Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Original poster

Part time or full time? PPA Teachers and other teachers advice please!!

27 replies

cathshuck · 05/01/2008 20:31

Hi all I am currently on maternity leave due to go back in may. have a 2.5 ds and 4 month old dd. Have asked to go back part time but have been told if I go back full time I could have ppa. Not sure what to do whether being a part time (4 days) a week class teacher is better than ppa? Any thoughts?

OP posts:
FluffyMummy123 · 05/01/2008 20:35

Message withdrawn

Hulababy · 05/01/2008 20:37

I thought even PT teachers got PPA - just pro rata according to how much they work.

I went back to teaching PT - 3 days a week. No chance I'd have managed FT teaching and being a mum!

FluffyMummy123 · 05/01/2008 20:37

Message withdrawn

bunnyhunny · 05/01/2008 20:39

I cover ppa - I do 2 whole days a week.
It has its good sides - less planning (I teach music / ICT, and can generally wing it), no reports, no parents evening, less assessment of the core subjects. I can leave every evening at 4. And I get to teach the whole school music, and seeing their development musically has been fantastic. And if you have a bad class, at least it's only 1 hour a week or so, and not all day every day.

BUT, and this is a big but, I really miss the freedom of having my own class, and the close relationship you get with the support staff and the children. Sometimes, I feel like I don't belong like i used to.

If I wasnt teaching music, I think I would look for a jobshare.

bunnyhunny · 05/01/2008 20:40

and I get 1hour a week ppa time - we are all entitled to it.

FluffyMummy123 · 05/01/2008 20:40

Message withdrawn

fizzbuzz · 05/01/2008 20:40

Yes, you should get pro rata amount of ppa. I would avoid being form tutor as well, that is what is so knackering

Original poster
cathshuck · 05/01/2008 20:41

My head said that he would consider me being a ppa teacher part time but it was difficult cos i was due my own ppa. thats why he mentioned full time ppa as then my own ppa would be accomodated if that makes sense. Have 2 kids and just hate the thought of the hours of work every night and weekend and missing out on everything again. Even a day a week at home or my evenings free would be great. Have just put my threshold in so not really bothered about anything career wise at the mo so thought it would be a good time to switch to ppa.

OP posts:
FluffyMummy123 · 05/01/2008 20:42

Message withdrawn

Original poster
cathshuck · 05/01/2008 20:43

We are a primary school of 535 pupils and 25ish teachers so we need ppa to cover it all. WE get a day every other week and if I did 4 days a week then I would get half a day every week (i think thats what it works as)Have been there 6 years and on smt and stuff so know all the kids and things.

OP posts:
MinkVelvet · 05/01/2008 20:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fizzbuzz · 05/01/2008 20:48

Sorry, don't quite understand you earlier post (20:41 one)

Whatever the head says, you are entitled to ppa pro rata. It is the law, ask your union rep

MinkVelvet · 05/01/2008 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fizzbuzz · 05/01/2008 20:48

Every teacher is entitled to 10% minimum ppa as a matter of law

bunnyhunny · 05/01/2008 20:49

why would it be difficult for your ppa? there wouldnt be a class to cover - you could just go and do your work somewhere!

mink - you are right, I just didnt want to say it ;)

MinkVelvet · 05/01/2008 20:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

muppetgirl · 05/01/2008 20:50

I agree with bunnyhunny. I did music teaching to cover ppa and it was great for all of the same reasons. I got to teach a subject I love all the time. The down sides were that I felt not entirely part of the 'team' but I did go to the staff meeting voluntarily as I wanted to keep abreast with what was going on in the school.

It was less work and because it was music, no marking. I taught music form yr-y6 and planned during the hoilday the whole term and then had nothing else to do apart from report comments. I didn't have to do parents evening and the head even let me come in and teach piano/cello/theory and charge parents so I had an extra days work from it.

muppetgirl · 05/01/2008 20:52

oh, regarding the ppa. I had ppa even though I was the ppa teacher. I took extra money for it though instead of taking the time.

MinkVelvet · 05/01/2008 20:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
cathshuck · 05/01/2008 21:30

think you have convinced me. On the whole my head is ok and he is the only male member of staff in the whole school so you can normally swing things your way if you have good reasons for things. I think some schools have half a day every week ppa but he decided we would have a day every two which does mean you end up planning at home and then sometimes having not much to do on ppa as you have had to do it already. Just feel like if I dont have this change then I will resent the amount of work i put in even more and look for something outside teaching but the holidays and pay are reasonably good compared with some stuff.

OP posts:
FluffyMummy123 · 05/01/2008 22:57

Message withdrawn

NKF · 05/01/2008 22:59

What's ppa?

FluffyMummy123 · 05/01/2008 23:00

Message withdrawn

bunnyhunny · 05/01/2008 23:01

lumped with music?!?
I am offended! ;)

bunnyhunny · 05/01/2008 23:01

bloody