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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I feel like I might be being treated unfairly at work

53 replies

TS45 · 25/05/2023 20:44

I’m a primary school teacher.
I’ve been at my current school for 3 years.
The first two years, I was covering other people’s maternity leaves. I was kept on temporarily for the third year (current year now). A permanent job is about to be advertised and I was told that even though I fit the school well and they think I’m a great teacher, the post will be advertised permanently so that the head can get a sense of who else is out there. I’ve been told to apply but not to assume my name is on the job and that I have a 50/50 chance of getting it. Now to me, I really feel like if they did think I was a good teacher, they wouldn’t feel the need to look around. I’ve given this school my all for the past 3 years. Coming in early, staying late. Devoting my free evenings to holding sports clubs and volunteering at our community events. I’ve gone above and beyond.
The whole situation has really hurt me and has made me feel so unappreciated. Would you even bother applying?

OP posts:
luckylavender · 25/05/2023 21:23

That really is how the works works OP.

Sunsetred · 25/05/2023 21:24

I had this but slightly different as it was for a promotion. It was a vigorous interview process and I was up against more experienced external candidates. I got the position and later found out I had scored the highest. I knew I had to really prepare for the interview and I really did. You can do it. Prepare and impress!!

luckylavender · 25/05/2023 21:25

world

Royalbloo · 25/05/2023 21:27

Tell them you'll apply but you also have several other applications pending.

Perception is reality - make yourself more scarce and demand attention.

openstop · 25/05/2023 21:28

They are being honest and upfront. It's not even about who is best. People might bring different ideas.

FloweryName · 25/05/2023 21:29

they told me I’m a great teacher and a good fit for the school, but then said they want to see what’s out there. They said I don’t need to worry about my own performance, I need to worry about how good other people are and because of that, they can’t guarantee me the job.

This person sounds like three just a bit of a twat tbh. Haven’t they noticed that there’s a teacher shortage?

Palava57 · 25/05/2023 21:30

I have been in this situation & it was stressful - especially doing a presentation in front of colleagues - but I still got the job. A colleague who was too informal in the interview & omitted to say things in detail because they knew her did not…

FrangipaniBlue · 25/05/2023 21:31

Thing is, they can't tell you that you're the favourite or likely to get it, even if you are!

They have to seem to be being transparent.

They've told you that you're a good candidate but are preparing you that there may also be "better" candidates (or there may not be, neither you nor they can know that!)

I don't think they've done anything wrong.

topcat2014 · 25/05/2023 21:31

Everyone saying "they have to advertise".. I'm not sure that is actually true.

It probably suits the employers but it's not a "law". People get temp contracts made permanent all the time

Righthandman · 25/05/2023 21:31

OP are you in England? Have you held consecutive temporary posts for three years without breaks in contract?

If you have held a post continuously for more than two years, even a string of temporary posts, you are effectively a permanent employee in legal terms and have the same rights around redundancy as a permanent employee.

I am guessing the school either don't know this, or think they have cleverly worked around it (they probably have not).

Haywirecity · 25/05/2023 21:31

I don't know what you expect them to say, really. They can't tell you the job is yours, even if it was. That would be unfair on the other candidates. They're saying you're a great teacher but there might be someone better - which is always true. They might have couched it badly - I don't know because this is how you heard it not necessarily how they spoke it - but at least they're being truthful.
And if, as others advise, you left and applied elsewhere, wouldn't you want you and your application to be judged on your merits against any temporary teacher at the school, rather than it being a lip-serving process where the job was already spoken for?

TeaParty4Me · 25/05/2023 21:33

This is what happened to me - I was doing the job for 2 years due to an extended maternity cover but the teacher decided to be a SAHM and not return.

Initially I thought I would be just given it, considering that I was doing the job really well and I’d had no issues in 2 years but I accepted that I may need to officially apply.
I was so shocked when I found out I needed to go through the interview process and I absolutely smashed the interview questions and lesson because I knew exactly what they were looking for.
So when I didn’t get the job I was obviously very shocked and upset.

This then happened to my colleague and she didn’t even get an interview and it was given to someone who lived 7 hours away who then struggled to move down and they were begging her to do cover whilst the other person found somewhere to live.

I believe the person that got my role was a friend of the head and the person who got my colleagues role had a very good education (but no teaching experience).

