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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Bit unsure as to why i was told I had a job asap and now not a clue what's going on

30 replies

Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 16:13

I'm a supply teacher in Maths. There's a school within walking distance from me, and an acquaintance works there as head of dept in Maths.
I've always preferred supply due to its flexibility but wanted to try for a longer term role.
It turned out that they were looking for a long term Maths teacher at her school, perfect!
So I applied through the agency, who had liaised with the head of dept. Apparently they were really keen to get me in on cover, I could start as soon as references cleared etc.
I even refused other work as I expected to have this until end of July.

Anyway all cleared and ready to start, i had been talking about it on WhatsApp with this head of dept/ex colleague.
I have 2 days off for a wedding end of June, during school hours but the agency assured me this wouldn't be an issue.

So I'm due to start anytime now..the agency say they've told the school this and the school said "They'll know more later in the week".

I noticed the colleague had stopped asking me about it, whereas a couple of weeks back she was asking me if I had still been interested.

I thought I'd send her a msg to ask if she had any info regarding when they needed me to start. She replied with some weird message saying she didn't know and she was 'very busy' atm.
She also said 'anyway, don't you have those days off in June?" As if it were some sort of excuse.

Surely if they're 'really busy' they'll need an extra pair of hands asap?
I just tried to reply with a friendly 'no worries'
And she said 'i'll keep you in the loop. All the best!"

Just very odd and I am disappointed. Wish I hadn't refused other work but that's my fault.
It seems like they don't want me anymore, don't know what I've done wrong. Fair enough if they had seen me teach and decided I'm not right for the school but that's not the case.

Feel like I've wasted my time.

OP posts:
Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 16:14

Sorry that was long just wanted to get the whole story.
Just don't get why the head of dept was asking me to join them and seemed really keen, now giving evasive and vague answers

OP posts:
rattlemehearties · 06/06/2022 16:16

A bit confused about your communication through WhatsApp with a friend/colleague - it sounds like nothing official has been offered? Have you gone through an actual application process? Can you contact the school to ask for a start date or feedback?

meadowbleu · 06/06/2022 16:18

Sounds very much like your friend's giving you the brush off, can you not just ask her to be direct and let you know if you have the position or not, because you thought you had and have turned down other work. Tell her you just want to know where you stand so you can plan accordingly.

Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 16:21

Yeah sorry it sounds a bit confusing. I already know this head of dept from previous work, a few years back, and she lives locally to me so I occasionally bump into her.
I applied to a supply agency who said they had a Maths role, and it happened to be at her School.
So i was liaising both with her and the agency at the same time.
I had to go through the registration and interview process with the agency, but this head of dept even gave them a reference and put in a word for me, so why go to all that trouble now suddenly not interested.

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Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 16:23

It seems to be her that dictates the start date and so on as my agency have told me today "I'll need to liaise with the head of Maths."

People are weird, she was the one contacting me on WhatsApp asking if I was interested.

I'm going to give it one more week then if not I'm just not going to bother with her again.

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rattlemehearties · 06/06/2022 16:25

Sounds like she isn't actually the decision maker and has become evasive and awkward recently as she doesn't want to admit it. You should go back to the agency and keep it all in official written correspondence (not WhatsApp)

Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 16:27

The agency doesn't seem to know what's going on, they have been asking the school when I can start and they said they'll 'know more later in the week'.
I don't know what they're waiting on really, you know if you need a teacher or not.
I can't be bothered with evasive people who make excuses really

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Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 06/06/2022 16:28

Is it because you’ve gone via the agency and she thought it would be done in-house? So if they hire you now, they would have to pay an agency fee, whereas they wouldn’t if they had hired you direct. Perhaps that fee isn’t in the school budget?
just a thought - I’ve no idea if agency fees apply to the education sector as they do in other sectors.

Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 16:28

But yes you're right and luckily I've got an email trail with the agency

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Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 16:29

She did know I was with the agency and knew it wouldn't be in house.
It was only for one term in the first instance so they usually just go straight to agency rather than advertising.

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zingally · 06/06/2022 16:34

I'm also a supply teacher, for the flexibility it offers.

Personally, I would never turn down other offers of work until you were practically walking through the door to teach at this maths job.

I'd message my consultant with something like, "Hi Jane, as I haven't heard anything concrete back from X School about the maths teacher role yet, please just put me down for my regular day to day work in the meantime. I'd prefer to be busy, rather than sit around waiting for them to decide what they want to do! Thanks! OP"

Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 16:45

Yes I shouldn't have done I agree. They may still offer me that position but it's not looking likely.
I've never heard of a school say they're 'too busy' to take on cover/supply staff? How ridiculous tbh. She must think I'm a mug

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monkeysox · 06/06/2022 16:50

As a maths teacher you probably realise y11 have their second and third GCSE exams tomorrow and Monday so they will be really really busy.

Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 16:53

Yes I understand that, but it still doesn't mean she cannot even give me a vague starting time

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SlatsandFlaps · 06/06/2022 16:54

Ask her straight! "I'm sorry but I need to know now if I haven't been successful. I've been forced to turn down other opportunities and with respect, my time is just as important as yours. Thanks"

Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 16:56

I'm scared I'll do that, and then she'll come back with some perfectly reasonable explanation and I'll have embarrassed myself (it's happened in the past!)
But i will give her one more week then I'm going to try and say it!

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Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 16:57

The thing is she'll know as well that I've been depending on that (it is my fault i know)

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KatherineJaneway · 06/06/2022 17:01

Your agency need to step up.

Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 17:03

The agency said they've just asked her now, so it'll be interesting to see what excuse she gives them.

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2reefsin30knots · 06/06/2022 17:03

Sounds to me like maybe HoD assumed she'd be getting agency cover for something and went ahead with the process, but now the school have decided not to cover or to cover internally. Maybe HoD is hedging because she still hopes to persuade SLT cover is actually needed.

Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 17:51

Possibly..
Hopefully something else will come up soon anyway. It's made me wary of her

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OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 06/06/2022 17:56

I’m a cover manager-they’ve got someone else lined up. Is the school in a trust? I’ve lined up people before then been told they are bringing someone in from the trust, or they have someone else in mind. (Despite putting in all the spadework, making promises, getting he green light from hods) And this time of year there should be plenty of folk freed up from exam classes.

DirtyteaCup · 06/06/2022 18:00

Most secondaries don’t need teachers at this point as year 11 and 13 are gone and do lots of spare periods from other teachersx

Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 18:00

Yeah it's part of an academy trust.
Ffs..
Yeah exactly, year 11 are on study leave as of next week so it's BS.
I get it, but why can't people just be straight

OP posts:
Zoooooom · 06/06/2022 18:00

Why did she tell me it's "Soo busy and hectic" then. Just not an honest person

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