Teacher leaving due to bullying SLT

[Teachergoing]

I just want to tell people. I have no one to tell.

SLT have been very sneakiky bringing me down over the last few years, and finally I've cracked.
A member of SLT was rude, shouted at me and just generally unprofessional. They blamed me for something they had never told me not to do (something pretty minute with little effect on anything).
I complained about the manner of SLT and was basically told it was all my fault, that I misread the situation because of 'how my brain works' (they know I'm autistic).They invented witnesses and made up stuff.

There's nothing I can do. I can't see how my union could help here. They have 'witnesses' and all SLT just defend each other and back each other up.

So, as I can't imagine working for these people any longer, I'm going to leave ... I will miss the children and my TAs desperately but I cannot stay somewhere I feel has put a target on my head.

I will not be applying for any other teaching jobs. Maybe a TA in the future when I've recovered from this, as currently I'm all over the place.

There, thanks for reading. Just wanted that off my chest.

There's so many schools like this. They appear to be run by people with sociopathic traits and seem to take pleasure in bullying people out of jobs. My husband worked in schools for years but finally left to work in FE a few years ago. They value his teaching skills unlike schools.

I think when things become more formal, union involved or going to court you might find there are no witnesses. It's one thing for SLT to persuade staff to lie and blame you when it's being dealt with by school. People are less likely to lie when it's a formal outside agency.
I agree though, go off sick and take time to decide what you want to do. There will be other jobs where you can use your skills.
I'm so sad to read about OP and other teachers saying they are being treated so badly, no wonder there's a crisis with no teachers if this is how they are treated.
I lost a lot of respect for SLT at DDs school when a teacher (absolutely brilliant teacher, who everyone wanted for their child's teacher) killed himself rather than return to school after the summer. Later it came out that he was badly bullied by SLT. You obviously don't want to let things get that bad, so go off sick.

I haven’t read any of the comments so I apologise if this has already been mentioned.
Also, please delete if I am not allowed to recommend other sites.
Please look into ‘life after teaching’ on Facebook, it has over 100,000 members and their support is invaluable to teaching staff.
If you are struggling in education in any way, as you are, I would highly highly recommend it.

My colleague's GP only signed her off for two weeks, no more, despite not being able to stop crying when she went back to see them. She was managed out by SLT. Her life in school was made hell and she said she'd rather be dead. It was awful to see. I experienced something similar but nowhere near as extreme. But we both found union advice to be slow. They were overwhelmed in my London borough as there were so, so many older more experienced teachers being pushed out at that time across various schools. Best thing I ever did was leave teaching. And the biggest regret of my life is ever entering the profession in the first place.

My advice is to get signed off for as long as possible.

The op seemed worried about being sacked. Seems very rare for a teacher to get sacked in Scotland. Naturally, people go off sick, leave the industry or move jobs, like in every other industry where you don’t gel with the managerial culture or whatnot.

Off hand I think of two cases of teachers (one of them a Head) actually being sacked. Usually 'They' get you to leave by undermining your confidence, making unreasonable demands and making you ill. My doctor was very sympathetic because he said he had seen it many times.

www.heraldscotland.com/news/14930647.bad-teachers-14-sacked-scotland-three-years-competence-grounds/

Probably why they use the other routes. Can imagine loads of reasons for this.

HTs and SLT will manipulate any situation if they want to get rid of a teacher.
Many teachers are bullied out and if they refuse to go they will be put on formal capability and fired.

I have seen it far to many times with no responsibility placed on the HT or SLT for their actions.

I called my union today. He asked me to write a report of the incident and send him the bullying and harassment policy. I've spent all day writing the report and it's four pages long! Typing it out made it feel clear that I don't have a leg to stand on.

Im really struggling. My mouth is dry all the time, my head feels numb, I'm lying awake at night as it goes round and round my head. I've never felt so stressed in my life.

Just send it and wait for union response. Things will calm then.

Op I would really recommend some counseling as you go through this. What you are experiencing is bullying and it’s traumatic (ex teacher who has witnessed this exact situation several times). You need some support to help you. I’m sorry for you. It’s an awful situation. please put yourself first 🌷
Will you go on sick?

Sadly this situation is common in schools. Bullying is not only an issue among the students, it’s everywhere from the top down. One of the reasons I got out myself (& took my children out too).

Hey that’s what disabled children and parents are dealing with day in and day out for years and years , maybe she saw you as a threat giving all the new changes and she threw you under the bus like all the send kids that are being home schooled !! This is my opinion and does not reflect on anyone in particular just the whole broken system I have experienced over the past few decades ! It takes a special type of person to make lives a complete misery ! Chosen for their expertise no doubt