What time do you get to school/leave?

[AyrshireAmbler49]

I have only worked in one primary school and it’s pretty flexible, I arrive any time between 7:45 and 8:15 and leave any time between 4:45 and 6pm. No one has ever told me what time I should arrive/ leave but everyone else seems to do the same as me.
I am starting a new job soon what time is normal to arrive and leave?
Thank you.

It depends on the school. I'm secondary and I usually arrive around 7 and leave between 4 and 5, but that is completely my choice - I'm one of the first to arrive (good car space and to use the photocopier before the rush), and in the middle for leaving. Lots of teachers arrive around 8 (we have to be in for half 8) and several leave on the dot of 3.15, it's risky staying after half 5 at my school as you may get locked in!

7.30 and 4.45

Before kids: 8.35 and 6.30

Thank you. Do you think I should just see what everyone else seems to do and copy them?
I have a young DD so am happy to leave early in the morning but would like to get home as soon as possible to spend the evening with her if possible.!

I arrive by 7:15 and leave at 6 but I’m part time so trying to fit everything in. The children have a staggered start so can come in from 8:15.

Do you think I should just see what everyone else seems to do and copy them?

No! Do what suits you. Check when you 'have' to be there, and as long as you do that, you're fine. I used to have to be in 15 minutes before the children in the morning, and had to stay 15 minutes after the children at the end of the day. Current school doesn't have rules around that.

There are only 3 of us (big school) in at 7.30 in my place, and I'm about 3rd to leave too.

Do what works for you. I am normally in 7.45 to 5.45, but some staff prefer to leave earlier and work from home in the evenings. Whatever works for you.

I get in at 7.45. In normal times I leave at 5.30. Now leaving 3.30 so I can support my daughter with her school work before she is too tired...

Thanks all. Is it generally accepted that as long as you do your 5.5 hours everything else is just for your own prep/marking?

In my current school I get in for about 7.45am and leave around 4.15pm, plenty of people rock up at 8.30 (we don’t start teaching till 8.50) but you don’t get the good parking spaces if you arrive after 8am, and you risk getting blocked in on the crappy car park so I get in early sometimes I stay later if I’m not collecting DS, sometimes I leave dead on 4pm. Usually have a good 20
minute chat with my HoD before I go home to go through anything we need to do. No one seems to care at my school, it’s a massive secondary and there’s certainly no pressure to stay late-everyone is too busy getting on with their stuff to really notice what anyone else is doing.

Thanks all. Is it generally accepted that as long as you do your 5.5 hours everything else is just for your own prep/marking?

Well, no. You will have directed time. If it were evenly spread between all 195 days, it would be 6.48 ours a day. Obviously most schools will have various meetings which might make for longer days and there might be other days you can go earlier,.

Most schools will have what used to be called 'buffer time' when you HAVE to be on the premises. Some schools have staff briefings before school anything from once a week to 5 days a week. Depending on the size of the school some will have different department meetings.
Most staff need to interact with other staff at some point - be that year group planning or the fact the SENCo needs to talk to you, or you need to be involved in something pastoral, or meet with a parent etc

Obviously outside of about 1/2 an hour before school starts and about an hour after the children go home you need to do what suits you, timewise, but I can't see how anyone can do the job all from home outside of teaching hours (outside of pandemics and closed schools obviously).

Your times sound fine.

Pre-children, would want to be in around 8, not later than quarter past else felt rushed. Limited childcare options mean I'm now lucky to be in earlier than 8:35 - feel rushed but don't have a choice! So all photocopying, setting stuff out for the morning is done before I leave in the evening.

Afternoon- a 4:30 home time feels too early, even though I could technically leave 3:30 and it all be fine! As it is, I stay and get as much done at school as possible (partly to make up for not getting in as early as I would like) and often only leave when the caretaker locks up at 6pm.

I'm secondary and get in around 7.30am. Our kids finish at 2.30pm and I leave between 4 and 4.30pm. That gives me a good amount of time to get stuff done but still be home for dinner and bath/bed with my son.

There are colleagues who do different times to me and that's fine whatever works.

As long as you do the core time and get the job done then when you come in/leave doesn't matter.
Or at least it shouldn't. I wouldn't work somewhere where it's a competition to see who can remain in the building the longest.

Everywhere is different. I’ve worked in schools where presenteeism ruled and I got called a part timer for leaving before 6.

My other school couldn’t be more different and I’m one of the last to leave at around 5 each day - many are out of the door 5 minutes after the kids!

In around 7.30, leaving by 4.45 latest - also have toddler at home so want to spend evening time with her. Poor kid goes to bed super early because she’s a nap refuser and shattered by 6.

Most at school without young kids arrive later and leave later but SLT really don’t care, so long as everything gets done.

Oh and I also think it depends on commute too. I teach in the next village from ours, so have a five minute drive. Others who have longer commutes do shorter hours on site.

Thank you all. I don’t want to leave at 4:30 then everyone think of me as slack!
It’s tricky, maybe I’ll just observe what other people seem to do and copy them!