Head won’t reply to my question about pay.

[Chiffandbip]

I’m in a maternity cover post at the moment and recently managed to get a full time job elsewhere starting in September.
I have emailed the head to ask for confirmation that I will be paid for August too as my notice letter stated that my last day would be Aug 31st (there’s no mention of this in my contract). The head has received this email and still has not replied almost a week later.
If I’m not going to get paid my union have instructed me to contact them but if the head keeps delaying their reply then there won’t be enough time to get organised to appeal the decision.
My union said that despite the fact I only started in January, I should still be paid for August because I will have completed all of the summer term.
The head also said they’d send me an acceptance of resignation letter last week which they haven’t done either.
Any help gratefully received.

Does this not depend somewhat on whether the teacher you were covering for comes back before the end of term? If she does (which many teachers do a couple of days before the end of term) then she will get paid for the summer and the headteacher won't be too keen on paying you too. If your contract doesn't say you will get paid for the summer then I'm not sure your union is correct in what they are saying. If the other teacher doesn't return then that might be a different situation.

I’ve been told that the teacher I am covering will not be coming back before the end of term as her ML only started in Jan.

She might set her return to work day as the first day of the summer holidays though.

No she’s not coming back at all until next February.

I don't think the head is obliged to pay you if you are not returning to the school in September and you were on a mat cover. Morally they ought to, though and I think you should follow up your email. Can you make an appointment with him and discuss face to face ?

My union is adamant that they have to but if they don’t let me know soon, there’ll be no time to get it sorted before the holidays!

If you're on burgundy book terms and conditions, then as long as you work up to the end of term, and your maternity cover is not returning before Sept, then you are entitled to be paid up to end of August.

Thank you very much.

I was in this situation a few years ago and the teacher came back for the end of the summer term. I assumed that I wouldn't get paid for August, but I did. According to the LA, who I phoned to query why I had been paid, they have to pay you for August because pay is always set up that way. Your pay is split up over 12 months (Or equivalent pro rata).
You definitely should get paid regardless of when the teacher returns.