Teachers going to Glasto

[jonodillieono]

Well yeah, since it falls right in term time and teachers have set holidays how do they/you usually go about it? Pull a sicky?

I'm pretty set on being a teacher so I'm starting to get worried I might only have one more glasto I can go to

[Dixo]

I'm intrigued by this too. Looking at starting a PGCE in September and wondering if this year will be my last hurrah.

[cokebabies92]

My sister(secondary school science teacher) managed to get the Thursday and Friday off last year just by asking her head of department then the head teacher, she did have to beg slightly but she did have to make it back to work on Monday morning 8am.

[Stu H]

My wife is a teacher and it's gutting she can't join me at Glastonbury.

She managed to get a full week off (paid) for our wedding, but I doubt she would get very much for Glastonbury! At best maybe a Friday and Monday (unpaid) with plenty of notice.

[Captain_conehead]

Start my PGCE in Sept as well. This will be my 10th Glasto and i'm treating it as a farewell. Heartbreaking to think I might struggle to ever go back.

Maybe a sickie every 5 years or so. Seems weird contemplating my life without Glasto but i've wanted to teach for a long time as well.

Edited April 30, 2014 by Captain_conehead

[oneeye]

I prefer JD

[A Guy Called Matt]

One of the sacrifices you have to make if you want to be a teacher I am afraid.

My wife is a teacher but does short term contract and supply - so can choose when she works. Happy days.

[Dixo]

Start my PGCE in Sept as well. This will be my 10th Glasto and i'm treating it as a farewell. Heartbreaking to think I might struggle to ever go back.

Maybe a sickie every 5 years or so. Seems weird contemplating my life without Glasto but i've wanted to teach for a long time as well.

[danbailey80]

I have taught for 5 years.

I get the 4.36 from Paddington and the last train Sunday..

It's not the same but there's no way I'd every miss Glastonbury..

I might consider asking if I can leave an hour ealry this year but we'll see..

[kh24]

My other half is a teacher. He has been 'ill' once - leaving work early on Thursday (so convincingly acted he actually got sent home) and going back on Tuesday.

Whilst it was ace, it was a bit stressful - had to find quiet places to ring in every day, painstakingly avoiding suntan, along with the creeping paranoia that set in when he was back at work. He also had a crap week on his return.

I have no doubt that he will go again however, but perhaps not by 'being ill'. here are a few things we have devised, used or heard of other teachers doing:

- Just asking (this very much depends on the school - I know some heads are much more lenient than others. We have experience of this. Some are prepared to grant this on the condition that this is not made public knowledge (certainly not to the Governors or parents) or if it is a one-off. Downside that if it is a firm 'no' then you've shown your hand for the remainder of your time working there.

- A special occassion: you are best man/bridesmaid at a wedding being held in conjunction with a festival visit (either as part of the wedding celebrations or hen/stag - hey, they don't need to know finer licensing details). Or, you are attending an important family wedding a long way away from home so need a long weekend off (you'll need back story here of course - and just don't wave at the BBC cameras whilst you are there). Most schools will allow llimited time off for close family weddings

- Your own anniversary/honeymoon: You and your beloved 'met at Glasto' and/or want to spend your special anniversary or honeymoon there. Hey, this might be true! Again, most schools will discreetly allow some time off for this.

- An unplanned opportunity: You 'won' a ticket! Someone has unexpectedly given you a ticket! How fantastic!Say that you have unexpectedly got the opportunity to go and, whilst you can go just for the weekend, is there any chance of some extra time to really make the most of your unbelievable 'good fortune'

- Unpaid: not ideal, but if necessary you could request unpaid leave and see if that sweetens things.

- A trade off: lots of schools now do other things that teachers are involved in such as revision sessions, courses, summer schools, extra staff training, services elsewhere. Some of these involve working the odd day in the holiday (I'm talking about stuff that is above and beyond normal contractual obligations here). Some of these things mean extra pay- I know plenty of teachers that do additional paid stuff for a couple of weeks in school holidays. Can you have a couple of days off instead of being paid?

