PLEASE HELP: School trying to change my 'shift pattern' out of the blue

[PartTimeTeacher]

Sorry if this is a bit long but wanted to give some context:

I'm a teacher currently on maternity leave, working part time. Before I had baby number 2, I worked 3 full days (Mon-Wed).

I requested, back in January/February, to reduce my hours further to two full days as I've always struggled with workload and expectations. I didn't think this would be an issue as I'm technically an 'extra body' across Y5/6 and not part of a class job-share as such. Happy to go into more detail if necessary.

However, my request was declined citing that they think they would find if difficult to find cover the day I dropped day.

I got a separate email on Friday from a member of SLT saying they are restructuring my hours. They now want me to work Monday, Tuesday AND Thursday morning and Wednesday would remain a full day. be annoyed because this wasn't a request, they've told me I am now doing this. There was no indication before this point that they might change my days and it's now less than 3 months until I return to work. It doesn't fit with my current schedule and we have a planned activity on Thursday morning that I wanted to continue after I returned to work. Plus, I think my workload would be increased, after I asked for it to be reduced.

I've emailed HR to get a copy of my contract. I've submitted a request to my union through their enquiry page - they will apparently get back to me 'shortly' but who knows how long that actually is.

I'm feeling so stressed and with my return to work being imminent, I'm worried I'll have no choice but to do what they say even though I think it's unreasonable.

Sorry for all they typos and errors - I was writing the post while chasing after the two kids and juggling making dinner.

It will totally depend what your contract says. Some part time teacher contracts are set days and hours, others are variable by the school according to what is needed. Although the ones I’ve been on were set for the academic year. Once you’ve seen your contract you will know whether you can refuse to alter your hours or not.

Hmm, I can see that they want you there in the mornings to support the core subjects, but it is quite a different feeling as a part-timer to spread your hours across four days rather than three.

Also note that mornings and afternoons are not weighted equally from a pay point of view, as the mornings are generally longer. So the new timetable might mean that they need to pay you more.

@SarahMused, thanks for your reply. I have no idea what's in my contract. Hopefully I'll hear back from HR soon with an answer.

When we originally discussed days from my move from full to part-time, we agreed on Monday-Wednesday and at no point did anyone say they might change. I also know I put in my return to work letter from Mat leave that I would be returning to work on same hours and days, so this has been the intention for nearly a year. With only 2.5 months until I'm set to go back, has this been raised. And all done very impersonally via email despite multiple attempts to set up a meeting to discuss my return. It's so disappointing.

@BadSkiingMum, that's exactly what they want me to do. Smaller groups for maths/English rather than taking any responsibility for foundation subjects. Although this in itself will create a higher workload I would imagine. Marking is super intensive (triple marking) and just a lot more pressure generally as that would be entire focus there. Plus, it's nice to teach other subjects to break up my time in school.

My biggest concern, as you mentioned, is that it'll feel very much like working full time. I doubt I'll be able to do much on the afternoons I have off and it's going to be a lot more miserable. Plus, I take DC2 to an activity Thursday morning and that would obviously have to be stopped.

I doubt I'd get paid more. They have spread my contracted hours over the 4 days (so exact same as the 3 full days) but it does mean I'd finish 30 mins before lunch on the morning days.

I dropped a day last Yr. Was told was subect to review on an annual basis. Found out in passing in the June that I has to be full time in September. Classes to teach. Probably same for u. They anticipate they will need u

@BCBird, that sucks for you! I hate when you have to find things like this out in passing. I'd think it's common courtesy to make you aware of changes, especially when they have such a big impact personally.

I'm on a permanent part-time contract so they aren't able to increase/reduce my hours without my agreement. It seems that they can decide to spread my days out as they please though.

Is it the case that you have been covering as needed or providing PPA during those three days? I can see that was probably quite a nice gig (a good balance of variety, familiarity and no class responsibility) but perhaps it was inevitable that they might want to make better use of your skillset...

Just a word of caution, it can be quite hard* to get part-time teaching roles as an outsider, so it may be better to go along with this arrangement if you possibly can. I can see that it could work quite well once both your children are at school perhaps?

*Edited to add that I know this to my cost, especially when I look at my recent pensions compared to my TPS pension!

@BadSkiingMum, not PPA cover. It's worked differently each year including a job share but last year (before my mat leave) I was part of a team in UKS2. There were 3 full time teachers and me (working 3 days) over the two classes. The two year groups were split into smaller groups for maths and English and on my days in, the groups were filtered further. That was the first year the school had organised KS2 like this.

For the past 3 years I've had my set days and never any mention of it changing. From what has been said so far on here, I think I'm going to have to go along with this.