The great thing is is that they didn’t even last 1 year each. One was one term and the other who took ages to move down lasted 3 terms. Whilst me and my colleague would have stayed there for the foreseeable.

So please don’t take it personally as it won’t be a reflection of you at all.

Righthandman · 25/05/2023 21:38

Sorry. Just an additional thought. Suppose they have employed you temporarily in three consecutive academic years in three separate contracts with breaks over the summer. That's a rubbishy tight-fisted way of going about it but it happens. It's still arguable that you have the rights of a permanent employee because the work is 'seasonal' ie within term time, and it's the same job, and they employed you each time. The job clearly needing doing, will continue to need to be done, and you were apparently the best person to do it three times in a row.

Littledogball · 25/05/2023 21:40

You are being a bit silly. To put it in simple terms, they like you, they think you are an 8 out of 10, but they want to advertise and see if they can get a 9 or a 10. Perfectly sensible and reasonable!

Hankunamatata · 25/05/2023 21:40

Even if schools loves temp teacher they have to advertise permanent job.

FraserNow · 25/05/2023 21:41

roseheartfly · 25/05/2023 20:50

They should've just said that they have to legal advertise and therefore it needs to be a fair playing field.

To make you feel like crap shows what they are like and quite frankly I'd be keeping my eyes open for other opportunities. You know.. 'get a sense for what's out there'

This.

user1471453601 · 25/05/2023 21:42

Surely you understand that being good at your job, but others could be better is a reasonable position for the school to take?

Being good (great) at your job doesn't suggest no one could ever be better, you know?

it seems to me the school is saying "you are the front runner, but someone else may be better and pip you at the post".

fair enough, as far as I can see. The school says you are a good fit and great at your job, but someone else maybe a great fit and fabulous at the job.

imagine how you would feel, if you were the fictions fabulous teacher and you didn't even get an interview?

thesquarewindow · 25/05/2023 21:44

Speaking as a school governor I wonder if this is because an ECT would be cheaper. Schools are beyond broke. No consolation I know except that it's not personal

SeasonFinale · 25/05/2023 21:44

Apply but apply elsewhere too.

I bet they are looking to see if a NQ applies so they get the extra funding!

Greenfairydust · 25/05/2023 21:49

I would not even bother to apply because from what you have been told they don't really value you and your skills.

I would find a job in another school.

It is perfectly right that they need to advertise to follow a fair process but it is not OK for them to be dismissive of your work and make you feel that they want someone better...It just sounds like they are taking you for granted.

YouknoweverythingJonSnow · 25/05/2023 21:56

If you've been there two years then legally you are a permanent employee

SprinkleOfSunak · 25/05/2023 21:56

I'm a Secondary School Teacher and have been in a similar situation to you.

All I can say is that you have probably become a bit too expensive for the school, and they're probably desperate to save a few thousand and get an ECT in.

Since being on the upper pay scale, it has been a complete nightmare to get a teaching job. Prior to that, I used to go for 1 or 2 interviews and then get a job - not anymore. At my last round of interviews, it was the youngest candidate (early 20's) who secured the position each time, and it took so many interviews for me to secure something.

I have read articles which are stating that many others are having the same problem, and that those on the UPS would be expected to seek a position of responsibility, such as a Head of Department where they perceive you to be more value for money, and an ECT can't do it, rather than in a standard teaching role they can get an ECT to do (no offence to ECT's).

Strulch73 · 25/05/2023 21:58

I would go elsewhere. A change is as good as a rest and if you have already worked your socks off to prove yourself then their interview process should just be a tick box exercise only to prove they are following the correct procedures and they should give you the heads up on this. Employers don't seem to care about hard work and loyalty anymore.

CabernetSauvignon · 25/05/2023 22:00

It may depend on other gaps and future plans. For instance, if they had more children with SEN coming into the school, or if the SENCO is likely to leave soon, they might someone with that experience; or they might want someone who can fill a gap in a subject area or something like PE, music or drama; or someone who will be able to slide into one of the SATs year groups when the relevant year group leader leaves soon; or someone who is potential assistant or deputy head material; etc etc etc. They're acknowledging that it may well be that the person who potentially fills that gap won't materialise, but it that person is out there they don't necessarily want to close the door to them.

Confusion101 · 25/05/2023 22:21

Maybe they have said this to make sure you are prepared for interview? I know my principal didn't hire someone in your case because they turned up expecting to get the job, did zero interview prep and the other candidates interviewed far better than them.

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