Job Discussion Forums

Red86 · Joined: 13 Nov 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Ireland

I was looking for some help. I am filling in a form for a company who will try to find me a job and one of the questions is "What is the maximum number of contact teaching hours per week you feel
you could happily maintain over a long period?" I know that contact hours refers to hours in the classroom and there will be a lof of work to do on top of that what with lesson planning and so on, I was thinking 30 hours but I'm worried that that will either be too few and they will think I am lazy or that it will be too much and I will end up having no free time, I was hoping for some advice as to what I should put down. Thank you all very much.

Red

phis · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 250

This depends on the school and can vary between 20-25.5 hours/week on a full time contract (i.e. 35-40 hour/week of which 20-25.5 will be contact hours). Many schools contract you for 25.5 teaching hours/week. This is generally to cover them if they have a sudden overload of work, i.e. to cover for sickness, vacation, etc. However, you will frequently find yourself teaching less than this, averaging out at 20-22 hours/week. Your salary will remain the same whether you work the full scheduled hours or less.

You shouldn't be compelled to work more than 25.5 contact hours/week, although you may ocassionally wish to volunteer for overtime with additional pay. Don't forget you have to prepare your classes, and the more classes you have the more preparation time you will need. 30 contact hours/week is far too much on a regular basis.

Sorry I can't be more exact, but the hours/salary vary so much between individual schools. Do make sure that the salary reflects the number of contact hours/contract hours you work.

Red86 · Joined: 13 Nov 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Ireland

Thanks Phis, that was actually very helpfull. I will put down 25.5 as the maximum. Wohoo! One step closer, thanks again!

Ozindo · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 40 Location: Indonesia

25.5 sounds good. Actually, I'm familiar with contracts that specify 23 contact hours a week, with a maximum of 30. If you work 30 it's not the norm and you get overtime rates for anything over 23. You're expected to work a 40-hour week, which includes non-teaching duties, lesson preparation, professional development etc. I think it's generally accepted that teachers don't just present lessons, there's a lot of other duties to perform.
Best of luck.