Been offered my first teaching job (subject to references) Just seen the position re-advertised :(

[screweduppotatoe]

So I am now worried that my placement have provided bad references.

I have had so many issues during my PGCE. I ended up with no mentor for most of my placement and my tutor had issues with me regarding childcare (I have four children. The youngest was 3 months when I started the course).


I was provided with set teaching hours before Christmas. After Christmas I was told that my hours had changed, which meant that I had to find additional childcare. I explained to my tutor that I had to find suitable childcare before I could start these new hours. She told me that "you should have thought about this before and maybe you shouldn't be on the course if you cannot fit your childcare around my placement." I had no idea that the hours were going to be changed. Needless to say I sorted out extra childcare, which cost me an extra £50 a week.

Loads of other issues came about over this time, resulting in my contacting my Union.

So anyhoo I'm am now so scared that this amazing job is going to be pulled from under me. Seeing the job re-advertised has worried me even more.

Not really seeking advice just need to have a grumble really.

[Lagoonablue]

Phone HR to check on progress on Monday. It is unlikely they would simply readvertise without telling you the job offer is withdrawn but you need to check.

Are you sure it is the same job? Or is it an additional post?

[screweduppotatoe]

It is definitely the same position.

I will ring them tomorrow to find out what is going on. I will be so gutted if I don't get a good reference. The institute and the people I have met seem perfect to me. I returned to education in 2007 having not one qualification. It's taken me six years to become a qualified teacher. Scared it is going to have been for nothing.

I would have thought that considering they interviewed candidates over four days that there must have been another desirable candidate. It says that "previous applicants need not apply," so I am guessing that that is not the case.

[Lagoonablue]

Seems strange they would not have contacted you. Hope it all works out. Post back when you have spoken to HR.

[TurnipIsTaken]

In my experience people don't want to give bad references nowadays, they just don't give one. In that case I would expect the job to ask you for another referee (this happened to me as HR were mistyping the email address so were getting no reply from my referee).

Hopefully it isn't your job. Is it possible they just need another English teacher or whatever it is?

It won't be for nothing. You must be so determined to have got your qualification so you will find another job even if this one doesn't work out.

[antimatter]

maybe it was mistake of the person who is looking afterthat website where you saw it?

[Whichisreliable]

The school would have told you. It is likely to be an admin error.

[SilkySocksSinkShips]

Is it possible that, because the position has been offered, but the process not complete, the school hasn't told the advertising agency the position is filled and they've simply put it up again?

[Redlocks30]

How long ago were you offered the job? Could it hd that they'd paid for the ad to go in for, eg three consecutive weeks?

Or is it a new ad with a new closing date?

Have you got an offer in writing? Have you been in to meet your class etc?

[screweduppotatoe]

I looked at the ad again. It is the same position, but the date is the 16th and I received a conditional offer in writing on Saturday, dated the 18th. Pheww...

Still very worried about the reference from my placement though. Last week I spoke to the chap writing the reference, letting him know that I had been offered the job. He did say to contact him once I had been working for a month, in order to let him know how I have been getting on. I hope he didn't say this to simply be nice.

I have just read a recent thread on here where a teacher had her offer withdrawn due to a bad reference.

[Lagoonablue]

I bet your reference is not bad. People won't write bad refs for fear of being sued these days.

[screweduppotatoe]

Well I have found out that the reason they have advertised the position again is due to them wanting five of us. Four jobs have been offered but they are still looking for another :)

The downside for me is that I need another reference, as I only put one down (I am sure I put two, but hey hoo.) All of my old tutors have finished for the summer so this is going to be a nightmare.

[PandaNot]

You need to put down the head teacher of one of your placement schools. They will be in a school over the summer and checking their email.

[trinity0097]

Uni tutor and mentor/head teacher in your last placement school is normal for trainees.

[screweduppotatoe]

The reference requests were sent out yesterday.

I have just had a phone call asking me if I wanted to come in tomorrow to meet a few members of the English team.