Short staffed

[Foodieforever]

We are extremely short staffed and I’m currently covering a member of staffs classes who left in January as they still haven’t found a replacement! Not only have I lost planning time, but I’m covering classes that aren’t mine, and that I really haven’t invested as much into because again, they’re not my students and the teacher left everything in a mess. It was very sudden and it’s been going in for a while and I’m now lagging behind severely on my work.

My lead has effectively said we need to do this potentially until the end of the year as it doesn’t look like a replacement is happening. Which is not great.

Now, I’ve been planning to leave, as this isn’t sustainable and I can’t do any of my own work as I’m losing so much time. However, my team lead is now approaching me with an unconfirmed proposal about a tlr role which may or may not be there. He is now telling me that it is unlikely that it going to happen as the deputy head has already said the powers that be would probably not authorise another senior member in the team. He (my team lead) then says, we’ll talk about that later and see what we can do.

Almost trying to dangle a carrot to make me stay but it’s becoming far more difficult with the increased work load.

Should I hang on until there’s some confirmation of a tlr or just do what’s best and keep searching for a suitable post?

As an outsider it seems that they are dangling the carrot and trying to incentivise you to stay - personally, if it was me, I would still be looking to leave - you got plenty of time before the May deadline for a September start so plenty of options to explore.

Why didn’t the school get a supply teacher or employ a temp teacher to come in and cover the classes?

Look for another post. I don't know how old the groups are that you have been forced to take on but I can have a good guess about who will get the blame if they are examination groups and do badly in their exams. Your TL will distance himself and you will be the one suddenly finding yourself being 'supported'.

Also, I could bet your TL is lying about there being a tlr available.

It’s rather upsetting, after my team lead had a chat with the deputy head about it and he gave me the feedback it sounded like the deputy head squashed the idea in its entirety. I think this idea was posed because they know they’re struggling to find a replacement for the gentleman that left and it’s highly likely they’re going to have a similar issue if I choose to go.

The only reason I’m reticent to leave is because I took this job not so long ago, so I probably look like I can’t give any dedication to the role.

Regarding supply, I have no idea why they won’t do this, it’s probably down to budgets. However, I’m now teaching classes that aren’t mine.

At the moment there’s nothing I like the look of. I don’t want to put myself in an even more difficult situation. However, I know I have until the end of April. So I’m going to keep my nose to the ground whilst I’m here but keep looking in the mean time.

Good luck @Foodieforever x

Are you in a state school? You should have until the end of May to resign, if your school follows usual resignation dates. But yes, I definitely be looking for other jobs!

Oh right I thought it was 30th April according to NASWT? It’s exhausting I’m taking on more than I can handle!

To leave on 30th of April, you need to have resigned by 28th Feb, is that what you're thinking of? It's an odd one that, as the resignation date isn't at the end of a term. To leave on the 31st August, you need to resign by 31st May. If you don't have that TLR contract in your hand by then, I'd be out the door!

I don’t think it’ll happen sadly. So many ifs and buts!

Are you teaching more than your allocation? That's really not sustainable

It sounds like that TLR is a work of fiction!

Indeed. It seems they’re not going to have anyone in the near future either as we’re discussing plans in the lead up to exams. I’m finding it somewhat difficult to manage my own work load along with this.

As I’ve made it clear to my team lead he’s now suggested a tlr role. However any time I ask it seems as though it won’t be granted.

If it's taking you over your allocation, say you can't do it any more.

Which is upsetting for me, as I had so much hope it was true. But I think it’s being used as a way of making me stay as they’re aware I’m currently reconsidering.

And speak to your union

I spoke to my unions once before and the school weren’t impressed by it. The school said “if you’re over allocation our only offer is that you won’t be used to fill in for other teachers”

They can be as unimpressed as they like. If you're already teaching your full load you cannot be asked to do cover.

How many lessons are you supposed to teach and how many are you doing now?

Apologies if that’s a stupid question-I’m primary so this isn’t a situation that could really happen for us.

I know, I’ll be contacting them again. Plus seeking alternative employment in the mean time. I don’t know why they won’t bring supply in.

I understand budgets would be one issue, but it’s impacting my own ability to plan the lessons for students I’ve had since the beginning of September and the exhaustion is also impacting me. As this rears a whole new set of behavioural problems.

It's not your problem to solve. Is anyone being lumbered apart from you?
I have a whole school TLR which comes with a decent amount of time. I have - more than once - been asked to take on other groups to cover long term absence. It's always come with the offer of having some of my lessons covered, which I've refused because setting cover is a pain in the arse.
I don't mind helping out. It's kind of part of my role, as I see it. But it strikes me that your school are taking the piss.

It’s been split between me and 1 of the other guys. There was initially 5 of us at the start, 2 are part time doing 2 days per week.
Even though they’re splitting things between me and the other member of staff, it’s still too much, effectively, I wanted to say no when it was posed in December but I was a somewhat tentative.

Im now regretting agreeing and wish I made more fuss. The tlr suggested, won’t happen at mine so I’m feeling limited incentive to stay.

What's the actual commitment?
Full time staff at mine teach 26/30.
I teach 22. I've been known to do 28 for a while as long as I don't have to do anything else

Bare with me let me work it out. Bare in mind I also do after school revision sessions for y11 on Tuesday, weds, Thursday which is also exhausts me. Not sure if that’s directed time though.

Something has to give. If it's not directed time, stop.