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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

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Original poster

Emails from work that needs actioning in the holiday.

42 replies

ThisIsBULLSHIT · 13/08/2014 11:35

Mini AIBU here.
I have received about 50 emails from SLT since the start of the summer holiday requesting things are done, telling us what needs to be done in our classrooms before the training day, asking everyone to reply etc.

I am getting really pissed off. Is anyone else getting loads of work emails?
And if so, am I being U by not really wanting to read them and do what is being asked.

I have been in to sort my room out, sort out planning for first week back, tidy up etc and I will probably go in for another couple of days before the end of the holiday but I want to do school stuff in my own time.

I feel hounded... Anyone else? It might be me being snotty.

OP posts:

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/08/2014 14:29

Birthday present sounds fab. :)

Original poster

ThisIsBULLSHIT · 16/08/2014 08:06

Blimey blue I am jealous!

I am ignoring it for the next two weeks!!

OP posts:

blueemerald · 16/08/2014 23:24

Ha. I work in a very small special school for boys with SEBD so it's not all plain sailing!

Littlefish · 18/08/2014 21:57

I have't had any at all from SLT, and just one from a parent who apologised for contacting me, and made it clear that they were happy to wait until September to speak to me, but just wanted to let me know about something.

I would never expect to contacted during the holidays by my Head or SLT.

Please contact your union. Your SLT is being unreasonable.

LancashireTea · 18/08/2014 22:03

We've had a couple from our head about the reports we need to write before September anaylsing our exam results and student performance. Even though we had our appraisal before July and performance management in Sept. Joys.

threeislovely · 18/08/2014 23:33

This is completely unreasonable and I can completely understand how frustrating it is. I would be tempted to 'book' a last minute holiday and set up an auto-reply stating that you are unavailable for the next two weeks. I find it really difficult to switch off in term time and need my summer break. Like you, I work, but I choose when!

Hope you can relax for the rest of the hols. Your union rep would have a field day with the expectation that you answer emails in the holiday. It is unreasonable to expect that staff answer emails late at night or over the weekend. It's a shame that not all SLT's remember this!

Original poster

ThisIsBULLSHIT · 18/08/2014 23:44

Thanks for the support and I have said I won't answer any emails from now. You have all been v helpful as I wasn't sure what the expectation was.

OP posts:

Original poster

ThisIsBULLSHIT · 18/08/2014 23:45

I mean I have said to SLT that I won't be answering any more, reading back it looked a bit snipey and that I was telling you I wasn't answering any more emails!!!!

OP posts:

TeamEdward · 19/08/2014 00:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MidniteScribbler · 20/08/2014 05:13

Our principal/deputy/admin sends out plenty in the holidays, but there is no expectation that you action them. If you do, fine, but not required. They just like to send the messages while they are working on things. I try to deal with them once per week.

Phineyj · 20/08/2014 17:18

No my school doesn't do this. Like noble, a couple of students have contacted me, but fair enough as I was chasing them for work. One or two colleagues have responded to messages or sent me things but there is no expectation of replying before term starts. I can't believe your place nags by text if no answer - that's well out of order!

Happy36 · 21/08/2014 18:43

If you are not a member of SLT this is unreasonable and you should not be receiving e-mails during the holiday. I would agree with the other posters who have said not to check them.

The senders should store the e-mails as drafts if they´re writing them during the holidays then hit send to staff a maximum of one week before you´re due back at work. If it was one or two messages then they would be reasonable to do what blueemerald described.

schmee · 21/08/2014 18:52

Genuine question. As teachers, are your holidays contractual leave, eg you have 16 weeks holiday specified in your contract. If so, yanbu to be a little bit annoyed.

Happy36 · 21/08/2014 18:53

schmee In my case, yes. Not sure whether this is a standard contract or different in my school.

schmee · 21/08/2014 19:00

I just looked it up because I was curious and apparently 195 days is standard and you can't be required to work on your non contracted days. In which case I do think that is out of order as it's not an emergency, just an expectation that you will give up your holiday for work.

schmee · 21/08/2014 19:03

IsItFridayYetPlease · 22/08/2014 09:30

What frustrates me is the timings.
Like the vast majority of teachers I've done a lot of school work over the holidays. I don't settle until I've done most of it, so I go in for the first week or so of the holidays then continue work at home for a week or so I like it because its quiet, I can get lots done, then relax knowing that, on the whole, I am ready for September. I am now taking a break. I explain this to everyone before end of term.
Trouble is some staff work the other way around; they went away for two or three weeks immediately after breaking up, spent a week or so sorting out home life and are now thinking about work, so bombarding me with questions by email, text and phone, getting very annoyed when I'm not available help them.

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