- Already planned: This only really works if you have moved jobs or are starting your first job. Worth mentioning at interview or as early as possible that you have an event pre-planned in June that will require time off and can this be accommodated

If you are open about requesting days off rememer to offer the following:

- Agree that you won't do this every year

- Agree that you won't tell everyone you know (for the most part I think heads are worried about any negative publicity)

- Offer something in return

if you are doing this in secret then there are a few more obvious pitfalls: don't befriend any colleagues on FB or Twitter, get profile review on FB, make sure your friends know not to tag you in photos/albums, mention you in status updates or tweets. (Depending on how tight-knit your local community is - you know - people knowing parents or staff, older ex pupils - minimise any way the news might spread.) You might want to consider going for maximum social media security or just coming off it for a few months. We are lucky in that we are in an area where pupils are a little more spread. I'd imagine in smaller towns where people know each other this is tricky. Try not to talk incessantly about Glasto/festivals at work. When you get back remember to remove your wristband (doh! I know someone - not a teacher - who nearly flashed this in a meeting after pulling a sickie) Clean your car and remove your Glasto car parking sticker. Oh god - and if you have been 'ill', slap on the sunscreen (because it will be a scorchio, obvs!) or you'll return to work with an impressive tan.

It's worth remembering that it is unlikely heads will agree to this every year but, hey, you might not want to go every year and there are the fallow years too. Pick your years wisely - when my other half came it was a vintage year cos absolutely loads of friends had tickets too.

You will, during your career, move schools which - as above - can mean new opportunities to go - so it's not the case that this will always be impossible

[WS_Jack_III]

I work at a school, I am support staff though so I just take it off unpaid.

[jonodillieono]

Thanks for the tips guys, I'd gladly take it as unpaid leave if they'd let me.

The first year is the one I'm most worried about since I've only just got the job and im asking for 4 days off to get wasted in a field when I'm meant to be teaching. It is after exams period though so there isn't really much left to do in school at that time so hopefully they'll be lenient.

Gonna have to remember some of those tips just incase I get rejected for unpaid leave

[gerardfenton18]

move to northern ireland schools just finishing then and exams are over!!! you'll only miss a few wind down days.

thats if you want to uproot your life to accommodate glastonbury

[jonodillieono]

move to northern ireland schools just finishing then and exams are over!!! you'll only miss a few wind down days.

thats if you want to uproot your life to accommodate glastonbury

[Amii]

My best friend is a teacher. Usually she joins us early Friday afternoon.

I'm in no way condoning this, but last year she rubbed tiger balm into her eye and was sent home with conjunctivitis. Sheer dedication (and stupidity), but it looked authentic, and meant she was too infectious to teach, but well enough to get to Glastonbury....

[UEF]

Go on strike

[gerardfenton18]

My best friend is a teacher. Usually she joins us early Friday afternoon.

I'm in no way condoning this, but last year she rubbed tiger balm into her eye and was sent home with conjunctivitis. Sheer dedication (and stupidity), but it looked authentic, and meant she was too infectious to teach, but well enough to get to Glastonbury....

[Amii]

hold on.... did she actually end up getting conjunctivitis

or did the tiger balm just give the illusion of it??

[shaunbirkett]

Im a teacher and never thought I'd get to go to Glastonbury until last year whilst I was on supply.

Its not ideal having to do supply teaching long term but im managing to go again this year. It may be the last time i get to go as hopefully will have a permanent place next year, so that sugars the pill somewhat.

[beeker]

Be careful.. If you ask to go and they say no, then you cannot pull a sickie as it would be blatantly obvious where you are and you will get caught.

Also, if you are denied leave for Glasto then in subsequent years your line manager will be aware of your desire to go and will be monitoring you. That bout of Apendicitis next June will not be believed.

Your best bet is illness or a family bereavement. Plan ahead.

I'm a teacher and I live for Glasto. If you are doing supply you can book the time off in advance. If you are full time permanent you will need to be underhand unfortunately.

[Chas]

Go on strike

[Lubic]

For some reason half my festival/music loving friends have decided to become teachers over recent years. One is going to Glasto for the first and last time this year because she knows its her last chance. So it's becoming increasingly difficult to get a crew together - I'm even afraid this might be my last unless I go solo! Most people I know think they've been there/done that when it comes to festivals, because they once went to Leeds when they were 16...

Bloody teachers!

[Captain_conehead]

Think I might be able to squeeze it in next year (especially if Fleetwood Mac play) as will still be at uni then. Where are you going by the way?

[jakeking5]

I've been teaching a few years and just drive like the wind at 3.30pm on Friday and leave at midnight on the Sunday, it's worth the money even for the 2 nights.

If you're doing your PGCE next year, you'll still have another year with the full Glasto experience as the PGCE's end in the middle of June.