Part- Time Teacher Contract - without summer oay?

[starchildmum]

Dear all,

I am about to accept a part-time Teacher role (independent school/ temporary contract). The vacancy just became available as a teacher fell ill. Its a small 2 day role just teaching A2 students but my question is would you accept a 6 month contract? Pupils will then go on study leave. Or am I unreasonable to request some form of holiday pay? Maybe not until 31 August but at least to something in-between considering that I will work most if the academic year
( Nov- Mai), during the “ intense” time without the benefit of the summer term/ summer pay.

I am inclined to ask for a slightly longer contract as compensation for my holiday pay entitlement.

what would you consider reasonable?

thank you

Surely they will factor in holiday pay anyway? They have to by law.

It sounds like supply work - so a contract to teach A2 from now til the A levels?

I don't think you'll get anywhere asking for summer holiday pay.

Hi

Are you sure they have to by law?
year 13 will go on study leave on the 15th May and I can understand that the do not wish to pay me until End if August ( 3.5 month) for not working at all. But prosing a 6 month teacher contract without the benefit of study leave pay/ summer pay would be unfair too. I am hoping they will factor in some extended pay to compensate the summer holiday period.

Exactly. It would sound like supply except that that they need specifically me as thus type of expertise for this A level is very difficult to find so I am hoping I have some negotiation power.

Apologies so many typos

Your hourly rate is probably slightly higher to allow for that.

Independent schools can be terrible in this respect. I'd not accept the role unless they were paying me equitably with permanent staff regarding being paid for non term time.
Terrible practice IMO.

Hi
No it is not. It will be a pro rata pay of my current m/ previous pay scale level ( a percentage) of the current full time pay but with an expiration date ( date kids go on study leave). This would mean that I will not benefit from the vacancy period of the summer but will be paid fir the labour period if the winter which seems unfair to me. Everyone would agree that the teacher May- October period is the better half if the teacher schedule as it includes the 2 month holiday period. So accepting a 6 month contract now seems less attractive than accepting a 6 month contract in May. It would still feel like exploitation.

Would you get Christmas, February half term break and Easter holidays?

Thanks for sharing my view. It is terrible practice! This is the reason why I wish to negotiate the end date now. They are absolutely desperate to get me on board and I am supposed to start in 2 weeks.
I am fully committed but would like to see some form of recognition and hope to make a point tomorrow once I see the contract and the end date is the 15th May at the start of the A- level examinations.

Yes, of course, but not May/ June/ July/ August and any new position I can get will probably start in September unless this school wants to keep me.

Still despite the fact that all other holidays are paid, an employed full time/ part- time teacher teaching a year 13 will still get paid for the summer term AND the summer holidays but its just about fair because teaching an exam class is very demanding!!

If tou get Christmas, Easter and a half term then you'd have likely legally had enough holiday for the period (and frankly for 12m worth, not just 6)

I can't see them paying you for the summer holiday after you've finished writing there. Maybe look for something for a few weeks in dinner to tide you over if money is tight?

You can only ask. Each school has a different practice I guess. They can always say no.

But it might help if you offered to stay until say after half term and do prep work/revision classes during that period? I'm not sure how early/late your A2 subject is - some of them aren't until mid June.

Sounds like you've got them over a barrel.
It's going to be almost impossible to fill that role.
Decide what you want and then reply to their contract offer.

• contract to run until 31st August? (12/13 weeks holidays) Do cover work / interventions in your gained time?
• contract to run until 31st May ? (6/13 weeks holidays + 1 gained time week)

The gained time is a bit of a red herring - it's not that much harder teaching exam classes, and gained time gets filled with whole school stuff so is never as luxurious as it sounds.

In state education (well, before Academies were given the right to do what they want) supply got paid a higher daily rate, to allow for the fact they can't earn during holidays.

Of course, a private school can do what they want. Which equally means, you can ask for what you want. Which leads to the fact they can refuse what you ask. I guess it depends a lot on whether you think they need you, more than you need / want this job. It seems very niche, which kind of works both ways in terms of supply and demand.

However, you will presumably (as a Private school) be getting about 8 weeks holiday (Christmas, Easter and Feb 1/2 term) during the next 6 months, so I don't see any obligation for them to pay you beyond May.

(my holiday numbers are off - didn't remember it was private!)

Alternative strategy is to be paid a daily rate - for a state school that would be 195th of salary - this then incorporates holiday pay.

Seems unfair because it is! Good A level teachers are not easy to find, k know your worth.
If you are in a TU contact them.

Would you then in conclusion recommend a compromise, let’s say UNTIl the end of term?
To dismiss a teacher mid term just because the pupil goes on study leave feels just not right to me.

Personally I would say you want the contract to run until 31st August. Say you are happy to cover other classes until end of term then sit back and see if they bite. What have you got to lose?

Quick question:
When is the “ end of the academic year”?
31st August?

Sounds brilliant! I AM happy to offer cover during my days for the benefit of summer pay!
It just feels so unfair to be cut off at a certain moment: used until not needed amy more. Terrible feeling!

It would be different if it was September - December for example. Its just the “ study leave” element. A normal employed part- time teacher would also receive continued pay despite the fact that students have left for a year 13 class.

I just don’t know if 31st of August is not too much to ask… I don’t want to appear unreasonable or greedy.

I would be happy with the 5th July as end of term date..,

So ask for 31st August and see what they come back with. That way you can negotiate back to 5th July if necessary.
At the very least it ought to be 31st May so you are paid for the full half term.
Let us know how you get on.

Say you'll only take it if it runs to July - the end of term. Let them know you'd be willing to teach other classes and do revision for the A2 group during the last half term.

When are their exams in fact? It would be quite poor of the school not to have anyone around till their last exam, particularly as they've lost their regular teacher.

They aren’t dismissing you, they are offering you a six month contract, specifically to teach one year group.

Personally I would ask for the contract to last until the day of the last subject exam so that you can cover revision classes and student queries. This will probably take you past half term at least.

Or ask for a higher level of pay if you are in demand, and use that to balance out the lack of pay in the summer.