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Original poster

I work 5 days and hope to drop to 4 soon - which day would you drop? Esp if you were a primary teacher?!

32 replies

Caz10 · 15/02/2009 20:23

I've been working FT since August when dd was 8mths - missing her like mad and generally fed up with work, but can't afford to give up altogether. We reckon we could manage with what I'd get for 4 days, so I am going to apply for flexible working or whatever you call it next term.
Most of the teachers I know who do PT or 4 days have dropped either Friday or Thursday/Friday, but tbh you get all these Friday hols anyway, and Friday is a reasonably dossy day in our school with assembly etc. So I was thinking of asking for a Wednesday off so that I'd only ever have to work 2 days in a row iyswim - has anyone else done that? Or can anyone think of a reason why it would/wouldn't be a good idea? Thanks!

OP posts:
Twims · 15/02/2009 20:26

What about Monday - it means you get an extra day of the weekend plus you get that extra day at the end of holidays ie half term/summers etc meaning you can do weekends way

Heated · 15/02/2009 20:28

I have Wed and Fri off and it's great for the reasons you've said. I work two days and then have time with the dcs/a breather, followed by only one more day at work and then a 3 day weekend.

Hulababy · 15/02/2009 20:29

I have alsways had Moday and/or Friday off - think linking to holidays way better. Friday normally better than FMonday because of bank holidays.

rookiemater · 15/02/2009 20:34

I work 4 days a week and have Monday off. It is good because I get all the Bank holidays added to my annual leave, we can do long weekends without using up my leave ( or we could do if DH wasn't a contractor) and I get to work on a Friday which is the most relaxed, enjoyable day of the week to be there.

Downside is that by the time Tuesday comes I'm quite grateful to drop DS off at the CMs, but by Thursday I'm missing spending the day with him. Oh and also at work I miss all the chat about peoples weekends, but I can live without that tbh.

Heated · 15/02/2009 20:37

Have had Mon & Fri off, working Tues/Wed/Thurs and personally I really disliked it. The days at school were very intense physically/mentally and tricky for marking turnaround. It meant Mon, Tues & Wed evenings were very late nights and I almost wished away the time with dcs so I could get on with prep . If I'm honest, the 4 consecutive days with dc were long too. Somehow Wed/Fri off made work & home much more manageable

corblimeymadam · 15/02/2009 20:41

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Message withdrawn

Original poster
Caz10 · 15/02/2009 20:48

That's what I'm hoping for heated, a better balance! I'm a bit to realise that I actually wouldn't like to be a FT SAHM, 3 days would be my ideal but 4 will have to do for now!

DH works shifts, so he is rarely off a typical Sat/Sun weekend, so I'm not too bothered about that!

belgianbun you are absolutely right, I want to work the dossy days, which is why I don't want it to be a Friday I drop, it is very very dossy in our school!

Our INSET days tend to be Tuesdays actually, following Fri/Mon holidays.

Maybe someone can correct me, but I don't think in teaching we get the missed bank holidays added on as rookiemater said, as you would in industry?

OP posts:
Heated · 15/02/2009 21:12

Nope you don't.

strawberrycornetto · 15/02/2009 21:30

Hi, I am not a teacher but I work 4 days a week and have Wednesdays off. I love it being Wednesday, the break in the middle of the week really works for me. Its good to know I never have to do more than 2 days in a row

Original poster
Caz10 · 16/02/2009 15:34

strawberrycornetto i was hoping someone would post and say that - too me a Wednesday makes sense but everyone I know goes for a Mon or a Fri and I wondered if I was missing anything!

OP posts:
Waswondering · 16/02/2009 15:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SnowlightMcKenzie · 16/02/2009 15:39

I used to have Mondays off. If given the choice between monday and friday, always choose monday because everyone knows that's when all the work is done and you get pestered more from people fresh from the weekend.

People tend to leave you alone on Fridays and go home early and parents will probably just want to pick up their kids and get home for a glass of wine rather than talk to you about the ins and outs of little Jonny's homework.

Also, if you don't work mondays then you have to get bank holiday pro rata so you get an extra 5 days holiday a year that you can take when you want (although I don't know how this is applied to teachers holiday, - perhaps you'll get it paid)!

sarahsmummy · 16/02/2009 16:01

I'd vote for Wed - as you say, DC then only has 2 days as a stretch without you (and vice versa!). Also, if you take Mon or Fri, I found it tended to get filled up more with general household things - eg shopping for the weekend - whereas it's easier to keep a Wednesday to do nice things together.

