Peri contract Options

[lorraineliyanage]

I am thinking about starting some Peri teaching work at a school locally. The school says that there is a contract between the Music dept and the student, but not currently one with the school and the peri teacher. As I am being paid by the school, I am keen to get something in writing with the school so that the terms and condition for payment, missed lessons, sickness etc are clear from the beginning. Could anyone give any details of their contract with the schools if you have one?
Thanks!

[SaxLad]

The contract with both students and peri teachers basically say that fees are paid termly in advance, and at least 2 weeks notice is needed if you cancel just one lesson otherwise that lesson becomes forfeit. To terminate at least half a terms notice is needed.

Does this help?

[Pixie*Porsche]

I go into schools on the agreement that I'm an independent music teacher so therefore the contract and responsibility for payment etc falls between me and the parents. I am still teaching privately. Though I have had to provide a crb to work with the children alone in school.

[owainsutton]

I strongly recommend joining the ISM - they have example contracts for employment (as probably applies in this case) and for self-employment. They also will give legal advice over how to proceed if a school provides one.

[lorraineliyanage]

I am interested in finding out what the deal is with payment from the school - how far in arrears are you paid? I have a watertight situation at my private teaching practice for dealing with lesson payments but I am not sure it would work out so well at a school.

[VH2]

I am thinking about starting some Peri teaching work at a school locally. The school says that there is a contract between the Music dept and the student, but not currently one with the school and the peri teacher. As I am being paid by the school, I am keen to get something in writing with the school so that the terms and condition for payment, missed lessons, sickness etc are clear from the beginning. Could anyone give any details of their contract with the schools if you have one?
Thanks!

The school is wrong. If you are providing a service (teaching music) and it is the school that is paying, then ther IS a contract between you, and any court would see it that way. They may not have a written document available, but that is just slackness on the school's part.

You NEED a contract, so that both you and the school are clear about your mutual obligations, and what redress you (or they) have if the other party fails to meet their obligations. If the school won't provide one you should provide your own and get the school to agree it.

It is not a solution for the school to claim that your contract(s) are with the students or their parents, because you are using the school premises, and the school is collecting the fees on your behalf, so even if you have a set of agreements with the parents, there still has to be a contract between you and the school that spells out what each of you is to do for the other.

[Pixie*Porsche]

I am interested in finding out what the deal is with payment from the school - how far in arrears are you paid? I have a watertight situation at my private teaching practice for dealing with lesson payments but I am not sure it would work out so well at a school.

Is the school paying you or the parents? I don't see why / how the school would pay for kids to learn an instrument or am I missing something?

[Czerny]

I'd highly recommend the contract we have with the school where I teach which details that we get no holiday pay, no sick pay, no guarantee of work beyond the end of term and that they can fire us with a moment's notice. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[owainsutton]

Is the school paying you or the parents? I don't see why / how the school would pay for kids to learn an instrument or am I missing something?

I know of schools which do, in deprived areas where most of the kids wouldn't be able to afford lessons.

[lorraineliyanage]

Pixie - The students pay the school, then they pay me minus their cut for room hire.
Am just reading the other answers now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[barry-clari]

Pixie - The students pay the school, then they pay me minus their cut for room hire.

This is probably the most common sort of individual school contract. I'm paid directly by the LEA in my schools, but I think that is less common in our patch. Read your contract carefully for small print, and be aware, as Pixie has already said, that you'll need a CRB for this school (which they'll help you out with).

And also, slightly off topic, especially as you're a pianist, have a look at the piano. It may be in 'November 5th' condition... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[lorraineliyanage]

Hi Barry - Ah, should have thought to quiz you about this!
Well the CRB is sorted as I have one from a school that I volunteer at if they will accept that as it is dated Sept 2011.

So when you get paid, how much in arrears is it? And do you ever come up with the issue of teaching and then not being paid for those lessons because the student hasn't paid up?

And finally, what is the deal if you are off sick and can't teach? Is there something specified in your contract about this?

Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Minuet3]

Hi Lorraine,

At my school, we are paid by the school. I get paid at the end of the following month, i.e. I get paid at the end of April for the lessons I taught in March. We do get paid regardless of whether the student has paid up, the school chases them, and eventually stops their lessons if they continue to not pay.

[maggiemay]

Is the school paying you or the parents? I don't see why / how the school would pay for kids to learn an instrument or am I missing something?

I know of schools which do, in deprived areas where most of the kids wouldn't be able to afford lessons.

Yes, this is true. It's what happened at the last school I taught, 2-3 years ago. In this case it was for kids who wanted to do gcse music.

[Minstrel]

Talk to MU/ISM - whichever you are a member of - and your accountant not only about the legal/contract side but also the tax implications as having a contract with a school can open up a bit of a self-employment can of worms if not set up properly from the start.