Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Do any secondary school teachers get first and last lessons off?

37 replies

unoriginalname3737 · 12/04/2025 18:55

Now DD is going to start primary soon, I was going to ask the Head if I can not work the first and last lesson every day. This is so I can pick up DD from school.

I currently work 50% of full time hours and would be happy to do the same.

does anyone else do this? Or am I dreaming that they will allow it?

OP posts:
intothefifth · 12/04/2025 18:57

<waves>

I do, but it depends on your school (which I know goes without saying!) I actually do two days a week but spread over three so I can do drop offs and pick ups.

noblegiraffe · 12/04/2025 18:59

It would depend on how good your school is for part timers. Mine would say no way.

We also haemorrhage part time teachers. I’m sure there’s no connection.

Octavia64 · 12/04/2025 19:00

My school allowed it once.

we had loads of part time teachers.

MissJeanBrodiesmother · 12/04/2025 19:01

Depends on your school. Mine would say no I expect. They would say it was too difficult to timetable.

Newmumhere40 · 12/04/2025 19:01

unoriginalname3737 · 12/04/2025 18:55

Now DD is going to start primary soon, I was going to ask the Head if I can not work the first and last lesson every day. This is so I can pick up DD from school.

I currently work 50% of full time hours and would be happy to do the same.

does anyone else do this? Or am I dreaming that they will allow it?

How are they going to work that into an already planned timetable?!

Itsdewaltday · 12/04/2025 19:53

Newmumhere40 · 12/04/2025 19:01

How are they going to work that into an already planned timetable?!

Show quote history

For next academic year. Schools have started timetabling for next year already.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 12/04/2025 19:54

No, because every teacher had to take a form.

tarheelbaby · 12/04/2025 20:00

It all depends on your school and your cred there.

When my children were small, I was p/t and the school kindly asked if I had a preference. As a p/t, I didn't take a form. I asked for mornings mainly b/c that fit with dropping at childminder and then being home for pick-up.

Snowtea · 12/04/2025 20:06

I had this in 2004/5 and 2005/6 for a day a week and and two afternoons off for my son in reception and Y1 but there was a really humane and decent AP in charge of “hr”

as soon as she left I was told I had to teach first and last and my part time hours could be between these times…. I went to full time

it’s possible but it takes great management

FightTheAlchemy · 12/04/2025 20:10

I’m a secondary head of department with several part time staff who I work very hard to protect in terms of working requests! In my school - under current leadership- we might not be able to guarantee it but we would certainly come close to as many period 1s and 5s as possible. Equally, previous SLT were hugely inflexible around part time staff and so it will be very dependent on your context!
I think if you are good and established at your school (and especially if you are a teacher of a shortage subject) I would expect them to try and make it work for you.

fleetoriginal · 12/04/2025 20:11

My school would struggle with this..

EVERY DAY is a big ask! There will be many others who would benefit from this - why should you have this luxury?

Why should the entire schools timetable be planned around your childcare schedule and nobody else’s? (because it wouldn’t work for all parent teachers to have all these lessons off). In my school, part time staffs preferred days off aren’t guaranteed to be accommodated, because it’s a big secondary school and the timetable is a huge task, it can’t just work around one or two staff.

Another argument against it - PPA time (if that is what you are going to use in this request to give yourself some more time) is supposed to be just that - planning and preparation. You’re getting paid for that time to be used in that way, not for picking up children. Although you may be able to argue you will take your PPA time in the evenings..?

Overall, I’ll be honest, it wouldn’t be fair. Not every day. Other staff would be understandably put out. You will need to rearrange childcare the same as everyone else, and maybe hope for one or two half days potentially.

fleetoriginal · 12/04/2025 20:13

I say my points as a 0.8 teacher with Fridays off as this works perfectly with my daughters nursery schedule… when asking over and over if days off have been confirmed yet for Sept, I’m just getting a ‘not yet’ reply from our incompetent Head who has no clue what he is doing and is incapable of sorting a timetable… oh the joys!!

scotstars · 12/04/2025 20:13

I think it would be too late to organise for coming academic year....our slt have been working on the new timetable for over a month

Axalotllittle · 12/04/2025 20:15

My school wouldn't allow this. We have meetings three times a week after school and fixed hours of 8.30 till 4.30. That said, I never teach afternoons so always have p4 and p5 for either meetings, engagement or planning time

SunsetGirl · 12/04/2025 20:45

We don't have anyone with first AND last off, but a few with either first OR last. It would depend on your subject, key stages taught, and the department size at our school.

CanOfMangoTango · 12/04/2025 20:56

We wouldn't be able to accommodate this every day.

Could possibly do mornings only. We have longer days Mon-Thurs with meetings/cpd etc after school.

I don't know any school that would be unable to change their timetable at this stage, yes we're working on it now, but it's not too late to request a change. I'm still plugging in parameters, nowhere near scheduling yet!

wafflesmgee · 12/04/2025 21:01

Just ask and see.
my husband managed to do it for two years but only one day a week, the rest were normal hours. It was a massive help.

Bobbybobbins · 12/04/2025 21:07

I get this once a week (I work 3 days a week so my other 2 days are full days). It’s an adjustment I was given as I have two disabled children.

LottieMary · 12/04/2025 21:19

Definitely put in a flexible working request that specifies.
good schools do their best to accommodate. @fleetoriginal’s sounds dreadful.

it may not be possible but there should be proper reasons not ‘it’s unfair’ - as you don’t know anyone else has asked.
Timetables are really hard work but they’re made to work in schools that value their staff as people who also have children

fleetoriginal · 12/04/2025 21:25

@LottieMaryOh it is, this new Head is ruining our wonderful school!! Lots of staff jumping ship this summer!

BCBird · 12/04/2025 21:40

This would not happen at my school

tricklin · 12/04/2025 23:19

@unoriginalname3737 what subject do you teach? If you teach a subject with a shortage of recruits and are not easily replaceable your request is more likely to be accommodated.

Original poster
unoriginalname3737 · 13/04/2025 07:45

Thanks all. I guess just first or last person would make more sense to ask for. I’ll sort a child minder for the afternoon.

to clarify, I work 50% of full time. I was just going to ask for that to be spread over 5 days

OP posts:
beckypv · 13/04/2025 07:51

The fact you are only 50% makes me think it is definitely worth you asking. You are not asking to be absent from school in your non contact time (which I could envisage being frowned upon). I actually think being in every day would be a bonus to your school (and definitely your department), as you will be in the loop of everything and they will essentially have you in school for more hours than a normal 0.5 part timer.

JaffavsCookie · 13/04/2025 20:00

I think my school might try to make this work for you, with the exception that you would have to stay one night a week for meetings/ parents eves etc ( always the same day)
we have a variety of requests for pt, some staff want/need whole days off because it’s too expensive to come in for 3 lessons/pay for child care/ it’s their day for elder care etc, whereas some staff who live closer are happier to work more but shorter days. I would definitely ask.