Really do need a very good reason to take time off work (interview)

[Meandacat]

I work part time, 3 days a week. I've been offered an interview on one of the days I work. I asked to rearrange it, on one of the days I don't work or for much later in the day. They have come back and rearranged it for precisely a week later , i,e, still a day I work, and slap in the middle of the afternoon. It's nearly a 2 hr drive. I will have to day a half day off at least. I don't feel I can ask them to rearrange again.
It's further awkward because I work in a school and we're expected to take a/l during the school holidays. I can't just take time off during term time without giving a good reason.
And to make things yet more awkward, my assistant is naturally very caring and inquisitive. I don't want to worry her by saying I'm looking for work elsewhere, but she will want to know every last detail about why I'm scooting out early, (and not least because she's the one left to cover).
Aargh - I don't want to pull a sickie but can honestly not think of any good reason to take an entirely afternoon off! I already have a funeral looming. Suggestions?

Honesty is the best policy.

Can you tell them you have an interview and would like the afternoon off, can you make up that time.

"An appointment for an elective procedure of a personal nature"

Can’t you tell the truth but tell your assistant you have a medical appointment?

If it is a job in a school they will take up references before interview and so if you lied and were found out then it would mean that you were potentially unemployable due to safer recruitment.

Just tell your current school that you have a job interview

Can't you reason with the recruiter that you have x, y and z days when you must be in work and you cannot let your employer down due to the nature of your work. If a recruiter is forcing a candidate to be put in an impossible situation with their current employment, even after you've explained your work pattern, then I'd worry about them for the future.

Where I work, they bend over backwards if there is a valid reason and give suitable flexibility to candidates. That's one big reason I wanted to work for them, because they tried to help me and allowed me to name my day within a one week span, which made life so much easier as I didn't need to lie.

Tell the recruiter that you work A, B and C hence you asked for a different day (D or E). Tell them you only work three days a week term time and cannot let your employer down as they need you those days.

Rearranging to another day you work is probably an oversight. You.need.to.spell.it.out.to.them.

I would think you look like a better candidate if the reason you cannot interview on that day is commitment to your current employer. I'd say be honest with recruiter and ask for a different day.