Gained time

[Nosliw8]

Hi all,
A colleague has got another job and decided to leave 4 weeks before the end of the school year.
Her classes have been split up between the rest of the department.
We work on a two-weekly timetable and I am under allocation by 2 (so 2 free periods over the fortnight) and have 5 PPAs over the fortnight.
I have been told that I am covering 4 of this colleague's lessons over the two-weekly timetable. These fall on 3 of my PPAs and one free period.
I asked where will I get my PPAs then as I only have one free left. I was told they would be put onto my gained time!
Is this allowed!?
If the gained time becomes my PPA then surely the old PPA slots become my gained time and then cannot be used for regular cover - particularly for something that was very foreseeable as she put her notice in months ago!
Any advice while I wait to speak to my union?
Thanks ♡

So the school is saving on her salary and dumping work on you - nice. I would be looking for a new school if I was treated so badly. Gained time is very hard earned. When do they expect you to do all the prepping for this September?

Unions have issued very specific advice on what the school can ask you to do in your gained time. Covering colleagues is not one of them. I would get union advice asap because your PPAs and gained time should remain your time.

We've had to have a union meeting in school today because we're being used to cover time and time again in our gained time. Nobody would have a problem if it was a one off because of an unforseen situation but its becoming apparent that this is the schools stratetgy for cover which is not acceptable.

This is definitely becoming more common in my school too. We had a similar situation after Easter when a colleague left and the head changes everyone’s timetable after Y11 go so we don’t get gained time anymore anyway. Covering for staff absence has been happening all year for us and because we are all exhausted from the extra cover, the absences have been even higher. This situation has been happening throughout the school so others have got the unions involved. There has been a meeting and survey but nothing else yet. I don’t have any advice but just wanted you to know that it’s shit and you’re not alone.

schools often get round this by calling it retimetabling ( so avoids the gained time issue union wise) and its pretty common sadly

The union do have advice on it, but it can be a bit hit and miss how this is followed. Do you know much about how other schools around you deal with gained time/treat their staff generally? I'd be looking to move to a school with a reputation for treating their staff well.

I was told by my school rep today that the section on gained time was removed from STPCD in 2014! How the hell was that allowed to happen?!

We too are doing cover in our gained time. I've done two covers this week and I only work 3 days! Also given an induction lesson to teach in my free. Beyond fed up to be honest. Can't finish this year's work, let alone attempt any planning for next year!

Very sorry to hear about your situation OP. I believe they get around this by re-writing the timetable. I would expect they'd need to do it for the whole school. Speak to your union. Good luck.