Calling all teachers - please help!

[kealz]

Hi ladies

I am a teacher on maternity leave and due back after Feb half term. I know the normal rules about resignation dates, and repaying money, but my part time request has been refused and now I need to leave.

My question: Has anyone known of another teacher who has handed notice in at Christmas and left at Feb half term?

The situation is that I did contact the school back at the start of October to request flexible working. They waiting until next personnel meeting on 20th October discuss it. Then I heard nothing for 2 weeks, taking me past the official deadline for a Christmas finish. Early November they told me my request had been officially refused but offered me an alternative option, unofficially, and two days to decide whether to take it. I declined and asked for the official refusal letter to be sent out. I only received this on Tuesday this week. Now I am getting paranoid that Feb half term is creeping up as this correspondence takes so long. I do know I now have the right to appeal but I am 99% sure it too will be rejected.

I don't know whether to hang on and have one last final go and appeal, although it's never worked for anyone else. Or hand my resignation in now and have a higher chance of it being accepted with more notice.

I have read on the internet that you can be sued for breach of contract! Some websites say it's up to the LEA who are more likely to go by the book, some say up to the head who might have more compassion for individual cases. Just wondered what your experiences are..?

Thank you! Sorry for long post! x

 

[Lemonade]

I am a teacher but don't have any direct experience with that situation, it sounds really tough though .

Are you in a union? I would get in touch with them and explain the situation. Then I think I would explain to the school and see if they will waive the normal notice period. It does say in union guidelines that schools have the option to do that after maternity leave. They will likely have enough time to fill your role between now and then anyway.

I'm sure you have already thought of this, but is it an option to work full time between February half term and Easter? It's only a short half term as Easter is early this year.

 

[kealz]

Hi Lemonade

Thanks for the reply. I am in a union - nasuwt, and that would be a good idea to contact them, I hadn't actually thought about that! The school do have 4 nqts waiting in the wings for a job so they won't have a problem filling my role, it's just if they want to do things 'by the book'.

Yeah, I had thought about doing the weeks between Feb and Easter, I would at least be able to keep some maternity pay then and have time to clear out my stuff. My eldest child is autistic and may not handle for short term change well but it's not impossible.

Thanks for the advice. x

 

[george83]

I would say that if they are in the position of being able to fill your role easily they will be less worried about doing things by the book and more likely to work to an arrangement that suits you both. Our school currently has 3 out of 7 teachers on maternity leave and 2 normal vacancies that they haven't been able to fill from last year so our head teacher is keeping us all to our contracts but that won't be the case everywhere

 

[kealz]

Thank you, George. I hope so. x