I blocked my Headteacher on WhatsApp this week

You need to look.for a different career (ir better still a 'job'). Suck it up and get it done ... you are contractually required to do it.

The independent sector doesn't have the rules state schools have about working hours and workload protections. I am assuming the OP is in a state school of some sort and should absolutely block their Headteacher!

OP should call their union too if they feel uncomfortable or pressured as it is unacceptable to guilt someone in to working unpaid. I highly doubt they would send the same message to a more experienced staff member. Is the headteacher working in the building all summer and modelling this culture? Of course they aren't, and ironically they are the one who doesn't have term time protections on their directed time!

Please don’t go to the GP and waste their precious appointment time to get signed off sick just because you don’t want to fill out some paperwork. It’s unreasonable.

Unblock the headteacher and explain honestly why you didn’t do it. It’s only a bit of paperwork; it’s not the end of the world. You’re leaving anyway and it doesn’t sound like you’re bothered about getting another teaching job so it really isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Not fair on the child because you didn't want to do anymore work because its the summer holidays. You will be contracted until August 31st, you should fulfil your duties. If you need a reference, the head teacher would probably not give you the best one, you let them down.You should never leave any job on a sour note, you have no idea, who knows who, & you may find out at your peril.

If teachers are only paid term time hours and are unpaid for 12 weeks a year, then their wages are excellent, surely? If it's only a 9 month a year job?

ETA that's a starting salary of almost 43k if they had to work a standard year. Not bad at 23.

They are going on supply - not staying in the same school.

@FunPartyIdeas I've been a teacher for 13 years and I think the OP needs to just do the bloody paperwork.

I also think you are letting your own negative experience of teaching cloud your judgement, here.

If I was your employer I'd offer you no work as "supply" because of how you have conducted yourself. Seriously, you dont need to decide if this is for you. Based on your reaction, this will be communicated and you'll be offered no work. Youre still under contract and didnt complete work. Whether or not you knew deadline. It was yours to complete and you have until 31st August!! Honestly for a teacher you dont sound v.smart. I work in HR, when our zero hour contract do something questionable we simply dont offer them work and thats that.

@Screamingabdabz This fellow ex-teacher couldn't agree with you more!

Can the paperwork be completed by someone else or can it only be completed by you?

If it can only be completed by you, then you need to unblock the head and communicate like an adult, as you are still under contract.

If you don’t, and you keep the head block, then you need to withdraw your place as substitute teacher in September. I’m not sure why you would continue to work there if SLT is so bad?

Everyone telling you that you have a ‘moral duty’ to do this is the reason there is a recruitment and retention crisis in teaching. Too much martyr culture in education and it becomes expected and taken for granted.

I’m an ex-teacher and I’m with you op. You’re not letting down the SEND child. The SLT’s poor management and lack of support for you as an ECT has let the child down. Let them deal with it.

You are incorrect about working contracts in teaching. Look up directed time in teaching if you are genuinely interested, but this teacher cannot be asked to work in the holidays as they are only paid for term time days. Contacts cover until 31st August even though term ends in July because pay is split across the 12 months equally.

Legally = doesn't have to work and cannot be asked to (Headteacher could really get in a pickle if their union caught wind)
Morally = depends on the OPs views but if they haven't been treated well or supported and are newly qualified, I'm not surprised they don't want to go back to their workplace, unpaid, to complete this.

I know absolutely nothing about the ins and outs of it but if you want a future reference either for another teaching job or for a completely different career it might be an idea to u block and do the work.

So I think I would advise much more of a half way house.

Unblock the HT. Teaching is a smaller world than you imagine.

I would ‘ask if HT can screenshot/forward the form to you and you will be able to write some notes that can be added to the Senco’s input.

You are unable to go into school because you are not in the area/on holiday but you are keen to help where you can’.

There are lines of responsibility for this and there are people paid a lot more than you who will have to complete it.

This is entirely your LM fault. You didn’t know your objectives/deadlines because they don’t clearly communicate them. They didn’t supervise your progress/performance. They didn’t carry out an orderly handover.

BUT -
vulnerable learners are relying on this being done in a timely manner - as are their parents - do you want to let them down ?

And yes, all HT talk do you’ll be blacklisted if you don’t action this.

@Wizardonabroom
Agreed.
But all decent teachers should be working in their holidays. If they don't they are awful at their job and and must consider their role; they clearly don't care enough about the children. Of course they should put their own young children into childcare whilst they go into school and make their classroom fully ready with beautiful displays to be appreciated in September.
Any ideas why there is a recruitment and retention crisis anyone?

Goady

The school which I finished my career in did not have the normal pay scales as it was a private school. Certainly other members of the staff were required to complete work schemes, mark course work and attend courses during Easter and summer holidays and nobody ever complained !

Lazy

@Azandme What made you leave?

Lots of people who do not work in teaching are replying on here. Unless you are on the leadership spine (which you aren't, you are an ECT) you cannot be directed to work outside of term time. Contracts run until 31st August but you have worked your paid days already and the Headteacher knows this and is probably hoping you don't.

Agreed. Rubbish that they've only realised it now, and not really on the ECT, who should have been supported in that kind of thing.

Yes contacting her via WhatsApp is unprofessional I agree. If I were the OP I would email to say unfortunately I am on holiday for the next few weeks and what a shame I wasn’t supported to complete this work during term time as an ECT with additional time and a mentor intended entirely for this purpose (AI can help to refine the email).

I’m sorry OP you weren’t better supported but well done for getting out. Teaching does not get any better. It takes everything from you physically, mentally and emotionally. No matter how hard you work it is never enough. It’s relentless and thankless.

Good luck with the reference request.

I agree.