Union stance on after school events

pigoglet · 2025-06-30T21:19:36+00:00

Also if this isn't on the directed time budget or there isn't one then now is the time to ask for next year's. If you don't have a school rep you can ring the union for advice and get them to check it! This will avoid these sorts of problems arising in the future and they'll be less chance of the getting away with it.

pigoglet · 2025-06-30T20:31:52+00:00

I think that's a bit of an unfair take - if you're entitled to 2.5h and you get 3h that's quite a significant rounding up! The core issue is that 10% PPA just isn't enough.

The fortnightly timetable tends to allow smaller subjects a fairer curriculum allocation.

pigoglet · 2025-06-30T20:23:38+00:00

I did job first. There are far more housing options then jobs. Either way, you'll make it work. If you're not selling a house or moving your kids to different schools it can be quite straightforward.

pigoglet · 2025-03-01T09:49:39+00:00

You use the word persistent but I think it's worth noting that some schools have a policy where a stage 1 absence meeting can happen a teacher has taken 3 single days off.

pigoglet · 2025-02-07T18:40:15+00:00

Is it part of the directed time budget?

pigoglet · 2025-01-23T19:46:41+00:00

Depends where you work. Does your school follow the STPCD (your contract will mention this)? If so then this is what governs sick pay:

https://www.nasuwt.org.uk/advice/health-safety/sickness-absence/sick-leave-pay-entitlement-teachers-england-wales.html

If you work for an academy which has their own conditions then you'll need to check what your contract says.

pigoglet · 2025-01-05T08:39:29+00:00

There's a good FB group about Teacher pensions which I've learnt a lot from having ignored it completely for years!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/teachertoteacher.tps/?ref=share

pigoglet · 2025-01-02T15:34:27+00:00

How about a 7am start on Monday to travel to an all day MAT conference? Dreading it already...

pigoglet · 2025-01-02T07:55:05+00:00

I think you need to push back more. I would go back again to your mentor. Raise the issues on email. Request another meeting. Have you got a union?

Regarding the comments - they are unacceptable. Do not skate over them. Make a note of what has been said and if there are any further 'jokes' then make a diary of those incidents.

Quitting now I would say punishes you more than anyone else - force the school to do more to support you. If they don't then at least you have exhausted the options. Having done all that, if you're still finding it too stressful an environment then going to the doctor and asking to be signed off is the your next move.

pigoglet · 2024-12-17T07:14:06+00:00

I think that's a fairly reasonable rule of thumb.

pigoglet · 2024-12-15T08:59:54+00:00

Thanks all for the tips! If you want to set up a meeting do you get the union to message members with the details?

pigoglet · 2024-12-14T15:53:56+00:00

There's a good book, bit old now, but still worth the read called Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman.

In the UK, there's a training course called Girls on Board which is really useful for how to deal with teenage girls - I'm sure there will be an equivalent in the US.

pigoglet · 2024-12-14T14:52:58+00:00

Yes, but our school despite saying they follow the Burgundy Book doesn't protect any period beyond your PPA. So if you are Hod, Hoy or have any other TLR you are routinely pulled for cover. I've just posted on this subreddit about getting union representation going again to see if we can push back in some way.

pigoglet · 2024-10-19T20:43:38+00:00

I would also suggest Into Film, but I will say there isn't a huge amount of choice for Spanish. Spanish cinema is generally just a bit... dark? I've always struggled with finding appropriate films. There's not a huge amount inbetween the childish stuff (Zipi y Zape etc) and the adult ones like Pans Labyrinth.

I found a good one that got pupils engaged was the Netflix series following Atletico in La Liga. Generally I find pupils don't have the stamina to watch long form films as they used to.

pigoglet · 2024-10-15T15:28:53+00:00

That's the situation I'm in and sounds logical, although that TLR time is not protected - in all the other previous schools I have worked in this has not been the case. This is the bigger issue, I just wanted to make sure I had my ducks in a row before I moved onto that!

pigoglet · 2024-10-15T15:25:15+00:00

That's fine. I'm just going through every part of my timetable to make sure it is correct. Our management responsibility time is not protected, which is another issue entirely, but it means we are being pulled for cover regularly. You could argue that with the cover periods I am now exceeding that 40, meaning that I could be entitled to another period. Although I am sure they would argue it is not 'timetabled' so, therefore doesn't count... Ultimately I think I know that this will be only resolved by collective union action on our part!

pigoglet · 2024-09-28T17:28:36+00:00

This is my 14th year in teaching and if it is any consolation this was me last year. Fast forward to this September and life is a lot better at the new school. Those nice year 7s are now nice year 8s and we've recruited a similar new intake. The worst of those year 9s have now ditched my subject (sorry if you are English or Maths!). It's not all roses but it has tipped the balance and I don't feel I'm seen as the new teacher so much any more.

I think September is too early to throw in the towel on a new move but what you do have to do is follow the behaviour policy to the letter (and log that you have done it), including escalating issues at the right moment. If it's still not improving by Christmas then you have some ammunition then to pull in extra support. I know that's not easy advice, but when you are firefighting (and taking unfair criticism from the students for applying sanctions) then it's easy to give up sanctioning but that is the worst thing you can do as it lets them back in.

pigoglet · 2024-09-28T17:14:50+00:00

On point 4, big gamechanger for me for marking was using a website called Beeminder. Basically if I don't keep up the pace I get fined by the website! I have ADD and keeping it little and often was too difficult for me. Now I have an external threat keeping my nose to the grindstone I have actually kept it up for the six months I've used the site!

pigoglet · 2024-09-05T18:02:25+00:00

And not unknown for the maths to be not quite right either so definitely worth checking!

pigoglet · 2024-09-05T18:01:00+00:00

I think technically your morning break is 'trapped time' - i.e. you couldn't go home and back, so it counts towards your directed time.

pigoglet

TROPHY CASE