Help! New school making my life a misery :(

[glen20]

I'm an NQT teaching maths on a temporary contract at an EXTREMELY challenging secondary school until the summer in the West Midlands. However, I have decided to leave early as my mentor has been making my life hell by putting me under immense pressure.

She is demanding to see all my lesson plans PLUS resources PLUS PowerPoints a week in advance and they all have to be in Ofsted-style detail. She treats me and speaks to me like a child and has even been making snide comments in front of other staff. She even told me she was about to lose her temper with me! I am struggling to get these plans submitted to her on time as I was given no induction at this school and not once has she offered to help me, even though it is obvious I am struggling (she says other members of staff have told her that I am struggling). She has reported me to the deputy head and is making me look totally incompetent, even though I had a successful lesson observation from the deputy only last week.

She says she 'always gets outstanding'. To make matters worse, we are not allowed to photocopy anything without her approving them and signing a form in advance. Is this normal?!

What should I do? I am anxious all the time and thoroughly miserable. How can I survive these next few weeks?

[cricketballs]

you need to speak to your union asap - this is bullying.

The photocopying thing has never happened in any school I have worked in so I suggest that as well as speaking to your union you also keep a log of what is said to you, keep all emails etc

[TheFallenMadonna]

How is your progress as an NQT? I am a HoD and an NQT mentor, and I only expect to see a lesson plan for the lessons I observe. If there were concerns, then I would expect to see more, however, I like to think I would ask nicely.

I give my staff a small photocopy monthly photocopy allowance for last minute copying, but otherwise, yes, I do sign everything off. That is usual in my school.

[glen20]

Hi, the problem is the resources on top of the planning and lack of any help with anything. I cannot get my full nqt term done either as the school will not support me with this.

[glen20]

Do you think I am over reacting though? I know I'm kind of in the wrong by not getting the plans in on time...

[BackforGood]

I would question how you can have all your lesson plans in front of her a week in advance, as surely you need to know how the children have got on this week, to be able to get the next lesson right, depending on progress they make this week
Either way, that is way over the top, and, as cricketballs says, is bullying. If you are already being observed by the deputy, then they are already involved and already aware of you, so my first port of call would be to go and speak to them, and explain what you are being told you've got to do, and that you feel it's not a reasonable request. Depending on reaction to that, I would then speak to my union. However, at least you've been seen to try to resolve it first, which is always good.

[flumperoo]

It sounds like her demands are OTT to me. Who is your NQT mentor? Hopefully it's not her. If it is, I think you definitely need to go above her to talk about the lack of support you are getting and how much pressure you are under - find out if what she is demanding of you is normally expected at your school.

[redandwhitesprinkles]

Ofsted do not require a lesson plan at all do tell her to put that in her pipe and smoke it (actually just think that thought!). Go on the tes and look for the 5 min lesson plan, they only need evidence of planning, I.e. you are not blogging it. Ofsted think it is fab. DO NOT let this woman make you leave, stick it out. If you want to leave at the end of nqt then fair enough but don't let her ruin your career.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Are you registered as an NQT? If you are, you need to be very careful now because you do need to pass. If she is your mentor, then speak to the school's professional tutor about your concerns. If she is not, then speak to your mentor. Do all staff have to provide advance planning? If not, then you need to be absolutely clear as to why it is required of you. I have asked for evidence of planning before when a member of staff was failing to cover the spec, but even then not at this scale! You are not overreacting. Her demands are neither reasonable nor supportive.

[glen20]

Hi. No I am not registered as an nqt as the school would not cater for this even though I have the mentors for new staff. Thanks for your messages.
Glenda x

[trinity0097]

They cannot employ you without providing induction. Ring the NQT people at your local authority for advice, plus contact your union for advice.

[glen20]

I can get induction, but these 2 terms will only count as one as I have not been given the full teaching timetable (the rest is support/one to one/small groups/withdrawal). This is not the job I applied for!

[TheFallenMadonna]

You need to speak to your union. Really. We have a part time NQT, and it is fine, but she is permanent, and will complete her NQT year part way through next year. You need advice on how to go about getting QTS!

[SavoyCabbage]

My mentor was spectacularly shit in my first job and really if affected my whole career. She did not give me the help and support I needed and was a bad teacher and bitch to boot.

Looking back I wish I had done something about it, but I didn't know any better at the time.

[glen20]

I am getting induction, but as I say only for the one term when I should be getting two terms. I did not know this when I applied, it was only when I arrived that I was told I was actually 'part time teacher, part time support staff'. That came as a big shock to me.