Job Hunting & Notice - Teacher

iammumtoone

to change the title - Edit post, Go Advanced, you will see the title in a box at the top.

Sorry not sure on the legal standpoint, maybe ACAS can help with this.

It might put you at a disadvantage for the interview but I can see where you are coming from, as long as it is allowed you have nothing to lose.

kingfisherblue

This type of problem is presumably faced by teachers throughout the country. I would suggest asking how to resolve it on https://www.tes.co.uk - the posters there have the specialist knowledge regarding working in schools. Teachers have to abide by certain rules that are specific to their career (such as notice periods, which are different to most industries). I'm sure that the OP will find the advice she needs on TES.

In referring someone to another forum, I don't mean any disrespect to the knowledgeable and helpful posters on MSE. I just feel that the OP will benefit from a more specialist website.

GwylimT

Some schools will allow unpaid leave for an interview, however if the interview is at an inconvenient time they are more than welcome to refuse.

What does your contract say about unpaid leave? My last school was very generous as they allowed us to take 1/5 a day per year!

getmore4less

I think you need to separate the issues.

You are leaving so plan your notice.

looking for another job will this be in schools then they understand the issues on getting time to do interviews. If outside the sector they may not.

my limited experience from family is the schools in an area know about each other and issues each have so can be simpathetic to people getting out of the known bad ones but also have a bit of an isite into the employees(like a lot of sectors it's a smaller world than a lot of people realise).

clearly if your fit note is specific that you should not be doing that job because it it causing problems then the scope of what you can do while off is broader than for ither reasons.

Fit note for being "ill" with something that makes you unable to do most things is different.

If you have been negotiating through changes that you don't like it is propbably clear the relationship is breaking down so the solution for both sides is you leave.

if it were me I would not care what the old place thinks about interviewing sick but what the new place will think, along with anything the old place might do to make the new place less happy.
Don't lie but then you don't have to tell the cuurent place you have an interview but the people interviewing might make ask questions that mean telling them.
If it is clear you are not well then I would be priming the interview by letting them know and are they happy for you to come in while not 100%.

pinkshoes

This is teaching so ignore any posts saying use holiday, as different 'rules' apply.

Firstly, contact your union, as they will support you.

You need to discuss this with your head/HOD and request the time off and state why. Ultimately, they do not HAVE to allow it, but they have to be 'reasonable'.

If a member of staff is wanting to leave, it is perhaps in the best interest of the school to let you attend the interview. If they refuse, contact the people who are giving you the interview and discuss with your current school a more convenient date if possible. Obviously interviews have to be during term time if going for a teaching job due to having to teach a lesson, and all candidates are generally interviewed on the same day and a decision made at the end, so it would be unreasonable for a school to refuse.

DO NOT pull a sicky, as if you get the job and need a reference, then they will put two and two together and it mkght backfire...

getmore4less

pinkshoes wrote: »

DO NOT pull a sicky, as if you get the job and need a reference, then they will put two and two together and it mkght backfire...

The OP is allready off sick with a note.

agrinnall

It's not clear whether the OP is looking for another teaching job or for something else entirely, but if it's the former than surely the new employer would understand that teachers cannot take time off during the term and would only schedule interviews at times when it would be possible for them to attend (evenings, weekends, school holidays)?

tomtontom

Would it not be very irresponsible going into any school with a chest infection, both for yourself and the children?

ultimatedingbat

Hello all
Thank you for more helpful advice

tomtontom - It is an upper respiratory infection, not contagious, but causing lot's of coughing, which thankfully now under antibiotics and other remedies is coming under control. The fit note is longer than would normally be given for such a condition due to the stress at work, however with the current climate I can not afford a 'stress' fit note.

Agrinall - I am looking for another job in schools at the moment, and looking outside of school as well. The two interviews which are coming up are teaching posts.

Pinkshoes - The union are aware of the situation. I am awaiting their advice. I haven't yet told my current school i am looking for another job, however I suspect they have worked it out.

kingfisher - I will look at TES thank you for the idea.

ultimatedingbat

Getmore4less - I have already begun to plan my notice. I have applied outside sector and will see what fruits the applications bring. I am planning on being 100% truthful with the other schools about why I am leaving.

In terms of going in not well, I never usually take sick. I worked last year for nearly a month with laryingitus and only took 1 day for a doctors appointment. I've had 4 days off (not including this period) in my teaching career: 1 day for a NASTY bout of food poisoning where I was not in any state to leave my bathroom, and the other was for a sprain, and the reason I couldn't work was getting to work was impossible, and had I been able to get a lift into work I would have (taxi's weren't doable, too far)

I think my current plan is go to the first interview which is during my sick period, and be truthful about the Monday one, and discuss this with my phase leader