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AIBU?

AIBU to say something to SLT

51 replies

Sunshinerainbows123 · 11/02/2017 07:48

I'm a teacher at a college that recently got downgraded after an ofsted visit to requires improvement. We currently don't have a principal and the rest of the senior leadership have been completely disorganised. After the requires improvement news all teachers were sat down and told by the chair of governors that we need to improve our teaching and results or get out. The next day we were told by senior leadership that senior leadership only got requires improvement due to teachers bad performance and are taking no blame in the part they played at all. I'm beyond furious. I put in so much extra time and go above and beyond to the detriment of my family, when I was observed the inspector was complimentary about my lesson so I feel aggrieved that I'm being told I'm rubbish. We've also been told redundancies are likely and one slt turned round to me and the rest of the maths department and said we only have to give you 4 weeks notice just so you know. I want to say to slt what's your plan to improve why are you giving is absolutely no direction other than every single student must get higher than their target grade. I've already got a job interview next week as it turns out there's quite a lot of maths jobs around so I feel like resigning next week and leaving at Easter as the environment is so toxic but don't want to let my students down just before their exams. Sorry for the rant hoping someone's been through something similar and can give advice

OP posts:
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SmileEachDay · 11/02/2017 07:50

Contact your union. SLT aren't allowed to throw around comments like that if there is a redundancy process in place.

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Mimisrevenge · 11/02/2017 07:52

Is your school in Buckinghamshire by any chance?

It sounds like your s lt are not supportive, in my experience the best thing to do was leave. There are nice schools out there!

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Heirhelp · 11/02/2017 07:54

Your head said similar after we got a good but we were an LA school so he could not get away with stuff.

SLT are burying their hands in the sand. If you don't mind the drama you could say just like you it is not my teaching that is effecting results but it is purely the students I teach. In fact as it is all about the students I am just going to put a text book on the table and leave them to it. ( I would never do this or say this but I can see why staff would want to).

Either ignore and waited it out. Or wait for and take redundancy money and do supply/tutoring. With maths there should be a big demand.

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Heirhelp · 11/02/2017 07:55

Yes to getting the union involved. They can go not the route of vote of no confidence if needed.

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Butterflystar76 · 11/02/2017 07:55

Completely agree.. find somewhere you are respected and nurtured. You are in a sellers market as a maths teacher! DM me, you'd be more than welcome at our school!

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DumbledoresApprentice · 11/02/2017 07:57

The attitude of the SLT will be a huge part of why you got RI. They obviously don't understand that they are responsible for teaching and learning and things will get worse not better if they think telling the staff it's their fault will magically fix everything. I'd get out quickly in your position. As a maths teacher you will be in demand. The fact that they don't realise that demoralising your staff in shortage subjects until they want to leave is a poor long-term strategy for improvement is just a further sign of their incompetence.

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Trifleorbust · 11/02/2017 08:02

Decide whether you want to work there either such unsupportive management.

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echt · 11/02/2017 08:08

one slt turned round to me and the rest of the maths department and said we only have to give you 4 weeks notice just so you know.

That statement alone can stuff the school's chances of making you, the hearer redundant. Go straight to your union and tell them what has been said to you. Silly fuckers. If I was the HT and knew a member of SLT had said that, I'd make sure they were first.

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MaisyPops · 11/02/2017 08:11

The college woulsnt have got so massively downgraded if the quality og leadership and management was good.
They're passing the blame here. Go straight to your union and have it on record.

Or, email them so theres a date stamp saying 'just to clarify that you said you only have to give me 4 weeks notice ro sack me. Naturally as someone with great resukts who is working hard I just need to know for my own planning.'

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StripeyDeckchair · 11/02/2017 08:13

I work in a school that is RI, I chose to move there to be part of the change.
The SLT is ultimately responsible for everything to the Governors & this action says they are scared & trying to cover their backs to me.

Maths teachers are in high demand (most teachers are) so if you decide to move on then you should be able to find a new role without too much problem.

Personally if I couldn't work with the SLT then I'd have to go, they set the tone & direction of everything.
I understand your concern for your students, it is admirable and what I see in most of my colleagues but working in a RI school is tough, you have to consider yourself & your work-life balance and you med to lng term mental health & resilience.

Good luck with whatever you decide

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VanillaSugar · 11/02/2017 08:13

Go and speak to your union but don't rock the boat too much as you still need a good reference. Quietly go for other jobs and leave with dignity.

