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The leadership where I work are losing the plot

3 replies

CrinklyCraggy · 03/02/2022 18:58

It's a school. We have 6 people on the SLT. The head I have a lot of respect for, she's very fair and really wants what's best for the students and staff. She is indecisive though and often changes (improves, in her mind) things that had been agreed which leads to frustration among the rest of the leadership and staff.

The Deputy head is a very good figurehead, very good at public speaking, smoothig over issues with parents and staff. She's good at making people feel better, but she does need to be liked and actively avoids anything that would make her unpopular.

Then we have three slightly more junior deputies. All have their own strengths but they hate each other. Really nasty, undermining each other and TBH like children vying for mum's (the head's) approval, stitching each other up.

Then there's me, the most junior of all and the consumate professional Grin My role is quite different to all the others so I am able to stay out of the worst of their disputes.

Until recently it's been slightly dysfunctional but things did get done and we were running an "outstanding" school.

Lately it's all coming to a head, there have been some bad errors in things that make a difference to the children because no one has each other's backs and I think it's very likely the head will be off with stress before long.

I've tried to point out to all of them both individually and as a group that they're supposed to be leaders and more professional behaviour is needed, but they all think it's down to the others.

In my place, would you "do" anything?

OP posts:
Changedmane · 03/02/2022 19:47

I would definitely do some kind of mediation. Teamwork is essential to success. This behaviour is self sabotaging and they will all suffer for it. How hard is it to out on a smile and act like an adult?

Caramilk · 03/02/2022 21:10

I'm kind of in a similar but different situation. Sad thing is that before Covid we were a fantastic team, felt we were all pulling together for the same goal. We all admitted faults, and praised each other, and trusted each other.

But since we've come back off furlough we have issues. There's a split in the team, and ironically the person I used to most trust is behaving as you say:
Really nasty, undermining each other and TBH like children vying for mum's (the head's) approval, stitching each other up.

I'm not sure mediation will do much tbh. Either everyone will sit there and be nice, or there's going to be things thrown about which are half truths at best, but coming down to he said/she said.

My line manager (who is aware but not the full extent) said we'll have a staff meeting and try and get things thrashed out.
I've said my concern is that it will go into one group against another, which could very quickly tip into bullying or bullying accusations (one person has form for bullying by bullying accusations). She did see what I meant.

Heyha · 03/02/2022 21:16

I've worked in a school like that where the AHTs were all into factions under one of the two deputy heads. Unfortunately the only person who could have dealt with that was the head, and they didn't, so the rest of us just had to do our best to ensure the kids and staff didn't end up being collateral damage in the SLT feuds.

It's shit and I'm sorry you're experiencing it. It only resolved itself in that school by a retirement and somebody else moving on.

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