I have a family wedding on a Friday next year right at the beginning of term at the end of August and I was wondering if anyone knew if teachers (primary) can get days off for other peoples' weddings.
I would guess I will probably be doing supply next August as I am only going to qualify in June this year.
xx

I doubt it, it depends on your headteacher. You can apply for leave, I know my head would never give it paid though. I've always thought it's a shame, but we do get 13 weeks holiday a year so can't really expect it!

Yes - write a formal letter to you head asking for a day's unpaid leave and explain why - ham up the importance.
Mine did - and still paid me cos I'm such a hard worker!! :-)

I am a T.A, a nursery nurse at school was given a l.o.a for a wedding it was a family member, i think like Emb it depends on ya headteacher and if u supply then you can always mention it wen having interviews or if u r a teacher by then say once get the job, then they will be able to get cover and you wld haven given plenty of time.

In my experience, yes although it might have to be unpaid. The more notice you give and the more politely you ask the more chance you'll have. My previous headteacher could be relied upon to give you it paid if your collegues were willing to cover (ie split the class across the school). You can but ask!

the thing is I will only have started whatever post I am in about a week or so earlier and would feel really cheeky asking for a day off when I'm not supposed to have term days off.
Also I am worried about mentioning it in interviews as it may count against me as not being committed!!
Can't really do anything until next year when I know what position I am in I guess.
I don't even know what school I am going to be in this August let alone August 2009.
x

I am a school governor and any requests for days off during term time are brought to the governor meeting by the headmaster. We generally have a discussion about the request...e.g. what its for, how long, whether we can work around that teacher's absence etc and then make a decision. I can tell you that not too long ago we refused a request for a nursery class teacher to take a weeks leave right at the beginning of September because she was needed for the new intake of nursery children.
Each case has to be judged on its merits bur right at the begginning of term is a very tricky time to be honest. Best of luck Aries xxx
PS...the teacher who wanted the week off for a family wedding handed in her resignation a few weeks later!!!

Lol well wanting a week off is a bit excessive.
I would even maybe be able to come in in the morning if the wedding wasn't until 2.30 or something - and leave at lunch time.
Just don't wanna rub people up wrong way when jobs r so scarce.x

You dont have to mention it in your interview... wait and see if they offer you the job first and then if they do say you would live to accept the job, would it be possible for you to have the **th of August off as you have a previous committment on that day.
Thats exactly what my friend did when she got her job in January as her sister is getting married in june, her school was fine with it because they wanted her for the job and had enough notice to cover the day.

I know that if I asked as a one off my head would let me have the day off but I would probably have to take it unpaid. They have given me half a day to go to my sisters graduation this summer.
Wait and see if you have got a position by then and then ask them asap - I know it can be awkward when you've only just got the job but the more notice they have the better!!!

I was talking to a friend who is a teacher about us having a Friday wedding and she said there is no way she will be allowed time off. We ended up having a Saturday wedding because 5 of our guests are teachers!
I think it depends on the school, circumstances etc!

Hi,

I took a day's unpaid leave last year to attend a friend's wedding which we had to travel quite some distance to. I had to put my request in writing & it was taken to the governors & accepted. It's ultimately down to them. I'd started work there the previous September so I was just at the end of my first year. Like others have said on here, it really depends on each request's individual merits.

Good luck!
Dx

I work in a PS as an Office Manager and am getting married on a Friday in Nov 2009. I've asked for 6 days off unpaid and head/govs have granted me the time off. I agree with mrshampson2b by waiting until you have been offered the job. By then hopefully they will have decided that you are the person for the job and you will be giving them enough notice too. If you are on supply it will be no trouble - you'll just tell the agency you are not available on that day.

I think it is all down to the head and the way you ask. Last year I asked for a day off on a Monday as had brass band contest (national finals) in Harrogate on Sunday and would be difficult getting back down in time for work on Monday. He agreed as knew I would supply the cover work and was at beginning of term (unless have new starters beginning of term probably ideal time for day off!)

In the end I didn't need it as had appendicitis 4 days before start of new school year and missed the first three weeks anyway!


[Modified by: MrsBurbage2be on March 31, 2008 08:41 PM]

Thanks for the replies ladies.
My mum thinks I should be able to get it off (she is a depute head) but I guess it is at discretion of the HT of whatever school you are working in. At least I will be able to go to the evening do.
xx

I'm sure officially you are allowed a day of for weddings/funerals/moving home. Officially you are not allowed a day off for your own wedding! (as you can choose the day) Although I'm getting married in Cyprus in May half term and asked for 3 days off (as you need to be there 3 days before) - my head said no problem - 2 will be unpaid. Check on the NUT site....I'm certain you are allowed a day for someone elses wedding. Teachers in our school have had them anyway xxx

