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.

The school did not investigate it even though they said they will. The school has a reputation of letting kids get away with things hence the number of teachers leaving and supply teachers doing this. I didn’t include all the details I said I gave my week notice and left which made it look like I waited a week and left which didn’t happen. Another thing happened (the kids started clapping at the boy the next lesson and applauding him and the rest of boys threatened to tackle me to the ground), again I reported to school and nothing was done. If you look at 30 days I’m sure it’s there. This is very traumatic for me to keep going over and over the incident and now my new school wants clarification on what happened which again I have to re-live. There was no need to mention this at all.

But we know from OP the incident, so why are we lecturing a victim correcting her choice of words.

@AnnoyedTeacherrrr

I'm really sorry for what you experienced. It does sound awful.

However, the reality is, you are going to have to deal with this situation if you want to start the new job.

Please do remember that at this stage you have no idea what the reference says, and you may well be working yourself up over absolutely nothing.

There is no need to catastrophise. All the school wants is clarification and they have reassured you that the reference is very positive. It's the end of a long term and you're no doubt exhausted. Let the new school know you have requested to see your reference, and as soon as you have done so, you'll be in touch with the statement so that they can tick all their boxes. Affirm that you're excited to start and look forward to getting this matter settled once you have all the facts to hand.

It's really not the big deal it seems right now. You know schools have to show due diligence with any kind of incident involving a child, regardless of who was in the right.

Excuse me? I think you need to have a re-read.

WE know from OP the incident from what has been written here. But OP’s new school have a duty to check that anybody they hire is safe to be around children etc, and so when they receive a reference mentioning an incident of course they are going to double check this. And part of the safeguarding within schools means the previous school likely had a duty to pass on this information. It doesn’t mean anyone is lecturing OP or correcting choice of words, all it means it that school A had to pass this info to school B, so school B now will want to check this.

I’ve spoken to union too who were not helpful at all. Maybe I’ll try tomorrow when I’m calmer.

the truth of the matter is I should have just kept quiet, the kid pushed me I should not have told anyone I should just have not turned up the next day, if I had done that I wouldn’t be in this mess now. That’s why there’s a teacher shortage. I’ve learnt my lesson now just avoid anything and just go in for the money.

I won’t be reading anymore I feel I am being blamed and my choice of words are being used against me. I did nothing wrong. I didn’t provoke him or anything else

As a teacher I’ve been called a bitch numerous times as so have many of my colleagues so why are these “incidents” not mentioned in references? The school failed their duty of care towards me now including this in a reference to obviously cause me issues. There was no need.

My advice for anyone reading this would be do not enter the teaching profession! If I was a carer and an elderly person pushed me would my employer be including this in a reference?

You don’t know what’s been mentioned yet. You could be working yourself up for no reason.

Sorry to hear this is how it has unfolded op.
You're an employee and as such your employer should have your interests as well as those of the students in mind.
If they habitually fail to resolve incidents then they will pay off the problem forever. It's a failing of management to just let things slide. I'm sure it isn't easy to be in charge when kids are restoring to violence so I can sympathise with that, but ignoring it doesn't help!

@AnnoyedTeacherrrr

Any disputed physical contact between a child and a teacher needs to be recorded for safeguarding purposes. It's to protect the teacher, as well as the child. It's not about trying to cause you problems. It's about complying with the law.

You didn't do anything wrong. No one is saying that you did. Once again, you don't actually know what is in the reference. You have absolutely no idea what they've written. It may just simply say 'on X date, an incident was logged after an altercation between Ms Annoyed Teacher and a student.' The new school will rightfully want you to clarify the details and check them against the ones they have received from the old school, tick the boxes they need to tick for safer recruitment, and then you can start your new job happily having put the events at the previous school behind you.

I appreciate it's frustrating and feels like a kick in the teeth, but you are turning this into something it's not. The school are not victimising you. They are not trying to prevent you from getting a new job. They have given you a very positive reference and have stated a safeguarding incident in your reference that they are legally required to do so, that your new school has told you isn't an issue, they just need a statement from you.

I really would advise you to step away from it all until after Christmas, when you'll be able to have a bit of distance and be able to deal with things a little more dispassionately.