I was on a permanent part time contract too but in secondary school so a bit different regarding timetabling. The agreement always was that my hours would be fitted in as few a days as possible ie three days for .6. This is what my union recommended given that many part timers work in more than one school or have other commitments on the other days. Do the school know that you are available to work on those days? It’s tricky to rearrange childcare days every year or change working hours in other places. Given you have a permanent contract you are in a stronger position to negotiate than someone on a temporary one. I would talk to your union and see what they say.

Unfortunately I think in teaching they can request you do your hours over up to all 5 days - it seems a big problem in secondaries. I'd check what they are asking actually is the percentage you are contracted for though - I worked mornings and said my contract needed to be adjusted as I was being paid 0.5 but every morning was 30 minutes longer than an afternoon. I also never missed lessons for church services, sports events that sort of thing and really felt like I was getting a raw deal. A half day at nursery is also about 75% of the cost of a full day and you're having to commute more so that's another cost. Having said that, it was nice for my toddler to be picked up at 1pm so it worked for him. After a year I managed to negotiate changing my hours.

I did three days a week, and yes, my contract said that the school was able to dictate which days. Which from the employer's point of view is sensible. Far fewer heads would give out part time contracts if they couldn't use them flexibly.

Having said that, we were always able to negotiate days that worked for us both, so I was lucky.
You will be exceptionally lucky if your contract doesn't allow the head to change your days. And if course YOU wanted to make a change to what had presumably worked for then before. You can't really have it both ways.

@SarahMused, when I initially agreed part-time with the other member of staff and my head, we each agreed on hours/days. Since then it hasn't changed (and as far as im
aware the other part time staff member hasn't had any changes now). They haven't reached out or made any effort to find out if I'm available to work the extra day but I always made it clear previously that I was usually busy doing something nice with my DC on my days off.

I have already got in touch with my union this morning via their enquiry page. Hopefully I'll hear back soon as I don't want to spend what little time of my maternity leave I have left stressing about this.

It could be great when yours are at school … but for now it sounds a bit rubbish … I’m surprised they can do it to be honest!

I would imagine that the budget doesn’t now allow for as much “extra” teaching time and filtering of groups etc. Where previously heads had more budget to use part time staff as extras this seems to be stopping as they need every penny just to put a teacher in front of the children. In some schools it would be go with it or potential redundancy. I’m not saying that is the case here but there are certainly empty coffers in many many schools.

At my school we are always told that days are subject to change every year etc. However the lack of communication is very unprofessional. Would you consider looking elsewhere?

Have you not got KIT days scheduled?

@saraclara, when I got the part time contract, I ended up with the days that weren't what I would have chosen. I was still greatful because any part time days were better than full time. Since then, any flexible working expectations haven't always been fair. Last year I had the same number of break duties as a all the other full time members of staff - I didn't complain. When parents evening reports we're being written, I had as many to write as all the other full time members on my team - I didn't complain. I feel that I've been very flexible with the school and being unhappy about them increasing my working days out of the blue isn't 'having it both ways'.

@HaPPy8, I think, even when they're at school it would be better to do the full days. I don't think there'll much time once I get home to school pick up, compared to having the full day otherwise. And my youngest is not even one so that's a long way off anyway! 😩

@iamruth, I don't think it's down to budget. They have 6 full time members of staff across 4 classrooms, plus 2 part time members of staff. Some of those staff members are new so technically could have not had their contacts renewed if the budget was so tight. Plus, the new days I'll be working if I can't fight it mean I won't get paid any more/less.

@Bobbybobbins, I'd really like to keep it oart time but yes, this is an option. I've toyed with the idea of supply before, too.

@JustAnotherDayInNorfolk, I've been asking about these for months and only just head back yesterday. I suggested I could help during SATS so have been 'given' 3 half days by the same member of SLT who informed me of new days. There's been no communication to ask what would be best for me, which days etc. just a very impersonal reply to say I can 'fit you in' on these days.

You do get paid more for mornings than afternoons usually- it all comes down to how the 1265 (or pro rata is split) but in most schools the morning session is longer. You also get more PPA time if you work am rather than PM

If it's like my school they are trying to frighten you , thinking you'll go for the Mon-Weds hours and ditch the idea of 2 days.

Stick to your guns. You can always do Monto Weds for long enough that you don't need to pay back maternity pay then move schools.

@SaggyCushionCover, thank you for this! I will definitely make this known to my employer as I know they'll expect me to continue as I have been with pay and PPA. Do you know where I can find out more about this/confirm what I'd be entitled to?

@AprilHandiwork, I don't think that they're trying to scare me but they certainly don't want me to persue 2 days. I'm going to raise this with my union as the only reason they cited to feline this was that they didn't think they'd find another staff member for the extra day. In reality, they wouldn't need someone as they hadn't recruited a maternity cover (as far as I know) and, as I've said, I'm part of a wider team so they wouldn't be down a member of staff.

I've calculated that I'd need to work until mid August to not need to pay back my mat allowance, so there is the possibility of starting a new position in sept.