Training on my days off?

[autumnkate]

I work 2 days a week in state secondary and have done for the last 6 years. It’s an academy.

SLT have told me I have to attend training days on new school teaching practices on my days off.

Can they insist?

Thanks!

No.

You're not being paid, nor are you getting any pension contribution for that day.

Might be worth writing this to them. If you want, make them an offer of time for pay and pension.

When I was part time in a school they would offer a different day off if the training was essential eg safeguarding update. Otherwise it was at your discretion. At the FE college I work in now no one is expected to come in on days off unless they choose to

Hang on.

Academies do not have to comply with the Burgundy Book CoS. Check your contract.

What does your contract say?

In an LEA school the answer would definitely be no, they can't insist you attend INSET on days you don't work, regardless of directed time/% of INSETS for your ration of days. They can ask you to attend, and offer to pay you, and you can agree if it suits you. You might have another job working those days, or caring commitments.

Academies are a different breed though, and can do all sorts of things outside of Burgundy Book STPCD regulations. It will all boil down to what your contract of employment with them and what it says on the matter.

They can ask and you can say no.

They can ask and you can say yes, if they pay you extra.

They can ask and you can say yes, if you get a day off in lieu.

IF you work in a state school. If you work in an academy..... then check your contract carefully.

Seek union advice if needed.

Our academy contacts are however many days per week we work, then five CPD days pro-rata’d down - so that would mean coming in for 2 of the year’s CPD days or use them to go on a course - depending on training needs. However, I think that was a conscious decision because they are really big on staff training and I’m guessing you would have been told when you joined if that was the case for you? But also, there are occasions when I would do training in my own time - if it made my job easier, or me better at it, or was something of real significance to the good of the school. I kind of take the attitude that if I’m learning something I could well benefit from that personally as well, so I’ll be flexible.

It is meant to be pro-ratad. The issue really is that I only have childcare on the days I’m working (finances!) and so coming in for a day or an after school session is pretty much impossible unless my husband (much higher earner) takes a day off. Or I bring the kids in with me??

I think I had better talk to my union rep. Sigh.

We are having a massive push this year on teaching a new way, teacher instruction etc etc so they are getting antsy I haven’t been in for most of it.

Surely the onus is on them to organise training that suits everyone (alternating days or training you when you are in). You could have another job on your days 'off'.