Part time teachers experiences

[puffinnuffin]

I am in a very part time teaching job. I get paid for the number of hours I teach-nothing more. Anything extra has to be done in my own personal time.

I am getting asked to come in increasingly more and more on my days off. My job requires specific skills so others can't really step in. Yet things that need these skills are always scheduled on my days off or times I don't teach (ie mornings not afternoons). I have a little one at home so then have to provide extra child care (which I have to pay for but then don't get paid).

I spend huge amounts of time doing work stuff at home and in school with no more pay or recognition. It's like being an invisible volunteer at times! If you try and discuss pay then it seems as if you are being unreasonable.

It seems to be expected that if you are a part time teacher you are valued less but expected to do more. Does anyone else find this?

I think if you are asked to be in school outside your interacted time, you need to be paid on a supply bass or given time off (which at not be ideal due to child care needs).

I used to work 1day a week when DS was little, which in effect meant 1 day at school, 1/2 day working at home. That was reasonable and in line with what I expect. Do you get paid ppa time?

I have done part time in the past, and I will generally come in for an extra morning/afternoon/day when I am not scheduled for work, if I can.

But you pay me my MPS point for supply if I do so...

Can't you just say you have no child care?

Thanks for your replies.

I am a music/drama teacher (don't want to give too much away). The dates for all productions/shows/concerts aren't decided by me and I get no input as to when they can be or what the production is. I have found out about some of these things by reading them in parents diary dates first! The same goes for rehearsals. Planning all these events and rehearsing them takes a huge amount of time. Some of them at very short notice (ie next week!).

I have tried the no child care thing- still have go and have on occasions taken my child with me. I don't get any PPA time, report writing time etc. Inset Days are always on my days off but I still have to go.

I don't mind doing the odd extra thing here or there as I think all teachers do. It's just the complete lack of thanks/acknowledgement that gets to me the most.

This is typical of many schools, puffin. And you will never get thanks or acknowledgement. You do not have to attend Inset Days, however, if they are on a day you do not work. They should be paying you supply rate for the day if they expect you to attend.

I think you have to be blunt, personally. Next time someone asks you to come in, say Thur morning for a rehearsal I would say firmly, 'Look - I only get paid for Mon, Wed and Fri afternoon (or whatever). I have to arrange and pay child care every time I'm here. If you want me to come and do extra hours then I am happy to do so - but these need to be negotiated as additional teaching time and you will need to pay me for them. It is unreasonable to expect me to constantly come in and work for free, particularly as I am not paid for PPA time'.

I think you need to stand up to them. You should only be attending pro rata inset days. It seems like you are paying to go to work atm. You chose to do a part time job for a reason. Who is making you go in? What would happen if you said no?

In the past I have said no (still ended up going in!). I was lectured by the Head of that section of the school. I was made to feel as if I was being difficult and that going in on extra days etc was just one of those things that is part of teaching. It was really unpleasant and stressful, particularly as I am also a parent there too.

Ugh, I hate it when this happens. I used to be part time permanent and when I was asked to come in extra days, I would always write an email to Head to say I would be happy to come in if they could confirm by such and such date that I would be paid. I refused to go in if they didn't reply (they either replied saying they could not pay me or didn't bother applying).

My partner is p/t teacher and he is a union rep. They never ask him to come in extra days (I wonder why? ) and they've stopped asking other p/t teachers too. So maybe, get your union involved because they are taking the piss. Also, I wouldn't take your baby to work, who is responsible if something goes wrong?

And why are you not getting pro rata PPA time?

Sooooo typical. You shouldn't do all INSET days though. My school says you are paid to do (for eg) 50% if a job but is constantly adding extra things in. (Being a tutor, training other than inset, extra parent eve, peer obs)
One member of SLT says we should be paid if we come in on a day off but others disagree. No A level teaching or courses but we are expected to do the same as full time teachers in other respects
Every year I debate whether I should quit teaching. Watch this space!

You should get PPA, even if you are so part time your PPA is less than a period, it should always be rounded up.

I'm part time but work every day so the day off thing never applies to me. However, I am only expected to attend 3 out of 5 INSET and I specify which ones at the start of the year.

If I do any extra teaching/cover at school during my frees, I am paid on a supply basis.

Maybe speak to your union? If they want you to come in for rehearsals in school time, it should be paid. Extra curricular is tricky as that's really just expected of performing arts,