Shame the same doesn't count for violent and aggressive pupils who assault staff and other pupils! Where's the safeguarding to check they're safe to be around people?

OP I can’t see where anyone has blamed you or said you have provoked?

You haven’t even seen the reference yet, as others including myself have said, schools have to show due diligence with any kind of incident involving a child, regardless of who was in the right, they cover their own back in case of safeguarding issues. So it is not surprising that it has been mentioned in the reference, but in all likelihood it could just be a very brief mention, and your new school want to check.

I have and do still work with schools in some capacity and have to say in general it’s always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to safeguarding children, an extra check & making sure may be a little bit of extra hassle but the cost of not doing it and the wrong person slipping through the cracks and into schools is too big a risk (not you OP, I’m just saying this is why it is done).

This is not something to worry about currently, just have a look at the reference and speak with your union again tomorrow, but I don’t see this being an issue.

You might be able to do a subject access request to capture all emails relating to it?

I'm sorry, but I don't agree with you. What your reference probably said was along the lines of "There was an altercation between AnnoyedTeacherr and a student. AnnoyedTeacherr left before the investigation could be completed". I think that this is relevant and should be disclosed. If it had been investigated and nothing found against you, then of course it shouldn't be included in a reference. But leaving before an investigation shouldn't be a get out of jail free card for those that actually have committed violence against pupils. You have the opportunity now to explain your side to your potential employers.

@Lochness1975 as my new school has said they alluded to something bigger in the reference (once I told her what actually happened) they didn’t include the details but mentioned there had been something so as my new school they have to investigate it. I’ve been in phone to new school 3x times today! I’m surprised they still want me. Something else happened which caused me to ring them and warn them to expect a call - the old school is not happy they told me that incident was included but it’s supposed to be confidential so the old HR is contacting school which I had to warn the new one about. All this bloody drama I don’t need. The new school is being really lovely actually she said not to worry and she will deal with it. I think she may have had dealings with this school or a similar situation before. I feel such intense anger at the whole situation.

sorry I need to get off this now it’s actually not helping in the slightest.

Have they actually rescinded their offer?

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

This. Hope you get it sorted, OP.

This is standard in safer recruitment they just want to tie up all lose ends, you shouldn't have anything to worry about if all the accounts tie up.

@Whattodo112222 not yet but have told me it will be in my file unfortunately and my new line manager in new school will be made aware of it today. I just feel shocked how it’s all happened. She told me only 3 people will be told but it will be in my file, again I wish I could go back in time and not report! That’s what the world is coming to unfortunately

But it will be seen as a potentially safeguarding incident if the students account differs from yours. If you left during an investigation of course they will mention it.

@AnnoyedTeacherrrr Just leave it to the new school to sort out. It's not your role nor your responsibility to liaise between the two schools. It's the new school's job to find out the information they need, not yours.

Seriously, you need to wait to see the reference before disclosing any more information to the new school. You are giving them a huge amount of information that could end up being damaging to you when you don't even know at this stage what has been said about you by your old employer.

They clearly still want you and I would imagine your old school is well known for this sort of thing, hence why the new school isn't worried about it. Just leave it now and take a step back.

Op, it is very stressing for you as your job is at stake, you don't deserve this stress when you were the wronged party.
It is natural that you are super nervous, you also have 2 children dependant on you. Sadlly, this world is not an fair place. Ideally, school should have taken an action or atleast given a strict warning to student and called his parents as the incident was witnessed by others. But schools seem to be to afraid to deal with entitled students and their parents.

You need to now be factual and write all details related to the incident and the lack of actions from school and the subsequent bullying in the class, which caused you mental stress and you decided to finish the contract without extending due to the stress when you had to also focus on the caring for your children. Being repeatedly bullied with no support is not easy at any age.

And don't waste any energy on wishing things were different. You reported it, and what's done is done. You've left the school and it's behind you now. You're about to start a new job in a nice new school who think you're great. Focus on that. Everything will be fine.

@Redpaisley @EnidSpyton thank you so much. I really appreciate your kind words during this stressful time

I'm sorry you are going through this OP.
Unfortunately school culture is so riddled with bureaucracy that the scales are tipped against victims, with both pupils and staff having to leave on account of bullying.
I hope the nice school can see through the bullshit and you have the chance to actually teach.