Really upset at the school need to vent

[AnnoyedTeacherrrr]

Apologies in advance for any typos I might make. I am very upset right now and need to vent/get advice.

I worked as a supply teacher in a secondary school. School was very happy with me and wanted to keep me on as permanent. They said things such as my work ethic is amazing, I’m hard working etc. a couple of months later there was an incident where I was pushed very aggressively by a 14 year old student. It was not accidental, he purposely pushed me and I was hurt. The school did nothing, no consequences, talking to him, nothing at all. He was back in my class the next lesson which I questioned and headteacher told me he is still investigating it and has to look at it from both angles. I decided to give my notice in and left a week later as per supply contract. The school tried to convince me to stay and said they’re sorry how it all escalated etc.

I applied for a permanent job as I’m sick of supply teaching, everything went great; I did amazing at interview, the lesson observation was amazing and I got offered the job against 3 other applicants subject to references.

I got a call this morning from my new school saying there has been a concern raised from one reference (the school with the incident). The HR has told me I need to write a statement and they need to investigate it further as it’s a safeguarding concern. She wouldn’t tell me exactly what was in the reference as I need to get a written request in to view but she said the reference “is very positive” just one slight detail related around an incident involving a student.

The old school (supply position) is being very petty aren’t they? I feel so angry I feel I don’t want to let this go and I actually want to contact someone like governors etc but I don’t know what I should be doing. I’m on phone to my union now but I’m like position 8 still!

Please help. I’m so worried I’ll never get a job again. I have two young kids to support plus rent to pay and bills.

I think the old school have to follow certain procedures in safeguarding legislation and guidance (KCSIE) where the student’s account differed from yours. Try not to take it personally, they are just doing what they have to do by law. They’re not prejudging the situation I’m sure. I hope your Union gives you the same reassurance.

I understand you're angry and frustrated.

However, the school have a duty to put this pushing incident on your reference if it's still under investigation by them. They aren't being petty, they're doing their job safeguarding children.

I'm sure you told your supply agency at the time why you gave your notice to that school. You've documented everything about the incident that happened.

Put in your statement detailing what happened after taking advice from your union. School leaders understand that these incidents happen, so don't catastrophise about it all. It definitely doesn't mean that you won't take up your post. It means that you're working in a system which is rightly putting safeguarding at the highest priority level when background checking new staff.

@PeawitPerkins the student admitted to pushing me, there were other students present at the time who wrote statements confirming my side. There’s no question about what really happened as there is written evidence.

Can you email HR back and explain you left your old school because you were pushed hard by a 14 year old and this caused you x damage. You asked for the head to investigate and discipline but nothing was forthcoming and so you handed your notice in.

Or state that statements were taken for evidence but no discipline given towards the boy

@Swishyfishy i told the school what happened when she mentioned it this morning. I just feel I was the “victim” in all this but am being made to feel I should not have said anything and just left without even reporting it. This will follow me around I feel in lots of jobs now.

@Swishyfishy thank you.

I stupidly didn’t keep a copy of the statements or numerous emails as I wanted to just move on.

I think if you keep calm and discuss the circumstances of your departure or is likely they will recognise that mid process a lack of conclusion does not implicate you as the issue.
You should demonstrate that you understand the school had to investigate but also that the timing of your contract coming up, the child in your class, your injury etc - be transparent and calm.

@ArchetypalBusyMum good advice thank you. Yes I need to remain calm! I’ve broken down in tears twice already this morning.

Just be factual and state what happened. It wasn't your fault.

Wait to get advice from your union, that is what you pay them for.

You have the right to see the reference - put in a request.

Speak to your union, get a copy of the reference, ask for all written statements in relation to the incident that the school hold and ask for contact details for the governors. You don’t have to call the governors yet but having the school know you’re giving it consideration might help them to behave a bit more decently. When you’ve got all the information in front of you then you can come up with a plan.

Yes, get your union involved. Obviously safeguarding is important but also want to make sure they have not put something untrue or misleading which would lead to a negative conclusion about you in the reference, as that is libellous.

Can you do a SAR if you have got rid of all documents?

I’d definitely do a subject access request. I’m confused as to why there’s an ‘investigation’ for what appears to be a student disciplinary matter. An investigation implies an allegation from the student which then according to KCSIE would need disclosing in references.

You need to ask for a SAR and a copy of all the paperwork from that school in relation to the incident and be open and transparent with the new school.

This is awful. Definitely stay on the line to your union.

I was going to suggest the same, then you have all the evidence to present to the new school

Was there some lead up to the pushing that the pupil has alleged. They may have tried to justify it by something you did prior? I have no idea just wondering. Leaving before the event was fully resolved may have made life more difficult, is there now a final report you could ask to see.

Perhaps you may be able to retrieve emails deleted if you need to defend your version.
It might not come to that though.
You have a lot riding on this, which is why it is so enjoying for you (plus that you feel very let down already by the school), but in reality, this won't be the first time this has happened and most people are willing to keep an open mind while they gather information and not just slam the door in your face.
You sound like a great candidate. Chin up. Breathe.

The school isn't being petty, and they do have to mention incidents like this - I don't see why it should stop you being employed elsewhere as long as you are honest and upfront.

@AnnoyedTeacherrrr

You are assuming that the incident referred to in the reference is about the pushing, but you don't actually know this.

As such, don't say anything or write any statements until you have seen the reference. You could inadvertently raise a whole new issue if the incident referred to in the reference is nothing to do with what you think it is.

I would go back to HR at the new school and say as you can't be sure what the reference refers to, you can't make any comment or statement until you have the facts.

There's no rush. You've been offered the job subject to references, the reference is fine apart from one thing they need to double check with you for safeguarding reasons, and you know that nothing has happened that will be a slur on your professional conduct, so it will all blow over. The new school is just making sure they're ticking all the safeguarding boxes.

This may feel petty on behalf of the old school, but as long as an investigation is still undergoing and was never resolved, they do have to legally state it on a reference as that is what safeguarding policy stipulates. If they didn't, and a safeguarding incident occurred at your new school, and it was discovered that you had form for such behaviour that hadn't been declared by your previous school, they would be in serious breach of safeguarding policy and your new school could report them to Ofsted for failing to declare the incident to them. Schools rely on honest, transparent references to ensure they're not employing people who could harm children. While it is frustrating in cases like this where you know you've done nothing wrong, schools can't pick and choose what they will and won't declare.

I feel very cross on your behalf, OP.

Who'd honestly be a teacher these days???

I wouldn’t say the school are being petty, there was an incident with a student and they may have a duty to mention it. Wait until you have seen the reference to pass judgement as it may literally have been mentioned as briefly as possible, and stay on to speak with your union.

Maybe wrong choice of words by OP. She is upset for dealing with this.

School is not acting petty but they have wronged OP on 2 occasions - first, not even talking to the said 'child' who was aggressive to OP. They didnt have to apologise to OP if they had any safeguarding concerns.

Second, now putting this incident in her reference as a safe guarding incident.

Another incident of expecting understanding from victim when she has been wronged and put in such stressful situation.

Parents teach your teenagers to deal with their moods / aggressive behaviour. We have so many threads on mymsnet where teenagers are being excuse just becuase they are teenagers.

In this case, it has an impact not only on Op but her two young kids.

The incident was not with the student.

It was 'caused' by the student.

Most schools will state this as an incident with a student. That’s not unusual, there was an incident which occurred between a teacher and a student, and the incident was still being investigated by the head teacher when OP handed in notice and left the school.

Schools have very tight safeguarding procedures, and I’d have been much more surprised if this incident hadn’t been mentioned in their reference than that it has.