Part time with older children

[Yoghurtget]

Would it be strange to ask (it’s not guaranteed it will be agreed) to ask to go part time even though my children are older? I am just so tired all the time, we’ve been back two weeks and I am
already exhausted, gone back to interrupted sleep again etc which I think is stress. My children are a bit older now- early secondary school, just feel I have just been juggling for so long and I don’t want this to be my life. (Husband does a lot- it’s not down to the balance of work at home) Or if this just the start of term? Or indeed just being an adult?

It's not strange at all. You can ask to go PT at any time and the age of your children won't be taken into account by your school, who can only consider business reasons to accept or refuse your flexible working request.

Having been PT for many years, you need to make an honest assessment of the culture of the school and if possible talk to current part-timers. You need to consider which parts of the job you will stop doing, because in my experience PT teaching often means doing the same job, just in fewer days and for less pay. The only real exception to this I have seen is a well-matched job share. You will need to be assertive about setting boundaries because no-one else will do it for you, and people will email and ask for things on your day off if you don't stop them.

Finally have you seen your GP to rule out physiological reasons for your fatigue? I would want bloods, particularly to check thyroid function and iron. I don't know how old you are but insomnia, stress and fatigue can also be peri symptoms.