Teacher sickness rates at dds' school - how can I find out more?

[mamhaf]

Both dds are at the same school and are constantly coming home saying "we missed x lessons today because the teacher was ill".

DD1 is in her GCSE year, and was waiting for a draft of a vital piece of coursework back on Friday so that she could work on it over half-term. But then the teacher reported sick on Friday so dd hasn't had the essay back to work on. DD thinks he had a ski-ing holiday booked this half term - I've asked her to look out for panda eyes and to ask him if he went away when they go back! Of course it could be genuine illness, but in my company we always keep an eye on people who take sick leave either just before or just after annual leave.

I was already concerned about this particular teacher's marking because he has been marking her essays very critically without explaining what he wants/expects.

In a couple of instances, he has marked her down, she has changed it, then he's asked her to put the same thing back in. She's doing very well in other subjects - A's for her essays in English and Drama for example, so she has a good grasp of essay-writing elsewhere.

So, I'm going to see the headteacher after half term to discuss this particular teacher - the essay marking, and to say I was concerned that she didn't have the coursework back to work on.

Anyway, back to my OP. DD1 will need to decide whether to stay at this school or move to another one, which has an excellent reputation and results, for A'levels. We'll go to both sixth form evenings.

I'd like to compare the teacher sickness ratios at both schools, and perhaps at a third local school which has a good reputation - something I know I will be able to request via Freedom of Information. This would of course be anonymised - not about individuals, but overall rates of sickness,

But it would be helpful before I put in the FOI request to know how schools collate sickness absence information - or indeed if it is the school itself which does this, or if it is held by the education authority?

It may be that dds existing school is average and it's my perception that the sickness rates are high - it is very good in other ways.

Anyone out there know how this sort of information is collated and held?

If a teacher takes a day off for sickness on a day adjaxcent to a holiday they have to provide a valid doctor's note.

It is very very rare for schools to allow teacher's additional annual leave seperate from school holidays. TBH it is very rare for schools to let teachers out to attend their own child's assemblies, etc. or for a doctor/dentist appointment let alone for a holiday or some such reason.

But school sickness levels are pretty high in general, as explained before.

Did you get your information, mamhaf?

Hmmm. Been following his post.

May I suggest you don;t fins out sickness records but instead find out the policiy of covering lessons.

For example I was off with nasty virus the week before half term [no panda eyes on me OP!!!!] Very frustrating.....

Because of our fairly decent sickness policy regarding students studies continuing my students did not miss out. Hovever I have done suppl work at places where there is no scheme of work to see where teachers are etc etc. We have to give evidence of our 'what if we are not there' plans to senior management regularly and we hav strong communications links with staff and students.

Agree with poster about office work and being sick. It is very easy to go into work with headache etc etc but often schools choose not to have sick teachers in.

I had virus and college said I was not to go near the place for 2 weeks. I would have oushed myself in earlier I think.