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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.

Flip

Original poster

Too late to do anything but it's bugging me

17 replies

PurplePenguins · 15/06/2018 21:14

Today is Eid. I work in an area with a high Muslim population. Over the last few years our HT has closed the school. This year, we have a new HT who has closed the school to pupils but not staff. Muslim staff have had to put in a request for special leave and all non muslim staff have had to come in. His reasoning behind this is so we can break uo a day early for summer. He was "working from home" today as was the rest of SLT and this has annoyed the majority, if not all, of the non muslim staff. We all agreed it was not worth opening the school for what would have been about 35 children max and we don't begrudge the Muslim staff there special leave, we wouldn't want to work Christmas day, but for us to be in while SLT are "working from home" has just riled everyone. Just need to vent really.

OP posts:

Trialsmum · 15/06/2018 21:15

That would annoy me too! And big deal breaking up one whole day early for summer...

Original poster

PurplePenguins · 15/06/2018 21:20

Thats how we feel.

OP posts:

fruityb · 15/06/2018 21:23

That would really annoy me too! I remember an inset day when all staff were in on a planning day but all slt were on a bun fight at a local posh hotel.

I went home at 9.

piebarm · 15/06/2018 21:24

Is the head classing it as a training day then? with zero training taking place

Original poster

PurplePenguins · 15/06/2018 21:29

Yes Piebarm. Some staff were out on first aid, allergy and asthma training while the rest of us did displays etc

OP posts:

kirta · 15/06/2018 21:58

That's bloody outrageous. Quite frankly, awful leadership. Not sure what you can do, but wanted to share my outrage!

Fairenuff · 15/06/2018 22:05

I don't see the problem if you get to break up a day early.

Original poster

PurplePenguins · 15/06/2018 22:21

Fairenuff We just feel that we are putting the work in for everyone, including SLT who have had today off, to benefit. Totally understand the Muslim staff having today off though. I, personally, would have preferred today off to do the school run just once this year than break up 1 day earlier.

OP posts:

BettyBettyBetty · 15/06/2018 22:30

I'm with you, especially about the school run. I wish people would realise it's a treat for working mums to be able to do it!

Fairenuff · 15/06/2018 22:32

If I could have one day in school without the children in. Time to catch up with all those jobs, catch up with colleagues, go to the toilet when you want and not have SLT breathing down my neck in exchange for breaking up a day early, I would jump at the chance.

RideSallyRide76 · 16/06/2018 08:01

What's bad about this is that the SMT we're allowed to "work from home" when you weren't. They should be leading by example. I'm not surprised that you're annoyed!!

HappyKatieA · 16/06/2018 08:21

I agree, it's not fair SLT get to work from home whilst everyone else has to be in school. Where is the parity? This shows a divide and rule culture, not good in the long term.
However, I too would love the opportunity to catch up with marking, displays etc.

PumpkinPie2016 · 16/06/2018 13:02

I think the issue here is the fact that your SLT are 'working from home' which is a really poor example from them and creates a them/us feeling in school.

My previous place used to do the arrangement you describe but our SLT were always on site and I used to quite like a quiet day to catch up.

Fairenuff · 16/06/2018 14:25

So would you just prefer all staff to be given a day off and add the day to the end of the year instead?

Original poster

PurplePenguins · 16/06/2018 18:39

Yes Fairenuff we all would have. We had an inset day Monday after half term for training but the trainer called in sick so we had a catch up day then. TAs had nothing to do so we're cleaning and sorting cupboards. I found things to do but did do things just for the sake of killing time. I would have preferred to take my own DC to school and actually see his classroom. I don't actually know where his classroom is. Other staff would have preferred this too.

OP posts:

AnduinsGirl · 16/06/2018 18:52

Sounds ridiculous. Does the Head not care that this will inevitably cause bad feeling? We are also in an area with high Muslim population and we took it as a training day to work on our new curriculum. Everyone was really happy to get a head start on next year and work with their new year group partners.

Fairenuff · 17/06/2018 10:42

The problem with the current situation is that some staff are having a paid day off and some aren't. Whilst no-one, quite rightly, begrudges Muslim staff having a day off for Eid, there is no reciprocal situation for other religious festivals.

However, as it is a normal working day for everyone else, it doesn't cost the school anything to have the remaining staff in.

If the school gave everyone a paid day off and then tagged the extra day on to the end of the term, would the hourly rate staff be paid for that extra day? Or would they have to take the day off as unpaid?

Flip