What to do...what to do....

[Doowrah]

So I am on permenant supply 3 days a week at a catholic school until end of year.I have not previously attended any staff meetings. SLT (RE Lead) has nobbled me to attend next week's meeting as visitor coming in to advise on RE Assessment practice. I am not catholic, have no plans to work in a catholic school long-term and am worried if I attend this one it is setting the precedent to attend every week.Needless to say I would rather chew own arm off! I did not say I would attend but what can I say to get out of it with damage limitation to my interest in CPD and kids welfare?

Ask to be paid for it!

Huge grey area over when my paid working day ends.

You have realised you have a diary clash and sadly cannot make the meeting?

Meeting parents. Works every time

Do you get pro rata PPA for your 3/5 days? In my school, that would make the difference - if we give pro rata PPA, we expect equivalent attendance at SM; if not, we don't. The 3 staff meetings out of every five would be based on those that were most useful for the role/school and agreed in advance wherever possible.

PicinAttic how interesting. I am supposed to get 1hr 45 mins a week PPA. this week I had 30 mins of that. I will make tentative steps to suss out the ins and outs. I did think I could plead school reports due in 19/05 and I have only been doing 3 days a week therefor the last two weeks, it was 2 days a week for a month before that. I share the class and need to get my bits done a week before due date so the other teacher can add his bits. I haven't taught this year group before so will be doing the reports from scratch.Does this sound reasonable or am I clutching at straws?

Why not go, and when it gets to your bit, introduce yourself as temporary and not Catholic so here for a one off session to offer an alternative point of view? If it develops into 'let's get OP to do XYZ' you can then point out you wouldn't be a suitable person to do that.

Sounds easier than dodging the meeting and then trying to come up with an excuse on a weekly basis!

Personally, I would just go to the meeting. I have been in exactly the same position as you, OP, and I went to all the staff meetings as I counted it as part of my professional development, which was important for me when I was applying for jobs. I'm not suggesting you do the same, but it doesn't harm to show willing and I'm fairly sure it gave the HT a bit more to say about me in the references she wrote.

I wouldn't have been so willing to attend if the staff meetings had been on one of my non working days, mind you.

you sound like you hate this school. I cant imagine adding up all my time and PPA etc, If i liked the school and the boss I would just do it.

You dont, so say no

I don't hate the school at all Elizabeth, it is a lovely school and I really like all the staff. I add up PPA etc as you call it because as a part-time teacher I have worked loads and loads of days and time unpaid in the past and been taken advantage of. Clearly, you are more noble than me.

As a non Catholic teacher in a Catholic school, I think using that as an excuse not to attend a staff meeting on assessing a curriculum area is not justified. I have done supply in the past and worked part time for many years. I found it always helped me to attend staff meetings, unless of course it was on one of my days off. Are you in school on the day of the meeting? If so I would definitely attend. As has been suggested earlier, maybe attendance on a pro rata basis could be the way forward.

I think you are right Angelica...time to bite the bullet...thanks for the advice every-one.

I work supply and attend meetings up to 5pm. I said from the start I couldn't stay later than this in order to get back for childminder. They are my reference for future jobs and some of it is useful. Of course that's only on the days you're in.