Secondary school teachers - a question

[abbymeg]

Hello

I've already posted this on back to work, then saw secondary education section. Duh!

Does anyone know how a hypothetical 9 months of maternity leave (there is yet no baby!) which would fall during my 6th year of teaching could affect making an application to go through threshold? Would it put me back a year, or can you use evidence up to taking maternity around the start of the 6th year and still apply at the beginning of the 7th?

This is baffling me, as well as a couple of colleagues.

I really appreciate any help with this!

I'm pretty sure you would go through threshold while you are on maternity leave, and you could apply on your ML or after and get (at least some of) it backdated. (I think)

You need evidence from last two to three years.

You still go up points while on ML as you are still employed under normal conditions iirc. (I think)

However, I'm not 100% on this. Can you ring your LEA personnel dept?

I am on MPS6, have just begun maternity leave and am returning to work in July. I'm intending to make my threshold application at the beginning of next year - I can't see how the school wouldn't be risking an equal opportunities issue by putting it back a year. I've already got lots of evidence collected just because I tend to keep papertrails of everything; I'd recommend that you start bunging stuff in a folder now so it's ready for when you need it.

What fleacircus said!

I went through the threshold last year, and I expect to continue up the pay scale regadless of being on ML.

Hi Bella - haven't bumped into you for ages! Yes, not working is bliss, I stopped at 32 weeks because I was knackered and wasn't going to gain anything at the other end by carrying on. Was previously getting home from work and falling asleep, now am having lovely time and have even been going out in the evening with DP.

[jealous] Good luck!!

abbymeg - use evidence from fourth and fifth yeay, ML for sixth year, apply in seventh year and (if you pass) threshold payments will be backdated to beginning of seventh year

Actually, you could also use evidence from fourth and fifth year, ML and apply in sixth year, get paid from beginning of seventh year, like anyone who was around in sixth year.

The actual application doesn't take that long, it's the gathering of evidence that's important.

I applied for UPS2 whilst on maternity leave - it just meant I had to pop into work with my professional development folder for my evidence.

Thank you for all of your help. And very best wishes to everyone about to embark on ML!

I've done quite a bit as I hold some responsibility and I've taken a lot on, so my boss says that threshold shouldn't be a problem - but I wasn't sure how it would stand if I was out for the sixth year.

Everyone's advice has been really reassuring. I think ttc plans shall proceed!

Good luck! (ttc and threshold)