[Faz89]

Hey everyone m goin to do my pgce this yr, n thinkin abt future i wanted to find out whether as a nqt i can start working in october 2013 or even the second week of september as oposed to the first week- my brother is gettin married abroad and the dates are 3rd sept n 5th!! Would schools be sympathetic to this or is ir a must that nqts start in september? Please helpp!Would it be a disadvantage if i start later and if so in what ways? Or does it not matter when i start!

[Mr M]

If you want to be without an income for a few months, you can apply for a job with a January start.

If you apply for a job with a September start, there is no way in the world that you will be allowed to start in October. A Headteacher *might* consider a request for a couple of days off to attend the wedding unpaid.

[balloon_parade]

You might be lucky that they are inset days, but then that's not something to rely on really. It's a tricky one as it is immediate family but it would depend on your Head. For now I'd probably just concentrate on the course and think about that next year when you've qualified!

[sam.hunton]

(Original post by balloon_parade)
You might be lucky that they are inset days, but then that's not something to rely on really. It's a tricky one as it is immediate family but it would depend on your Head. For now I'd probably just concentrate on the course and think about that next year when you've qualified!

Since when were INSET days not obligatory?

[dobbs]

(Original post by sam.hunton)
Since when were INSET days not obligatory?

I was going to point this out too, but I guess she's working on the basis that if you were going to convince your line manager to give you a day off for a wedding then you'd probably have more chance of getting it if it were an INSET day, since it wouldn't cost the school anything in covering lessons.

To the OP - as someone else says, worry about it nearer the time! You won't be applying for jobs until around February at the earliest.

[balloon_parade]

(Original post by sam.hunton)
Since when were INSET days not obligatory?

I was thinking this may be more likely to take time off? OP might be able to attend the training somewhere else and it won't effect first impressions from the children, I'm not saying this will automatically happen but it's an idea. I've also got 2 days classroom set up inset so it will be different for each school won't it.

It's not a great situation at all really though.

[myrtille]

A similar situation is going on at the school I work in, but with a more experienced member of staff who has been appointed for next year.

The school is in a county where the term starts a week earlier than everywhere else (we break up for summer this Friday, and they start back on 27th August. The new teacher is moving from another region where term starts on 3rd September, and already has their family holiday booked!

What I've heard is that they're allowed to miss the first few days, as employers should always honour pre-booked holiday dates. But they're still considering changing their holiday dates as obviously missing your first few days in a job isn't very professional and isn't a good start for the kids.

Of course, you need to get a job first! If you don't succeed in getting an NQT job, and have to find other employment or do supply teaching, that would be rubbish but you would at least be able to attend the wedding.

[Faz89]

thanks for the replies..i think january start might be best out of a horrible situation..way too awkward and damaging to request off before i have even started the job(on a basis i do get offers)!its hard not to worry now because i know m gonna be behind everyone else come next year post pgce! will i still get the same support/treatment by the school in january as others get in september? i dread having to pick up and lead a class half way through the school year!

[affinity89]

(Original post by Faz89)
thanks for the replies..i think january start might be best out of a horrible situation..way too awkward and damaging to request off before i have even started the job(on a basis i do get offers)!its hard not to worry now because i know m gonna be behind everyone else come next year post pgce! will i still get the same support/treatment by the school in january as others get in september? i dread having to pick up and lead a class half way through the school year!

Don't worry. Schools are meant to support NQTs regardless of when they start or how long they wait after their PGCE.

On my course, approximately 50% have full-time jobs for September. A couple of have part-time jobs [perhaps an option for you, but it does mean that your NQT lasts longer]. The rest do not have jobs [self-included]. They are looking into other things, signing up to supply agencies etc. You don't need to panic too much about securing a role to start in the September immediately after your PGCE. There are loads of other options around, including the January start mentioned earlier.


I hope you enjoy your course and the summer before it.