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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.

Anyone work 4 days

11 replies

blazerbranch · 01/12/2016 18:25

Thinking of going down to four days to help cope with workload. I would probably work from home on that day and do some house jobs to free up evenings and weekends.

I'm an experienced teacher top of scale but cannot do all my work in the time I'm prepared to give it so by dropping a day I'd be able to do a better job.

Anybody got any thoughts?

OP posts:
noisewithdirton · 01/12/2016 18:31

I work 0.7 and last year had a day off (although this year it is spread over 5 days). I rarely worked weekends but did still have to do some evening work, marking etc. I always thought I would get loads done on my day off but never managed everything! Still it gave me weekends! Obviously yo get paid less which is a bit of a bummer and some people see you as a bit of a shirker sometimes!

TheFallenMadonna · 01/12/2016 18:33

I do. I get a full day off, which is fab. I would be reluctant to work 0.8 over 4 days.

TheFallenMadonna · 01/12/2016 18:34

5 days I mean.

Luciferbox · 01/12/2016 18:38

As I've Sept I'm now 0.8 and have Fridays off. I bloody love it. DS2 (1) is at home with me in that day but I get a lot done or just have a day out with friends (and DS2). I feel refreshed on the weekend and it's made my work/life balance manageable.

blazerbranch · 01/12/2016 18:43

Lots of positives a for 4 days! I might well see what the head thinks!

Glad to see there are others who have done this too- thanks for replying.

OP posts:
cansu · 01/12/2016 18:43

I do this. Enjoy it lots. Just enough to have a break. Usually do errands but also gives me time to have hair cut or go shopping and meet up for coffee.

blazerbranch · 01/12/2016 18:49

That sounds ideal! Love the idea of nipping to do jobs or hair or have coffee!

OP posts:
LittleBusses · 01/12/2016 22:12

Make sure you get a day off and they don't just spread your 0.8 over five days...

BackforGood · 01/12/2016 22:19

I think the big problem with working 4 days is all you really save is the 6 hours contact time on the day.
Everyone still considers it yo be your class
You are expected to do the same number of playground duties
To write all the reports
To attend all the same meetings
To plan all the trips
To plan and prepare your class assemblies / concerts / etc
To do all the liaising with other members of staff and with parents
Usually to do all the planning for the week - 'sits' better if you do all 5 maths lessons, all 5 Literacy, etc

So you don't really gain anywhere much as like spare time as you might think.
FAR better IMVHO, to go to 3 days, and it's much clearer then that you are only going to do 0.6 of the WHOLE workload.
I know it's less money, but with such a high personal tax allowance now, it's not an extra 1/5th you lose in your salary by any means.

goingmadinthecountry · 01/12/2016 23:37

I have Wednesdays off - though have worked fair few recently for various reasons. It works well for me. I still never quite feel like I'm on top of everything, but I don't think that will ever change! I have flexibility to swap with my job share (who also does PPA).

I quite like the ownership of the class. Way back in the past I've worked fewer days - never really felt like I knew exactly what was going on.

Haggisfish · 01/12/2016 23:40

I do this-secondary science. Bloody love it. Workload is almost manageable in first two terms as a result!

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