How would your school respond to a request for time off to go to Wimbledon?

[Runmoreorless]

I'm on SLT, all absence requests are discussed at our weekly meeting. We recognise that staff work hard and have many restrictions placed on them and try to be flexible where we can. Unfortunately, as you'd expect due to human nature, the more we give the more requests we get.

Often it I will be children's graduations (always agreed), or other child/school related things (usually agreed, unless staff member has made a lot of requests).

Increasingly we' re getting requests for long weekends away for a big birthday, either the staff member of their friend or family member or for midweek weddings or hen dos with a Friday/Monday flight. Trickier but usually agreed unless they've already had time off.

Then there's the big events, like Wimbledon which happen once a year, and in term time. As a teacher and a fan you'd never get to go to without an agreed day off. A big deal for some people.

I absolutely agree that looking after staff is important but I'm struggling to see where it ends. For example, I participate in a sport where a lot of big events would mean a Friday flight, so I can never go with my friends. That's just a fact of life, or is it?

The other thing I struggle with is that staff with the means/inclination to organise these big trips or events get extra leave, but really why is that more valid than someone who'd like an extra day to spend with DC or do DIY?

The policy just says this kind of leave is discretionary, which is unhelpful!

Are our staff trying it on because we're so accommodating or is this usual?

We get our pay docked for interviews, graduations and our own children being off sick. I cannot even imagine being granted time off for a hen do or Wimbledon! Our old head might have let us, but under the current regime no way. In my first job when we taught on Saturdays we were allowed leave for weddings etc as they understood that most weddings happen on a Saturday. I am leaving my job at the end of this term.

My school is good about this : sometimes too nice! People do try to arrange favours for sports days etc and this seems to be the only thing our cover guy is a bit awkward about. Otherwise, lots of colleagues have had time off for weddings, stag dos etc. I have never been told no for a child's medical appointment (that's awful!!) or a funeral, no matter whose. A little understanding goes a long way.

Personally, were I invited to a hen do that involved time off school, I would decline the hen do but I certainly would not miss a close friend's funeral : unfortunately, I have been to a lot lately and they were all full , so it seems most people, in most jobs, get leave for deaths.

my mil school give everyone 1 day a year, covered by the head. first come first served only 1 member of staff of per day.

so you could use it for navel gazing or Wimbledon, whatever.

Haven’t been to a funeral under the current regime but imagine that would be docked too/or not granted leave.

Wimbledon would definitely be a no.

When my mum was sick in hospital I had to take a days unpaid leave in order to be there when she woke up from her operation. If I'd not been there she would have been on her own that day.

A colleague is currently in battle with slt over whether they pay her to go and visit her dying sister on Friday and spend the last full weekend together as a family.

I received an invitation to Henley today. No way would I consider asking for time off.

I’ll save Wimbledon, Henley and Ascot for when I retire, and meanwhile enjoy my 19 weeks holiday a year.

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Very clear policy here about paid, authorised unpaid, and not authorisable. I don't want to quote it as I might get it wrong!
Sports days, nativities etc are by mutual swap/favour which has worked well. No way you'd ever Wimbledon or holidays ok'd.

Our staff absence is good, if someone takes the chance of phoning in sick to attend something then they would be risking going through the attendance monitoring. BUT if you've got excellent attendance I can see it being worth the risk....same as some kids every year with 99% attendance being 'ill' on sports day or similar.

I'm fascinated by some schools and what they grant. We get close family funeral, hospital appointments and children school events depending on what they are.
I did ask for a day unpaid for a holiday when my school had different ones to my child's but was told no. If pupils can't have a day off then why should staff? I was gutted but can see that viewpoint.

So how would that work with part time staff verse full time? Everyone gets two days even if you only work one day a week? Pro-rata - what a nightmare as we have people on part time contracts of 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5 & 4 days a week as well as full time.

Our school sent a letter out specifically saying every child could take one day for Wimbledon!
But it’s a school in Wimbledon!

I got a day off last year to go to The Queens Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, I had a whole speech worked out about how I could minimise disruption/swap PPA etc but as soon as I said what it was for the Head just smiled and said "of course you have to go , it's a once in a lifetime opportunity!".

Slightly off-topic. This brought back memory for me, when a colleague bunked off to attend Wimbledon back in the 70s and their seat was right where the cameras always returned, umpires, whatever. They were on national TV sooo much. Didn't get rumbled, though once you knew it was them they were clearly identifiable.

My husband and I were a secret at work, early in relationship.
We went to the women’s final and were highly recognisable on the front page of the Sunday Times the next day

They are taking the mick, because you have started being lenient, and it will only become a bigger issue, the more you allow.
The fact school staff get a lot more holiday weeks than anyone else, is balanced by the fact the hours are longer in term time and there is no flexibility in when you take your holidays.
The only exceptions being the Burgundy Book rules.
Now, I've worked in smaller schools where the head has been willing to let someone nip out for their child's first nativity if there was some way of covering it, and I think there is scope for there to be a little more flexibility around whose funeral you might be allowed time for, but I can't believe you are seriously responding to hen dos and 'surprise trips away' - no wonder they are taking the mick/.