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Original poster

Part time teaching- thoughts?

33 replies

lilyflower1803 · 02/03/2025 07:37

New teacher here, have a very young family and took on a roll in September for full time. Half way through and off with WRS due to stress, anxiety and exhaustion. Obviously have no work/life balance. Want to go part time to three days, can anyone share their experiences on this if done the same? How is it for work/life balance?

Thank you

OP posts:

oustedbymymate · 02/03/2025 20:32

I went to three days. Be prepared for the 'oh isn't it nice that you get a lovely long weekend' comments. If you drop 40% of your pay you can have it too!

I found going three days allowed me
To have my weekend back. I still worked on my two days off to keep my workload manageable which is partly why I don't teach anymore. Where else are you working for free for those hours?

Also if you have a tlr they will only give you 60% of tlr money but likely to expect 100% of job. That's my
Experience anyway

Philandbill · 02/03/2025 20:55

oustedbymymate · 02/03/2025 20:32

I went to three days. Be prepared for the 'oh isn't it nice that you get a lovely long weekend' comments. If you drop 40% of your pay you can have it too!

Also if you have a tlr they will only give you 60% of tlr money but likely to expect 100% of job. That's my
Experience anyway

What do you do now @oustedbymymate ?

oustedbymymate · 02/03/2025 21:33

@Philandbill business and development manager

student26 · 02/03/2025 21:44

I do three days. I teach in Scotland. Love my days off but again, still work load. I’ve found as well, I’m generally stuck doing the class cover, so hardly ever get a class for the year. Also, when I did get a class, does depend on your job share. Some I’ve had which are excellent, some not so good.

BG2015 · 03/03/2025 07:29

I teach 0.8 at a small village primary. I have a Friday off and don't do work on my day off.

The secret is to not have any class responsibility. I cover PPA and management time in 3 classes. I don't have my own class which cuts down on my workload massively.

No parents evenings (I stay for 2 hours after school as support), no reports to write, no class assemblies to organise, no parents meetings to do.

It's a total game changer.

I taught fulltime for 26 years and loved it but realised that having this none class role makes life so much easier.

Philandbill · 03/03/2025 15:33

@BG2015 you have found the Holy Grail! Appreciate your good fortune, it's very rare. 😀

BG2015 · 03/03/2025 16:47

It has a (very) few minor negatives.

I don't have a base. I have a cupboard in one classroom where I do keep some stuff but I have to carry everything around with me.

I also don't get that 'whole class relationship' but at this point in my career I'm not too bothered about that. I do think a less experienced teacher may not feel part of the team so much if they didn't have a class.

I also get asked to cover absent teachers,it's not a regular thing as my head knows it's not ideal but it does happen on occasion.

I'm retiring at the end of this academic year.

RaraRachael · 03/03/2025 17:07

In my last 3 years I went 0.8 and didn't work on a Friday. It meant I got all my housework done on a Friday then had the whole weekend free.

I also got asked to do cover on a Friday which annoyed me as they knew why I'd gone part time I never did it and they stopped asking

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