Original poster
Caz10 · 16/02/2009 21:10

I have a feeling that we don't get the bank holidays back, although I will certainly ask and a few days extra pay would be nice!

I'm leaning towards Wednesday as my first choice, Monday as my 2nd...although those of you who are off on a Mon do you not find you miss out on announcements etc? Although...do I care?! [changed priorities emocion!]

OP posts:
spicemonster · 16/02/2009 21:12

I also do Wednesday (well I actually work ft again now but I work from home on Wednesdays). Just having that breather in the middle of the week is ace. I think the long weekend thing is overrated personally - like you say, Mondays are bank holidays so you miss them and when it's a bank holiday week, you do a day and then have another day off! Result!

Lilyloo · 16/02/2009 21:15

I used to have Tue and Wed off.
I felt it was important to be in for the kids on Mon and Fri as i worked with the vulnerable ones and the weekends usually created issues on Mon and Fri so i could deal with them.
Also liked the only in work for couple days at a time so never away from home or work too long.
Definately wouldnt have Friday as they are more wind down and i think Mon you are more up for it.
Wed is always the lull day for me.

I think lots do the Mon / Fri to have long weekends.

Littlefish · 16/02/2009 21:15

The thing is Caz, that your school might be happy for you to work 4 days, but they will want the day off to suit the school/pupils best, not necessarily you.

Having a different teacher for a day in the middle of the week would be more challenging for pupils I would think, rather than having 4 consecutive days with one teacher and then a single day with another at either the beginning or end of the week.

Original poster
Caz10 · 16/02/2009 21:22

We have hardly any days where they get one teacher all day anyway Littlefish, never mind all week, what with specialists, pupil support input, time out of class etc.

But yes, I take your point, I'm well aware I'll have no say in this, just seeing what would hypothetically be the best option!

Agree with lilyloo, Monday normally brings quite a lot of "issues" from home etc, I'd rather deal with them myself if possible.

OP posts:
jennifersofia · 16/02/2009 21:53

I have mondays off, which is staff meeting day - and yes, I do feel a bit out of the link! (Though it is nice having Mondays off!)

LadyBee · 17/02/2009 19:24

Meetings are a good point - do you have any regular ones?
I have wednesday's off (not a teacher) and love that combination. I know I'll get all the bank hols, I get in on Monday refreshed, get a pile of meetings out the way and then have Tuesday to set up work for the rest of the week. Wednesday they do what I've set up, Thursday I'm back to sort out problems and Friday is a fairly relaxed tie-up lose ends sort of day.

scienceteacher · 17/02/2009 19:39

Insets are more likely to be Mondays or Fridays, so those aren't great days to miss.

I think Wednesdays are the best day to take off - then you have only two days to work at a time.

FossilSister · 17/02/2009 19:47

I have Tues/Wed off. it makes Monday morning much easier when you know it's only one day, and you're back in for the run-down to the weekend! I work in secondary where it's easier to sort timetables. I still see my GCSE group 3 x a week and I don't think they even know I'm pt, but I have middle of the week time with DD for playgroup and music groups etc. Better work/life balance. Was easier when she was a baby for her not to have too long away from a parent.

gerbo · 19/02/2009 21:17

I would def. agree go for the wed. as lots of others have said - breaks up your week nicely and means only two days to face when you go back on Monday.

I'm in a similar boat - I only work part-time (3 days although it ends up being full-time pressure and hours - argh) and am thinking of dropping to as little as possible!!!!! I want to be a SAHM but am not sure about the lifestyle change (NO spare money at all - spending max £50 a month on anything not food or bills - ?!?!?!)

It's tough for teachers, hey? My friend's a social worker and does 2 days, 830-5 with NO work to take home, etc. Can't be bad....

GOOD LUCK with speaking to your head. Please tell us how it goes????????????

violethill · 19/02/2009 23:05

I agree with the post about it being a case of what is in the pupils' best interests.

Hopefully you'll be happy with what you get, but at the end of the day, the school isn't there to provide you with the hours you want to work - it's there to educate children Mon - Friday!! If taking a day off mid week isn't best for the children, then the school needs to consider this. Also, assuming that someone else will need to be employed to work the 5th day, this is also another factor for the school to consider. I would have thought it might be more tricky to find someone else prepared to work just a Wednesday, as it breaks up the entire week, whereas if you took the Friday off, that might possibly be easier to cover.

scienceteacher · 20/02/2009 08:11

I think, in reality, that many primary schools employ a spare teacher to cover PPA time throughout the school, so it may be fairly easy to get one to jobshare for a single day.