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Headteacher treatment- would you complain

14 replies

mamaison · 20/12/2016 10:32

Situation is regarding teacher DH.

Appointed in Spring for Sept start as class teacher at local school DD attends. Job throughout agency for first term, contract supposed to start Jan. New HT also started Sept.

Works hard this term. Good feedback. Ofsted comes and gets good feedback. HT says not to apply anywhere else, fill out application for the perm role. End of term approaching so follows up and she comes up with something that could be improved. Not mentioned before and she says 'I guess I should have told you sooner so could fix before end of year.' DH says will have to look elsewhere as can't afford another term on this greatly reduced income. Few days later she calls him unprofessional in front of class TA re his class waiting in corridor.

Goes on interviews and offered every job. Tells School manager will be leaving as HT not there. HT says offer DH full time contract - but two points below salary point he's been on previously. DH declines as we can't afford it and upset by her treatment. Says he would like to leave that week as new school want him to do few days before Xmas. She says he not allowed to tell students he leaving.

Parents and students very upset and approaching his mother at her workplace for explanation and asking me at school gate.

Parent has told me she sent letter out saying she had to let him go as she had concerns about his performance!

He has been inspected four times by Ofsted (at times by three different inspectors) and always positive. As was inspectors feedback this term. Worked so hard this term to secure full time.

I have to see these parents at school, DH sees them at birthday parties, supermarket etc. New school is in same area.

WWYD? Let it go? Is there anything to be done?

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redexpat · 20/12/2016 10:43

Get a copy of the letter from the other parents. Is your DH in a union? They should be able to help with this. Also try ACAS.

I am not a legal expert by any means but the sending out of a letter giving a false statement seems rather dodgy.

Also the thing that needed improvement, was this done during an appraisal? Or an ad hoc discussion in the corridor. Did he ever receive any goals for improvement in writing? With a timescale? There is usually a process for these things that has to be followed or it can cause legal ramifications later.

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mamaison · 20/12/2016 10:55

Thank you for your response. His union is NUT. I tried to get him to talk to them before leaving but he was so shellshocked and we are desperate for the money so he just wanted to go.

There was no appraisal. He received his feedback other than Ofsted feedback. Had no other performance review or observations.

She only gave him the feedback when he asked to sort the contract. It was only verbal feedback. Regarding timescale, there were three weeks left in term but she said it wasn't enough time to sort and get contract done before end of term. No definite date given to revisit. It was about the children's presentation in books.

He was prepared to just let it go as he got the new job. But the letter is very upsetting as it's untruthful (she didn't want to let him go if she offered him full time job. She just wanted him to work for less money) and humiliating as we see the people who received the letter all the time. A parent has offered to give me a copy.

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viques · 20/12/2016 11:04

Wait until you see the letter. I have never heard of a HT badmouthing a leaving teacher, though I have heard of HTs refusing to tell parents in advance that a teacher is leaving . If she has made derogatory comments then your oh needs to take this further with the Union.

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mamaison · 20/12/2016 11:10

The parents were using the words 'disgusting' and 'outrageous' to describe the letter so I think it is quite bad. I don't even want to tell him until I have it.

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mamaison · 20/12/2016 11:15

From what I hear she hasn't dealt with it as well as she could have. She sent a supply teacher in who just said 'He's never coming back' and the children were in tears apparently.

This is her first term ever as a HT and it sounds like she has not handled many aspects of the situation as we might have hoped.

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noblegiraffe · 20/12/2016 14:40

You need a copy of the letter, which your DH needs to pass onto his union.

This sounds totally outrageous, and how distressing to find out just before Christmas and during holidays so it can't be dealt with immediately.

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samlovesdilys · 20/12/2016 17:10

Speak to union AND write to chair of governors, please, they need to know about this treatment - not only for your husband's situation...but what about the other staff there?? how do they feel about new Head?? Sounds like getting out was right thing to do but a crappy situation to go through.

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teacher54321 · 20/12/2016 18:13

I left a post with the LEA many years ago when I worked as a peripatetic instrumental teacher, I had been treated very badly and had left giving very little notice (but totally within my contract and completely legal). I had worked there for 6 years, had been a loyal member of staff, worked very hard etc. My ex boss sent an awful Letter about me to all my pupils, telling them that I had behaved appallingly. I had a phone call from the parent one of my ex pupils, distraught about the content of the letter. It said things that weren't true, but I was very young and naive and didn't pursue it. My boss also refused to give me a reference. I think your DH needs to contact his union asap, but also breathe a great sigh of relief that he is leaving to take a job elsewhere and has escaped.

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mamaison · 20/12/2016 21:35

One of the parents has just started working with DHs mum so he is going to ask her to see the letter. The students have been using connection to still try and send cards and gifts to DH.

HT has already made herself unpopular with some parents and staff for moving staff around classes this term. Parents have been upset about is the high staff turnover in recent years. She assured parents she would rectify this so perhaps this was her reason for making it sound like she HAD to let DH go.

However, she voiced her desire to staff to get PGSE students so she could 'snap them up' as staff. (Anticipating vacancies?) So sounds like she wants staff much cheaper than DH.

I worked at a school where staff were scared to leave because the new HT was a narcissist and they were scared of bad references. It's scary that they are let loose without a HR professional guiding them.

How do you get a letter to the governors without the head intercepting it?

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bangingmyheadoffabrickwall · 22/12/2016 20:49

My HT is a narcissist. Staff hate him and are scared to voice their opinions. Instead opinions were voiced and aired in the staff room and to me. HT has had many involvements with the union over various things.
Over the years she has made references to staff being in too high a salary band, new heads 'wanting their own staff' and over the past four years 'old staff' have left - some pushed and some destroyed - and replaced by staff who are known to some members of SLT -friends and family.
It is so deep rooted (the nepotism and their agenda for cheap staff who act like puppets) is the reason why I have decided to hang up my teacher cape and quit teaching altogether.
I have no faith or trust for fairness me honesty.

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Snazarooney · 22/12/2016 21:51

I too have worked for a bully HT. He should show the letter to an employment lawyer.

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Butterflystar76 · 23/12/2016 08:07

This is awful. Please contact Chair of Governors and local authority/CEO of academy chain.
Chair of govs email address should be listed on the school website or try the Edubase website.

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Fannyfannakerpants · 23/12/2016 08:34

Please get you DH to take this further. There are too many headteachers who bully and make our great teachers leave. It may also be worth contacting the Lea. A friend once worked at a school where the head had to show all references written to the LEA before sending them as she was known for lying in them.
Try and enjoy christmas. He knows that he's done nothing wrong and is very lucky to be out.

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rollonthesummer · 23/12/2016 08:39

Get hold of a copy of that letter now. It's a very foolish head who would put something like that in writing!

Can someone just take a photo of it and text it to you so you know what you're dealing with?

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