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Original poster

Teachers - No bloody flexibility!! What other job can I do?

104 replies

ziopin · 05/06/2007 14:54

Hi, Sorry to rant! I'm a teacher, and I know that people think we get an easy ride, but it's bloody hard work!

There is no flexibility in this job. Okay, okay we do get the holidays, but we cant have any flexibility about what time we arrive/leave school.

I'm a working Mum - my dd starts school full time come September - I'd love to be able to take her to school or pick her up every now and again.

Am thinking about packing it in, but what other job can I do?

OP posts:

speedymama · 06/06/2007 13:33

Anna, I know, I know.... they support DH's views and I'm a lone voice so I'm outnumbered and outgunned.

BetsyBoop · 06/06/2007 13:36

speedy

seeing as DH, DM & PIL have banned childminders & nannies, perhaps THEY would like to take responsibility for school drop-off & pick-up between them ?!

twinsetandpearls · 06/06/2007 13:43

I teach and I think that I have a lot of flexibility compared to other jons although that flexility is earnt.

So for example if I need to drop dd at school becasue I despersately need to see somone I can arrange for somone to cover my registration. I also have a free period on a Friday after lunch so can nip off to collect dd. At the end of the day school finishes at 3.10pm so although I have more work to do I can pick up dd and bring her back to school while I carry on working- not many jobs would allow you to do that.

Anna8888 · 06/06/2007 13:44

speedymama - how awful for you to have such an intefering set of grandparents

Agree with BetsyBoop - if they think that the available childcare isn't good enough, they should step in themselves...

twinsetandpearls · 06/06/2007 13:45

loler to be a good teacher you need to passionatly want to do it, the kids can sniff from miles who doesn't really want to do the job and they will eat you alive and spit out your innards.

twinsetandpearls · 06/06/2007 13:47

Xenia the example you quote is avergage on a teaching day it is rare for me to be at my desk after 7AM and I rarely leave before six so dp does the dropping off and picking up. But I am lucky to ahve the flexibility to leave my desk if I need to and bring dd to school not a luxury that not many have.

speedymama · 06/06/2007 13:58

Unfortunately DM and PIL live over 150 miles away. Not practical for DH to do school run because he works away a lot so it is just me. I currently work 3 days a week and even by spreading my hours over 4 days, there is still not enough time in the day unless I shorten my hours (currenly do 24 hours) so I need a breakfast club.

twinsetandpearls · 06/06/2007 14:04

I am lucky that my mum has dd in the morning so we do not use breakfast club unless she has to be in work earlybut we use aftershool club four days and dd loves it.

Anna8888 · 06/06/2007 14:10

speedymama - gosh, and you get grief about using childcare for a few hours a week...?

Poor you.

I'm no fan of lots of childcare, but even I could cope with a bit of babysitting to fit around school and a 24h working week....

geogteach · 06/06/2007 14:17

I think that the school you work at can also impact on the flexibility. My last head was very anti time off for staff to go to their own kids events. I chose to stop work when DS1 started school partly for this reason. He also has many hospital appointments and this became impossible as I was unable to arrange appointments for out of work time or be sure how long I would be away if cover was available. In other jobs I would have had less holiday but the flexibility to take days off when I needed to.

Peachy · 06/06/2007 14:30

Yes appoinemnets are an issue for us too- but as DH will be the student then, that'll become his role (to either do or cover- he who has to take the time has to arrange the cover in our house)

hotcrossbunny · 06/06/2007 14:56

Agree it must depend on the school.
There was absolutely no flexibility at the 4 schools I've worked at. (Infant and Primary)
I got to work 7.45 to set up classroom for the day and left about 6 with armfuls of planning/marking. These sorts of hours were the norm, it wasn't that I was working harder than the other teachers. Just very dedicated schools... Most of us went in regularly over the holidays for planning meetings/to sort our classrooms/decorate the hall etc. Again this was expected... Time off was forbidden unless for a funeral of close family. No way could I have come in late each morning!
When I went out shopping I was constantly keeping my eyes open for resources/books etc. Having done a variety of jobs I can honestly say teaching is the hardest I've ever had to work. If it weren't for the holidays I don't know many teachers who would stick it!
I did it before children and I hold in huge admiration people who teach and have children, particularly little ones. I worked with one lady whose children were dropped off in her classroom after school every evening. They were so bored... Sorry, long post

twinsetandpearls · 06/06/2007 15:41

Teaching does involve long hours but there is some flexibilty. So for example I get in most mornings about half six but if I know I have to see dd teacher in the morning or there is an emergency I can fit in those hours elsewhere, so I may work until half seven in school the night before and then take a few hours of work home with me. But if I worked in a shop I couldn' ask my customers to pop back tomorrow or come and see me at home.

