Probation period in teaching

[ohshiz]

I'm on probation of a new job. I'm a teacher so new school but I've been a teacher six years. I'm 0.8 but want to renegotiate to 0.6. Can I do this during a probationary period?

You could, but it depends - How strong do you think your case is for reduced hours? That's normally the key factor, can you manage the workload doing 0.6?

Also if the role was originally FT and you had already reduced it to 0.8 and now want to reduce it further, that may not go down too well.

Personally I'd wait until you have the probationary period confirmed, and if its confirmed in a meeting, use that as the opener to ask for a review of your hours to the lower amount.

You're a teacher with a timetable of classes. If you ask to go from 0.8 to 0.6 mid-year, who do you think will take up the 0.2?

Generally this sort of negotiation is done before the timetable is written in the summer so that they can hire the right number of staff for September. I think they would look at you very oddly if you asked for it not only mid-year, but in September.

Generally this sort of negotiation is done before the timetable is written in the summer so that they can hire the right number of staff for September.

Presumably the OP knows their teaching workload and timetabling by now, and the reduction is based on what they know.

Otherwise I agree the idea sounds bonkers.

I wouldnt have done it until the end 9f the year in preparation for the new school year, as there woudlnt have been another teacher.

Who would teach your other day?!

I'm in a private school. It's subject specialist so there's no such thing as a job share.

Part of the negotiation will probably be you presenting them a solution as to who will take over your classes. Do you have one?

OP you aren't giving enough information if you want meaningful advice. How do we know what your workload is or whether it's viable for the school to reduce your hours. Only you know that. Whenever you ask them either now or later, you have to be able to support your application for reduced hours with good rationale.

You will risk them giving you notice in the probationary period. Doesn't matter how long you've been a teacher, you've been a teacher in the current school for one week. Private schools tend to have no problem recruiting teachers we have a lot of applicants for each post advertised. Depends how much you need a job.

Job shares exist in private schools my DD has been taught by several.
I think they key thing is how it would be possible to cover your 0.2. The time table is set and hiring a 0.2is likely to be virtually impossible.
They have a good business case to turn you down on the basis that you being 0.6 does not meet the needs of the business (school).

Nothing stopping you asking the question but I imagine it will go down like a lead balloon at this point in the year and 5 minutes after you started working for them.

Do you have a 100% foolproof solution for how the 0.2 you want to drop will be covered, without negative impact on colleagues or children? If not, I wouldn't bother asking right now, as it won't be worth the damage to your reputation at this stage in your employment with them.

Bed in, be really good at your job, become valuable, and wait until a more convenient time for timetabling purposes, then put forward a solid business case.