Do I have to do this?

[Teacheranonymous]

I’ve name changed because I really want to stay anonymous, however this post is really specific so if anybody does recognise this and can identify me/my school, I’d be really grateful if it stayed on here only.

I took a job at a new school in September for 2 days each week. 1 day as cover (last minute - could be anywhere from Nursery-Y6 at the last minute) and the other in Y3 for a full day. It’s a large-ish school - 2 form entry.

I’ve had to fight for PPA time and have now been allowed 30 minutes from September as I’m required to plan the foundation subjects for my Y3 class as well as assess the parts I teach. ( the other 2 teachers share the English and Maths planning) However, I’ve been told I can’t have it for my cover day as I don’t plan. I do mark and assess what I’ve taught. Am I entitled to PPA for that day?

The really big issue I’m having is that I was asked to lead science. At first I was told that I’d be paid and that there would be release time. I agreed to keep things ticking over until time and money we’re out in place. However, after a conversation last week, I was told that actually there’s no money and that there also won’t be time. I know most primary teachers are t paid leads but in our school some are and some aren’t - which I don’t think is fair. I know the art lead who is UPS2 has a TLR. I’m UPS1 and have been told that I have to do it because I’m UPS.

The job is really big! The development plan is huge and I’m expected to organise and run clubs ( day one of my work is staff training until 4:30 - day 2 we have s subject leads meeting for 20 mins after school) I’ve been signed up to meetings on my days off. I tried saying that I can’t achieve the same amount of things as a full time member but it’s falling on deaf ears and the head has had a real go at me that there are things on the development plan that I haven’t done. I genuinely haven’t had time. I’ve done the best I can - really I have - but it’s just unachievable. Literally everything I’ve done for the subject (including writing new units, scrutinising work for the whole school, analysing assessment, organising Science week, extra activities for pupil premium children, running staff training, working with other schools to boost STEM interest in girls and so much more) has ALL been in my own time.

I understand that some needs to be done in my own time and am willing to do it but other leads are being paid and get time. I feel like I’m being punished for being part time.

Do I have to lead a subject on UPS1? What rights do I have? Or is this just the way things are and I have to suck it up. Maybe I was spoiled at my last school.

I would imagine you would need to lead a subject on ups 1. I don't know why yiu wouldn't? I lead science too so know how big it is. I thibk the issue is the time and days worked. I never get time out and I lead two huge subjects.

I’ve been signed up to meetings on my days off.

Well that’s a no for a start.

UPS does require that you do stuff that has cross-school impact, but you shouldn’t be assigned the same amount of responsibility as a full timer. Schools do tend to try to take the piss though.

I would suggest talking to your union, especially if you think you are being treated unfairly compared to other teachers who get time and a TLR.

There are so many UPS teachers in this school who don’t lead a subject.

Then perhaps you should suggest leading science as a job share?

I think it’s the difference in treatment to other staff that’s really annoying me. The art lead has had 3 full days to organise an art exhibition plus extra time for all the usual subject admin. He’s UPS2. I asked for some time to organise science week and got shut down.

I have suggested it as a job share...again it was dismissed

This really annoys me on your behalf.

The purpose of the Upper pay scale when it was introduced was as an incentive to keep strong teachers as classroom practitioners- to show that actual teaching rather than organisation and management was its own reward within a school setting.

That it is now being corrupted from its original purpose to force people into unremunerated TLRs is an absolute disgrace.

Any extra responsibility in my (former secondary) school was rewarded with either money or time, many getting both b There’s no way you should be doing it without either.

I’m little help to you in terms of advice as my experience is in secondary and I’m currently on career break (which may well end up becoming a permanent break) but wanted to express my moral support.

I have no problem doing stuff that has whole-school impact but this is too big to fit into 2 days

But the art teacher had an exhibition to organise. Perhaps when you organise things you'll have time. This happens in my school. We don't have every Monday for Eg but when we have big things to sort we get time allocated.
The ups may not have a subject but may have other things.
It's clear you don't want to do it so I would suggest either speaking to union or look for another job. Ups requires you taking on additional responsibilities

Thank you Baru

If you know other teachers are being treated more favourably then you need to talk to your union.

Balls, are you reading my posts?? I had a full week of science activities to organise including visits to local companies and businesses, lecturers from universities, a presentation of the weeks activities to parents in an after school assembly.

What will happen to the time on the days you don't need to cover? Will they let you have that time for science?

Balls you are clearly being deliberately unhelpful or not reading my posts. I don’t mind doing extra. It’s the being expected to do the same extra stuff as a full time member of staff who has a full time wage and full entitlement of PPA as well as the fact that there are different rules for different staff. Another example is that the Computing lead had time out to write new units of work for Y6. I’ve done new units for Y2 and Y4 with no time. Fair enough if nobody got it.

I’ve not had a day when I do t bed to cover. I’m used to cover the subject release time for the other teachers...

What reason does the head give for not giving you time?

That there isn’t any time or anyone to cover.

You need to go to the union then and go and see the head. Give them a ring first they are helpful and they'll tell you your rights straight away

I think union is the way forward- was trying to avoid it but they’ll know exactly where I stand.

If you are not in a union, join one. Ask for your directed time allocation for next year if you haven’t been given it. You cannot be told to do anything on the days you do not work. You could easily have another job or commitments on those days so do not go to meetings or anything else in school except on days when you are paid to work. Anything you are required to do should be proportionate to your contract. So if you are .4 you should do no more than .4 of what a full time member of staff on the same pay grade does. Otherwise it is indirect discrimination.

You can call them for advice and they contact your school of you don't want to. They'll just give you your right so you're more knowledgeable when you speak to the head - I know some of them try to over power with jargon. Good luck

Just looking at what I do for my class too I think is unfair. I plan ALL of the foundation subjects - even the ones I don’t teach so the other 2 don’t have to do any. I also photocopy/print and prep any resources to go with those lessons. They do the same for either English or Maths but if you think about it- that’s 5 lessons per week they plan. On .8 and full time. I prep 2xscience, humanities, computing, RE, 2x P.E, and Art.
I’ve been given half of the Y3 classroom displays to do.

I’m just getting really down about it and wondering why I’m being treated so differently.

The head has been there a long time and so have the senior members of staff - since before it became an academy. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the members of staff who are treated favourably are friends with the head but they definitely have a stronger personal relationship.

Run while you still can.......🏃‍♀️ especially if you are being expected to attend meetings on your days off!

This is mad and you are being taken for a mug. You do have to be very tough about it to work successfully at less than full time in a school. You have now created an expectation that you will do masses more than a 0.4 job. I actually would start again somewhere else and negotiate carefully at the start re hours and responsibilities. Why would they want to pay someone extra who's already doing it for free?

I do sympathise but you have to look out for number 1 in these situations.

No. Of course you don't have to do that.

Giving Science lead to a part timer with 30 min PPA is a ridiculous idea.

Just say no.