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

[unoriginalname3737]

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?

I'm going back after maternity leave next academic year and I'm dropping to 80%. I'll be working mornings only, so I'm only there for periods 1-5 and get home by 2pm.
I'll still be able to do drop offs at nursery and school for the DC. Theirs both start at 7.30am and my first period starts at 9am. (Their dad won't do any because he's a cheating twat, who is busy playing happy families with his colleague.)

I work at an independent school, though, and they try to be as flexible as possible when it comes to part time requests. At 50%, they'd accommodate first and last period of the day.

Every day would be a no from my husband's school. A day or two, yes.

I used to do something similar when my kids were little. I had 4 period 5 lessons off per week (there was always CPD after school on a Tuesday so I had to stay anyway). I was on 0.76. My school have always been very good with party timers.
I used a childminder in the morning to do drop off and was able to pick them up myself from school. Never regretted my decision - my best friends are the mums I met on those afternoon pick ups.
Im back to FT now amd have worked at the school nearly 20 years. Treat your staff well and they show loyalty!

You can ask but I’d ask for drop off o the Monday pick up on the Friday only and get your child used to breakfast club in between

you are in a very privileged position to be able to do this so my advice would be to keep it quiet whatever the arrangements are

It's a big ask of the timetabler to keep you off every first/last lesson.

However asking to work across five days, with as few first/last lessons as possible, may well go down better - that might be much easier for the timetabler than your current three days. I worked 60% across five days, and the timetabler was pleased when I said I was happy to do that. He timetabled as if I was available any time, and then looked at the end to see if he could make swaps to tidy it up. I think I usually ended up with two or three late starts and two or three early finishes.

It also depends on subject, and what other part-timers there are. If it's something like maths, then whole blocks of maths sets have to be worked around when you are available - and doubly difficult if one teacher is only available Mon to Weds and another is only available periods 2/3/4. If it's something like RE, where each class only has one lesson, then they tend to go in at the end of the timetabling process, and your availability will just determine which groups you teach.

Gosh no. None of the schools I worked in would have allowed this. Had to stay in school to the end of the day in case anyone dropped dead and I had to cover the lesson. In one school, the school secretary monitored the door. You can’t expect to be paid for the time you aren’t in school.

But OP works 50%, so is only paid to be in for half the week. The question is whether the school would be willing to pay her to be in for the middle of each day instead of two whole days and one half day.

It requires a supportive headteacher and a very skilled timetabler. You can ask. I know a couple of people who do an version of this: one starts p2 every day but then does the full rest of the day, and another does a short day once a week as 0.9 so she can drop off and pick up her children one day a week.

There are implications beyond your own teaching allocation which will have to be taken into consideration: if tutor time is first thing you won’t be able to be a form tutor. You won’t be able to do duties before and after school (if teaching staff usually do these at your school). You’ll never be able to attend a staff meeting or twilight so you will miss virtually the whole CPD calendar for the year.

Why can't people expect to be paid for the time they're not in school?
I've got 20 teaching periods and a 32 hour week (on 80%). Whether I'm sitting at school to complete my planning and prep and whatever in these 12 odd hours (since I'm going to be timetabled for break duties, cover lessons, etc.) or not, doesn't really matter.
When we're not teaching or on duty, we can go home...or for a walk, to the gym, whatever. As long as the work gets done...
I don't need supervision to complete my work.

In my experience, people are incredibly ignorant of how part-time teaching hours work. I have had colleagues who worked the pattern you are proposing, OP. I have also worked on timetabling and if you're 0.5FTE I would be surprised if it's very difficult to accommodate. The problem is most likely to be option blocks.
I have also never worked in a school where we have received our timetables before July! Yes, people are working on the timetable, but more in a way of assigning teachers to classes and sorting out numbers and option blocks way. We definitely haven't started actually placing many lessons yet.

I can not say, but if they allow it for you others will follow.

Be wary of full-time colleagues who have to do the last lesson - particulary later on the week. Many of them will also have kids to pick up, but can't because they need the money.

Management often have reasons for saying no.

For rejecting P1s off they could easily say that they need teachers to be form tutors.