Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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.

Original poster

Will school let me take 2 days off for a funeral?

27 replies

drfostersbra · 02/12/2017 23:40

I have been back at work (primary teacher) on a 2 day a week basis post maternity leave since September and my Grandad has sadly just died.
The cremation will be at 10:30am on Friday morning.
Do you think I'll be allowed to take both my days off paid in order to attend? (With a small baby it will be very difficult to travel at night on Thursday to get there)
Thank you. I need to ring the head on Monday to ask.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 02/12/2017 23:41

Possibly, if your head is nice.

Sorry for your loss. Flowers

PurpleDaisies · 02/12/2017 23:43

Sorry, just read your post again. How far away is it that you couldn’t leave straight after school on the Thursday? If you left at lunchtime on Thursday, that might be a good compromise if the whole day is too much to cover.

MsAwesomeDragon · 02/12/2017 23:45

My head let me have a day and a half for my grandma's funeral. I left at lunch on Thursday to travel down, then the funeral was Friday. He would have let me have all of Thursday if I'd needed it, but I didn't want to leave my sixth form if I could avoid it.

It is at the discretion of the head though, so you need to ask asap.

I'm very sorry for your lossFlowers

Original poster
drfostersbra · 02/12/2017 23:47

Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
drfostersbra · 02/12/2017 23:48

Yes she is very nice

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 02/12/2017 23:53

If she’s nice, she won’t mind being asked and I’m sure will try to let you have the time off, although it would be pretty generous for two days paid-if you need the Thursday you’re more likely to get it as unpaid leave.

Milkandtwosugarsplease · 02/12/2017 23:58

Sorry for your loss. Flowers
My school only pay if we’re ill. Any additional leave is granted as unpaid. No harm in asking though.

elephantoverthehill · 03/12/2017 00:01

Flowers Just ask and explain. When I was a naive young teacher I missed my GA's funeral as I read my contract and it said 'time off for immediate family only'. My HoD was really shocked when he heard about it because he felt I was not able to ask his advice Blush.

EvilTwins · 03/12/2017 20:22

Depends very much on the HT. I've had paid time off, since becoming a teacher, for funerals, including those of close friends' parents, so not my own family, but have been refused paid time for looking after my own children when they've been ill - depends on what your contract says, if you're in an academy and so on.

BackforGood · 03/12/2017 20:33

Are you able to swap your days with your job share ?

How far is the funeral ?

Like everyone else has said - it will depend on your HT, but it seems a bit of an ask to me.

Rosieposy4 · 03/12/2017 21:12

Does seem a bit of an ask, you need to travel on Thursday after achool unless you are flying a very long way.

Don't forget you need to keep their goodwill too for other occasions, and it is not unreasonable to expect you to do a longish drive on the Thursday night.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 03/12/2017 21:14

I think it could be a push to get both days off paid tbh.

Growingboys · 03/12/2017 21:19

Can't you get there in time leaving at going home time on Thursday?

Chaosofcalm · 04/12/2017 08:42

I have had to push to get unpaid time off for the funeral of family friends. Depends on the HT.

Original poster
drfostersbra · 04/12/2017 09:26

Thank you all the head's agreed. Whether in paid it not is still a mystery.

OP posts:
Original poster
drfostersbra · 04/12/2017 09:27

No because I have a baby so it will be difficult driving in the dark with a screaming baby as it is.
Lucky I've got a decent head.

OP posts:
TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 04/12/2017 09:31

We get 3 days paid compassionate leave.

Cleebope2 · 05/12/2017 18:23

In my teaching union's conditions of leave we are entitled to three days off for a close family member 's death. So you can just take the days, surely?

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 05/12/2017 18:43

@Cleebope2 a grandparent isn't always seen as a close family member.

That's usually parents & DC.

Cleebope2 · 05/12/2017 18:52

I checked this in my union's conditions and it is classed as close family, so are aunts and uncles. I only took a day for my granny and then a close aunt cos I thought I only got one day and it turned out that I could've taken 3 for each, which is what my cousin had done as a nurse.

WitchesHatRim · 05/12/2017 19:05

@Cleebope2 is it paid though?

Cleebope2 · 05/12/2017 19:07

Checked again and 3 days for grandparent, one for aunt but I am in NI but surely it's the same in the U.K.?

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 05/12/2017 19:08

Checked again and 3 days for grandparent, one for aunt but I am in NI but surely it's the same in the U.K.?

I don't think it is no. Although so don't have current paperwork so can't confirm.

Cleebope2 · 05/12/2017 19:12

Well you can just google what you are entitled to in your local government website under teaching terms and conditions and leave of absence. I don't see why there would be a difference between NI and across the water on that one.

PurpleDaisies · 05/12/2017 19:18

Well you can just google what you are entitled to in your local government website under teaching terms and conditions and leave of absence.

Many schools are academies so don’t have to keep the same terms and conditions.

Swipe left for the next trending thread