Teachers - flexible working odd question

[MumnMore]

Hi all,

I teach full time in a high school. As part of my directed time, I’m expected to stay at school until 4:10 on Mondays (curriculum meeting).
My daughter has started training with a Premier League football club and she needs to be there for 4:30. Most weeks I have no one to take her and wonder if I could request some kind of flexible working to accommodate this. I’d need to leave at 3:45.
I asked once if I could leave early and the head didn’t seem too pleased.
any advice how I can get around this?
Thanks in advance :)

You can request it. But I would expect the answer to be no. You've provided us with a very valid reason for the employer to refuse - you have a critical work meeting which requires your attendance. The only possible way around that would be to change timings for everyone else, and that does not seem very reasonable or practical. So by all means ask - but don't be surprised if they say no.

Teacher here. This kind of thing is why teaching is one of the least flexible professions. I think it might be approved as a one-off, but certainly not regularly, as a curriculum meeting is part of your directed time.

Is the curriculum meeting just your department? We are a small department of three and sometimes by mutual agreement move our meeting to a different day- as long as everyone agrees SLT don’t mind.

I got made to come in for the stupid pointless Monday meetings even though I didn't work Mondays at one school. We didn't even do anything of value most of the time, we were just told to work in our classrooms, which I could reasonably have done from home if I was actually paid to work Mondays.

DS can't do an extra curricular because DH has the same issue with not being able to avoid these Monday meetings and I can't be in two places at once with our one car.

On that basis, while what you're asking is reasonable to any sane ordinary person in a regular job, I'd imagine you won't get far in teaching because the working conditions are just so rigid.

The best schools I worked at did morning meetings. So much better because the bell cuts the waffle down completely.

Most businesses wouldn't be prepared to change a meeting day/time for one attendee so they can take their kid to a kids club

It's got nothing to do with the fact the poster is a teacher

I appreciate all the replies, thank you.
Most have confirmed what I thought. Deep down, I can’t see the head agreeing to this.
It is such a good opportunity, I hate the idea of my daughter having to give this up.

It's directed time. They're not going to agree, unfortunately.

I wouldn't let me daughter give this up. There must be a way. Hopefully you can find one.

You'll need to hire some wrap around care to take her. After school nanny- type arrangement. Perhaps in an Uber unless you hire a mature person and pay contribution to insurance & mileage

How old is your DD? What is she doing between school nding any you getting home? I'm just wondering if she can go in a pre-arranged taxi and you meet her there?

She is 11. She walks home from school at 3:15 - we only live 5 minutes from home.
Her brother could accompany her in a taxi but he won’t be back from school in time.
I don’t think she’d feel comfortable alone in a taxi and I don’t think I would either. But, I do need to find a way!