to cover is well know and liked by parents having covered maternity and sickness before.

I'll show this thread to my wife when she gets in (about 7ish!) and I'm sure it will cheer her up no end. She is doing the right things and is a great headteacher!

I knew this was going to be a sort of reverse.

I work in a very different field to your DW, but I often feel that my clients believe they own me, body and soul! It sounds like this is what these parents are like with your DW.

Perhaps she should send a letter out.

"As previously advised to parents, during my Maternity Leave, xxx will act as Head, and yyy will take her place as Deputy.

Both are well known to the school, and the governors and I have every confidence in their abilities to run the school in my absence.

Please note, however, that I will not be able to meet with individual parents to discuss the arrangements."

No!
She has my utmost sympathy, Our primary was in a very gossipy, mostly MC village.

It's utterly ridiculous what some people think is their business.

I'm sure in a couple of weeks it will blow over like most things in school.

We've just been a little taken a back by the requests for meetings.

Apparently one parent is thinking of moving their child because there has been too many maternity leavers in recent years...How do you react to that statement!! you have to lol :-)

OH god no, she shouldn't have meetings with individual parents about this! How completely unreasonable they're being. My kids go to a school in a vaiiiir middle class area and I wouldn't dream of asking for that kind of meeting! I can't imagine any of the other parents would either. They have clearly got no sense of proportion and waaay too much time on their hands.

One parent thinking of leaving? Byee then! Someone on the waiting list will be very grateful.

concernedaboutheboy

Exactly!

Well, said parent better make sure their child goes to a school where maternity leaves are forbidden.

Oh right, there's that pesky law thing!

I have to say my DD's teachers for the last 2 years have both been women in their late 30s with one young child each, one of them married just before DD went into her class. I'd be lying if I didn't say it crossed my mind that they might go on maternity during the year, with a vague worry about a mid-year change of teacher. I wouldn't thing anyone should be answerable to me for the decisions they take about their own fertility however. Very odd to thing otherwise.

Def do not enter into any discussions with parents about the situation but direct them to the governors.

A HT has as much right to a private family life as any other person and this needs to be respected. The governors have the responsibility to make sure any disruption is kept to a minimum.

What the parents don't know and wouldn't be appropriate to tell them is my wife has already told the deputy she can call at anytime if she needs advice. The deputy is only going to be holding the fort and not doing any strategic work hence should be a fairly (fingers crossed) period.
Also my wife has discussed with governors that she only wishes to take minimal time off (3-4 month) as frankly we can't afford much more and she is a very career oriantated person and wants to get back to work because she loves it. Obviously things may change hense it can't be put "out there".
These things obviously never cross some peoples minds and they just think doom and gloom.

Yes, chances are at the next school all the teachers will start having babies at the same time.

My DC2's form teacher had a baby last year, and at a parents' meeting shortly after the announcement that she was pregnant, she apologised to the parents about it. I might have thought it was a slightly arrogant or self-absorbed move on her behalf (no one's indispensible, right?), had I not heard the reaction of the some of the parents. I felt so sorry for her. And yes, a lot of people asked for meetings with her. Bizarre!

Congratulations OP to you and your wife

Did any parent ask if it was planned or an accident?

Lweji...

No not directly but apparently the word on the street (at the gate!) is that it must be an accident as Mrs X is so career minded!! Again I had to lol.

how very dare she become pregnant during term time. I hope she has managed to time it during the long summer holiday where she does absolutely nothing.

I have heard it all now, this is absolutely absurd and no way should your dw have to answer or justify herself to anyone. it sounds like there is suitable cover, I don't get parents like this tbh.

Congratulations to you and dw.

I wonder if that parent has ever experienced people mothering on about her own decision to have a child, the timings and her plans for her maternity leave?

Sounds very typical, I'm a GP and some of my more "high maintenance" patients let it be known that they thought it was disgusting that I took so much time off. congratulations to your wife.

No a head teacher should not have to justify their maternity plans with parents any more than parents should have to justify their maternity leave plans with the head teacher (unless they happen to be employed in the school)