I know teaching is hard but it is a chosen career and a relatively well paid one. I know for example in my town there are very few people who earn what I earn oand even less will earn what I will be earning in September and thatis before we get onto holidays.

Peachy · 06/06/2007 15:44

And do remember all employers havre to conform to employment law- so you can always apply for flaexible working. Its not guaranteed but is worth a go. And is better than for example leaving a job you like when a job share could sort it.

fizzbuzz · 06/06/2007 17:51

I don't see why they would tell you to "sod off", if you request flexible working. It is the law FFS.

They can refuse only on the grounds that it would it would affect the business in an adverse way. That is the only reason they can refuse, AND then this descision is almost invairiably overturned if it goes to tribunal.

They may decide that it would impact on the business, but they have to give you a good reason why. If you don't ask you will never know.

Look on your union website, there is loads of info about it on mine, even a suggested letter to submit.

Also we have a lot of teachers at our school, who just come in for the odd lesson, e.g 4 hours a week. Plenty of partimers want to pick up a bit more work.

Are you scared of asking? Usually public employers are much better than anyone else about this.

UnquietDad · 06/06/2007 18:03

In many schools the timetable has already been fixed the year before. For a full-time teacher to start requesting flexible working could mean other people using their frees, or supply being brought in at extra cost.

Peachy · 06/06/2007 18:11

Assuming you knew when your child would start school though, there's nothing to rpevent you applying way ahead is there?

Anyway an employee in any field is entitled to their rights. And if it enables a good teacher to stay in the profession, it has some very real merit

fizzbuzz · 06/06/2007 19:26

Most schools do timetable in this term. Certainly all the schools I know of do.

It is against the law for permanent teachers to cover in this situation. A real member of staff has to be used.

I don't know why everyone on this thread is so against flexible working!!! It is the law, AND your employer is meant to do their best to accomodate it.

Even if the timetable is fixed, people leave or go on maternity leave, and their jobs have to be filled

Judy1234 · 06/06/2007 20:31

Wow - do people really live in worlds where their husbands forbid things and their extended family in 2007! If that's his view he can give up work and mind the children then as can the family members. Send them some studies showing how well children do with nannies. Anyway it's not a mother's job to arrange childcare. It's the job of both parents. Not unless you live in a very sexist marriage.

fizzbuzz · 06/06/2007 20:45

Nasuwt guide to Flexible Working
here

toomuchtodo · 06/06/2007 20:56

Xenia, your post of

"I just don't get this collection thing - why would any parent want to do that day in day out - it's very very dull. Often yo're stuck in traffic if the school is any distance away. you get to talk to the dullest of the mothers (the ones without any interesting work whose lives are washing powder etc or the nannies/au pairs and your child is at their most tired after school and you get home and deal with stuff like food and homework. I love doing it once a week or occasionally but I have never in 22 years seen the attraction of it as a daily exercise. You're lucky if you can avoid it with a work excuse!"

thats shocking!

toomuchtodo · 06/06/2007 20:59

avoiding the "dullest of mothers" comment, what have you got against nannies/au pairs?

if it wasn't for your paid help you wouldn't be in your position now to spout this rubbish

roisin · 06/06/2007 21:00

If you are requesting this sort of flexible working, I think you have to have very clear proposals as to how it will work, to make sure the students' learning does not suffer in any way, and to make sure that other colleagues are not picking up extra work because of your absence: it can cause resentment. If you are in a school with a large number of teachers with young children, would it really work if everyone demanded these sort of conditions?

Also many schools have 'briefing' first thing in the morning, and if you are regularly absent you may find yourself out of the loop.

I work in a secondary school now (cover supervisor) and have to say I find it ideal as a parent. Though of course I don't do the hours that teacher do!

But in past jobs I've had between 16 and 25 days holiday (paid) per yr, now I get 13 weeks. I've always had to be there 8.30 am - 5.30 pm, often with expectations to be there far longer - particularly at the end of the day: staying until the job is done.

In schools outside of the actual school hours there is a great deal of flexibility as to when the other work gets done.

fizzbuzz · 06/06/2007 21:01

I used to love collecting ds. They run to you, with eyes lit up, dying to see you and talk to you. That is what is so lovely about collecting dc from school.

A precious and fleeting experience. Wouldn't ever miss it

fizzbuzz · 06/06/2007 21:02

Roisin, do you really get 13 weeks holiday???? How?

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