My HT is very considerate and always allows us to go to weddings /funerals etc, providing that we don't abuse the system of course! Realistically, you can tell your new school that you have had this day planned since before you started teacher training - afterall, sometimes weddings are planned years in advance! You could always say in application letter something along lines of "i hope to attend a wedding on __th Aug and sincerely hope that this will not jeopardise my chance of being appointed to this position" - that way they know you're keen on job, but also know about the wedding beforehand, so saves you asking for it later. Good luck!x

happytimes: I really don't think you are 'entitled' to any days off, I know you can only have two or three days for a close family berevement and I've known heads refuse a grandparent's funeral because they couldn't arrange cover and it wasn't a close family relative. I wouldn't assume entitlement at all, a lot is at HT/Governors' discretion. My HT certainly has said in the past that we need to apply officially for any time off, and that even if we apply, it's not automatically granted. You can at least ask!

I don't know if this is different in england tbh - I don't know what governors are??

Governors are independant people who work with the school like a committee....often parents, local eduaction workers etc. They have a lot of say on what goes on in the school re employment, events, budget and anything else you can think of. They support and advse with the head teacher. If you are doing supply next august, from experience, you might be lucky to even get work in the first week and you tell them when you want to work mostly not the other way around, so i wouldn't worry too much if that's the case. Like the others have advised though, if you're in a perm post, just be v nice and polite and ask away - it's all you can do.

Am hoping my sis-in-law can get a fri off in July next year for my wedding and i'm fairly confident she will, even though she has no job yet for next year....most places understand it's going to happen these days.

Good luck : )

Governors are independant people who work with the school like a committee....often parents, local eduaction workers etc. They have a lot of say on what goes on in the school re employment, events, budget and anything else you can think of. They support and advse with the head teacher. If you are doing supply next august, from experience, you might be lucky to even get work in the first week and you tell them when you want to work mostly not the other way around, so i wouldn't worry too much if that's the case. Like the others have advised though, if you're in a perm post, just be v nice and polite and ask away - it's all you can do.

Am hoping my sis-in-law can get a fri off in July next year for my wedding and i'm fairly confident she will, even though she has no job yet for next year....most places understand it's going to happen these days.

Good luck : )

Don't have the whole board fo governors thing in Scotland - never heard of it. Weird the big differences between the two systems.
Thanks for explaining xx

Like many have already said, it depends on your Head- I've been very fortunate to have been given days off for weddings and paid too! I have a new Head now so don't know if she'd be willing to do the same!

Hi Amore. I'm a business manager in a primary school. We wouldn't send this to governors for less than 3 days. You would definitely get a day paid for a close family member. If it was a friend then an unpaid day would be granted as we could get a supply and wouldn't cost the school budget anything. But as other have said, this does depend on your headteacher. You are also due one paid day for your own wedding and could take this on the end of the school holidays, the same as moving house (this is local authority procedure and not just pertinent to the school) xxx

That's interesting Snow White coz up here your not allowed to take a day off for your own wedding according to my mum - although you are usually granted a day off for a family members weddings.
Seems to vary according to area, country etc but all interesting replies.
x

Schools have to have governers legally now, Maybe it is different in Scotland. Usually though you have to apply in writing. If its your own wedding they normally say yes, or if you tell them of anytime off before you start they have to honour it (this applies with any job) your alternative would be to say nothng and do a sickie..a bit dishonest, but who hasnt chucked a sickie !!
sam
xx

Wow very interesting. My HT moved house in the summer holidays but still took her own day first day back in September! And I have a day paid on the end of the holidays as our local authority policy says I am entitled to it and also an additional 2 extra days which I requested and was granted. The policy also states graduation. Anything other than that it states that a HT should do their best to accommodate any requests, although not necessarily paid. Obviously different in England x

Hang on, if you will be doing supply, you tell them when you want to take time
xx

yeh ardagh i think only private schools have 'governors' up here if at all.
Big decisions generally lie with the head teacher. We have PTAs (parent teacher associations) but they would not have any say in staffing issues.
xx

No PTA wouldn't have a say. On the topic of supply, we have employed a teacher for 2 terms who was already committed to one day per week at another school but we have still worked around it. If you are upfront, one day won't make any difference xx

Oh well I guess I will just need to wait and see.
The school I am on placement at is lovely and HT is very nice so if i was in a school like that then I would think it wouldn't be a problem but I have had experience of right bulldogs as HTs before
x

Hi, it does depend on your head teacher at the time, like others have said, but, to be perfectly honest if it is that important to you it should be fine-just go anyway lol! i really don't see the problem if you're 'comitted' to it when you start your job. Anyway I wouldn't be worried about it now as you don't even know if you'll be doing supply then..and if you are, then it isn't an issue. hope your placement is going well!

I think I was just worried about it jst now vicsh as they have just booked the wedding this week and my initial thought was - bugger what if I can;t make it lol.

Yeh placement is going ok thanks - just exhausted lol. Can;t wait til Friday and 2 weeks off yay. How long have you been teaching??
x