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snowyheadcan the head legitimately ask one of the yr 6 teachers to move to yr 3 for a week to cover for the absent teacher, leaving their own class to be split amongst the 2 remaining teachers?
Yes, the head can deploy their staff any way they wish within reason.
Don't forget however that having children from a split class in your class (even 1 child) actually counts as cover and should be added to the total hours. I suppose 1 week out of the year might count as 'rarely'.
In the interests of school harmony you might want to work with the head and perhaps suggest that the week be written off for the year 6 children and have them split throughout the school to act as helpers with younger children rather than overloading just 2 teachers?
becktonboy the head can deploy their staff any way they wish within reason.
the head can deploy their staff any way they wish within reason.
There is a national agreement in place that states that staff should not cover for planned absences. The fact that this has been planned for a year doesn't make it an emergency.
Having rights is one thing - enforcing them is another, so check with your union - local or regional office if no school rep
snowyhead The trip was planned over a year ago.... We have been told there is no money in the school budget to cover the cost of a supply teacher. Thanks
As the agreement was signed by the Secretary of State for education, your head has no right to vary it unilaterally - and pleading poverty does not legitimise non-compliance.
See http://www.nasuwt.org.uk/system/search/index.htm?search=rarely+cover&stype=QUICK for more information - NASUWT but citing nationally agreed documents
A school can amend the timetable (even on a temp basis) for a period of time. At my last school (a state school) the school calendar had temp timetable shading during schools trips etc, where staff would be expected to have the same amount of contact time and PPA etc as usual but it might be with different classes than usual. (i.e. staff freed up from teahcing because their classes were away covered the classes of colleagues on a trip or took mixed up classes of leftover kids.
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