Requesting part time

[Hagr1d]

I am currently on mat leave and want to go part time when I return to work.

Our trust policy is that we have to fill in an application for a flexible working request.

I'm struggling a bit on how to phrase my answers for the following questions:

-Please state the effects that you think the changes you are requesting will have on the Academy and on your department, your colleagues etc.
-Please state how you think any such effect might be dealt with

Obviously it's not ideal for the school that I want to go from 5 days to 2 days because that means they have to find someone else to cover my classes during the remaining 3 days but I'm not sure how to spin it so that I have a good chance of my request being approved. I teach secondary English if that makes any difference. Even when I was full time, virtually all of my classes were split, my KS3 groups all had 3 teachers for one subject!

Hello!

I just went PT after my second mat leave. Only down to 4 days but I phrased the answer to this question similar to this to say that I would be flexible on which day of the week I took as my non-working day to best meet timetabling needs and to minimise the chance of split classes. So, if you can be flexible on days state that this is the case.

I would also state (assuming it's the case) that you have a strong track record of working with colleagues and forming positive professional relationships so you can work effectively with anyone in the department who you might be sharing classes with etc.

Does anyone else work part time in your school? If there is a precedent for it then you stand a good chance!

Good luck with the part time request. Mine was approved and I am so glad I finally took the plunge with the request because to say I am done with the juggle would be an understatement.

Hi
Thanks for your response; it has been helpful.

I work in a very large secondary academy. I know there are a couple of teachers in another faculty who work part time and there is one person who is technically in my department who is 4 days a week, but she is SLT. That's pretty much it, in such a massive school. Certainly no one from my department has done 2/3 days...

I've submitted the request now so I will see what happens... I know what you mean about the "juggle", I was pretty stressed towards the end of my pregnancy and finding things really unsustainable. Hopefully they will approve the part time request, if not, I will probably start looking for a job elsewhere unfortunately...

If it's a large academy then they should be well aware of how to deal with part time requests and it's a stupid question.

The impact would be 'retaining a valued member of staff and not contributing to the exodus of female teachers in their 30s from the profession.'

I hope so and this is also what I've I thought! Our department has had a constant stream of supply teachers for years now and at least 1 full-time position has been unfilled for the past year... They are not able to replace permanent staff when they leave, we get no applicants when we advertise. It would make no sense for them to force me to leave; I understand the kids and I know I do a good job! We have a terrible staff turnover across the school. Many teachers come and go because it is inner city, in an area of significant deprivation, but I live in this community with my young children so I really am invested its future.