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larrygrylls · 11/02/2017 08:17

I wouldn't bother with the union. There is so Koch demand for maths' teachers. Interview as much as possible and ignore your SLT. Do your best until July and leave with your head held high.

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OurBlanche · 11/02/2017 08:20

DO bother with the union. That is what they are for, why we pay/paid our dues.

Your SLT are in freefall and seem to have no idea/be ignoring all common sense and regulations.

Don't put up with it.

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jeanne16 · 11/02/2017 08:23

All these suggestions of contacting the Union! What precisely do you think the Union will do? In my experience, whenever anyone contacts them about anything, they do precisely nothing!

Get a new job, that is the only solution here.

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echt · 11/02/2017 08:25

Sorry, OP. I didn't read your post properly. Say nothing to your SLT. Keep your powder dry and your union informed. The poster who say don't bother with the union needs to think about what the effect this could have for staff who don't have maths teacher clout.

I've encountered an HT who would give a bad reference to keep staff, though I imagine these days a mathematics teacher could be Satan incarnate and still get their pick of the jobs.

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trinity0097 · 11/02/2017 08:26

If you are a decent Maths teacher it should be easy to find a job. My prep school advertised last year for a head of maths. - no applicants. A prep school nearby advertised last month for the same, got 4 applicants, only two suitable to interview and neither good enough to get job.

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ilovesooty · 11/02/2017 08:27

Unions in my experience were often hamstrung by their own members who called them in and because of SLT influence wouldn't act on the advice they were given. Teachers can be their own worst enemies and some of the posts on this thread merely confirm it.

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SmileEachDay · 11/02/2017 08:27

Jeanne - I disagree re the union - some are a bit crap - but actually what they are good at is ensuring procedures around redundancy are followed. That's actually very important, to make sure everyone is treated fairly. The law is very clear about how it has to happen.

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SaltyMyDear · 11/02/2017 08:27

Def you need to leave.

No point in talking to SLT. Just need to decide if you want to leave at Easter or July.

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elodie2000 · 11/02/2017 08:31

OP! You are a Maths teacher and SLT/ Governors are trying to threaten you with redundancy? Grin
Believe me, they are sh**ing themselves.
If they decide to cull the lot of you, jolly good luck to them! Grin
Great schools often don't get a single applicant for core subject jobs. As a failing school, seriously, they can't afford to lose hardworking teachers. They know that, they're just trying to use bully tactics in order to excuse their poor management.
Say nothing, smile, do your job and keep one eye on TES jobs for a better deal!

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samlovesdilys · 11/02/2017 08:33

I agree contacting union, in my experience can offer great advice and support. I would also go to the governors....do other teachers feel the same as you?? Have internal observations of them said good teaching?? It is, as everyone is saying, ultimately on the SLT and they need to step up...or leave...!!

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Trifleorbust · 11/02/2017 08:35

What elodie2000 said. Their jobs are at risk far more than yours - what are they going to do, sack all the Maths teachers and hire ten more from the bottomless pool of qualified Maths teachers who want to work in a RI school? Laugh inside, nod sagely, keep focusing on the kids (exams soon) and look elsewhere for something better.

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TheHoneyBadger · 11/02/2017 08:43

you are definitely in demand - i now work as a supply teacher and can assure there's a shortage of teachers in seemingly every subject in my area let alone maths and science. as for good teachers there is a huge shortage of them Wink and i am being offered longer term placements constantly but am turning them down.

i would personally say to the slt seeing as you are making clear i am not valued and i am being threatened with redundancy i think it best to inform you that i will be looking for other positions as there seems to be a real shortage of maths teachers and i would be happier where i am valued. if you are a indeed a hard worker and good teacher they will bend over backwards to keep you and you'll know it was one idiot going to far with his bully tactics and in the wrong direction. if they say, 'fine', then crack on with job seeking.

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TheHoneyBadger · 11/02/2017 08:45

honestly when people call your bluff call it back. it might wake them up to the fact that they will lose good staff this way and if they think it's a nightmare now wait till they're short staffed and trying to recruit with the atmosphere they've created.

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Trifleorbust · 11/02/2017 08:51

Also, redundancy is absolutely NOT a performance management tool. Your role is either redundant, or it is not. To make you redundant they would need to decline to hire other Maths teachers - is that the situation they are in?

There are other mechanisms for getting rid of staff, like new contracts and making everyone reapply for their jobs, but that would (I believe) only happen if the school came under new 'leadership', ie an academy takeover.

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