Weak weak weak SLT

[theduchessstill]

What can be done? Nothing, I suppose? Behaviour getting worse by the day, everything is put back on teachers and nothing on the students/parents/SLT. They are always in their offices and seem oblivious to what is happening in the school. Their manner isn't nasty, unlike some you hear of, but HT in particular is pretty sly - plays mind games and it's just depressing.

Is there no recourse for teachers to raise concerns in situations like these, or do we just wait for the inevitable OFSTED and hope something comes from it that doesn't impact negatively on those of us who have been powerless to affect change?

Obviously looking for a new post, but I need to at least match my current salary and want the same role, so I'm limited to say the least.

So desperate - feels like each day is worse than the last atm.

[noblegiraffe]

Have you had a union meeting about it and could union reps take teacher concerns to the head?

[FlamingGusset]

Sounds dreadful, OP. What are the main issues? Do you have any colleagues in agreement with you?

[theduchessstill]

I know staff across school feel the same about behaviour as it was raised in a pretty noisy recent union meeting. Concerns were fed back, a response was unveiled with a fair bit of fanfare; it fizzled away to nothing within weeks. Behaviour continues to deteriorate.

My own department is particularly unhappy for various reasons I won't go into, but as a core subject the support we receive does not match the pressure we are under.

I just think these people are out of their depth but won't admit it and it seems little can be done, if anything.

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

Have you raised a complaint with the Governing Board? Are they aware of the behavioural issues?

[theduchessstill]

The governing body is one of the main reasons we are where we are . Can a complaint to them be made anonymously? Even if it was, I suppose it would be obvious anyway.

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

Right, well if the GB are ineffective that does make it very difficult. You can make an anonymous complaint but then the GB can’t use proper procedure to follow it through (i.e. inviting the complainant in for interview etc). They may therefore be able to use the anonymity to ignore the complaint. Are other stakeholders aware? Students, parents, other teachers? Is pretty much everyone except the SLT in agreement about the issues?

[theduchessstill]

Hard to know about students and parents. School does not feel happy at the moment, but students I imagine wouldn't be in a position to identify the cause. I imagine they would be more likely to blame individual teachers. Parents I have no idea, but we have a lot who fail to support the school, and I believe appeasing them is part of the problem. Plenty of teachers feel this way though.

[noblegiraffe]

What’s staff turnover like? If lots of teachers are quitting that might kick the governors into action?

[helpfulperson]

Have you applied for a job as SLT since you know how it should be done?

[theduchessstill]

I don't know how it should be done so I wouldn't put myself in that position. I think it's fair to say that those who have put themselves there, and are being paid very well to be there, should have an idea of what to do and shouldn't need me, or anyone else being paid a fraction of their salary, to tell them how to go about it.

And the longer this goes on, I'm getting more and more of an idea of how it shouldn't be done.

[noblegiraffe]

I think it's pretty easy to be able to spot problems in a behaviour management policy where SLT aren't visible and staff aren't supported.

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

What’s staff turnover like? If lots of teachers are quitting that might kick the governors into action?
Should do but sadly ime doesn’t if you’ve got a weak, ineffective GB or, even worse, a GB in thrall to the HT. Is it just behaviour policy that is the problem or other areas too?

[theduchessstill]

There are areas of school with real staffing problems and these are being scapegoated I feel - or their HODs are seen as to blame, rather than it being a symptom of the school's problems. Thinking about it, there're a lot of divisions...

Results have declined over the last two years and will again this year imo. I think that stems from behaviour ultimately, and a general lack of vision.

[Piggywaspushed]

Don't rely on Ofsted. they spend the whole time with SLT and a skilled SLT will show them the paperwork and evidence that everything is great. Most SLTs are highly adept at selling a 'narrative'.

We waited for Ofsted to notice that our students are loud and boisterous in the corridors and that behaviour had declined (amongst other things) and they said our students were immaculate. Our head seemed to be amused by this!

Also, you can bet your bottom dollar when Ofsted are in, your SLT will suddenly crawl out of their shellholesoffices!

[noblegiraffe]

My friend just went through a very similar-sounding Ofsted, piggy. If it's any consolation, their staff did fill out the staff questionnaire and it made bog-all difference.

[Piggywaspushed]

I think so many Ofsteds are like that noble...

Still annoyed about he staff questionnaire though. Official response vie union rep has come back as 'there wasn't time'. Oh yeah.

[theduchessstill]

FFS, I thought as much. We had OFSTED quite recently and it went exactly as Piggy described . Things have got a lot worse since then though. What a fucked up system.

[Piggywaspushed]

Maybe we're at the same school duchess...