To consider going on WRS part time teaching job where I have no teacher covering classes in my absence

[Undecidedonusername]

Returned from mat leave and had my part time work request accepted - yay! But not so yay when I realised the two days I wouldn't be there would be covered by unqualified cover supervisor which equals more marking for me, 💯 parents evenings eg no teacher to share with and lead teacher for all classes Even the ones I only see once a week.
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And now cover supervisor has been off sick so for two days of the week my 5 classes (I'm secondary) get random teachers covering. This has gone on for 6 weeks - school never had intention of hiring qualified English teacher for me to share my classes with. Behaviour in nearly all classes has deteriorated - they get used to mucking about in cover lessons.

What's the answer from my school? Naturally to put me on a support plan. I resigned soon after. Losing sleep. Anxiety. IBS. Worried this post makes it too obvious who I am...then again I bet this happens to lots of teachers.

Surely this is Work Related Stress?

This sounds like an awful situation and not surprised that you are stressed. Not fair To students either. To me, it is WRS as caused by work and to put you on a support plan when the situation has been created by them Is ridiculous. Have you seen your GP and contacted union for support? Many have Education Support professionals too. your positions was almost made untenable in my opinion but I am not a lawyer, unfortunately. Take care of yourself, regroup and then if you want, maybe look for a better position. Puts you off teaching though.

Was it budget related? It's a travesty that budgets are so tight in many schools. If parents knew what was happening, would they complain? I know it's too late now but things need to change.

I strongly suspect parents have complained but you know how it is, students may go home and complain 'our teacher is hardly ever in/ we've got some other teacher that started in Feb and we don't like her. because she's actually making us do work as opposed to sitting around having loads of chats with us like the cover supervisor

Yes, the parents would complain if they knew what was happening.

So either enlighten us along with suggestions as to what course of action would help to resolve this to the students benefits. Or suggest alternative solutions because the current state of affairs is not sustainable

Are you in a union?

You've resigned already ?

I was ready to tell my line manager about it in our meeting only to find that she was ready and waiting with a support plan document open and someone else there taking notes of our whole conversation. Is it normal to have someone write up a transcript of the entire conversation regarding support plan? I think not.

Had I had the opportunity to hand in my resignation before that meeting they probably wouldn't have bothered putting me on support plan.

Yes, I haven't contacted them though.

Don't resign.

Do contact your union. Follow their advice regarding.

Did you manage to raise your concerns in the meeting?

Start mentioning constructive dismissal and your union.

Speak to your union

Your union should have been with you in that meeting.

I think you may have a case for constructive dismissal here. Absolutely contact your union.

@OneOliveZebra
are you expecting me to enlighten you?! I wish i had a magic wand…
I think SLT should have employed a part-time qualified teacher. It’s really not that complicated. But budgets may be stretched. That was my point.

Sounds like OP has already resigned. Definitely get onto your union OP.

As a former school union rep, my advice to any teacher who is told the school wants to put them on a support plan is not to sign or agree to anything and to contact your union immediately.

Surprise surprise they no longer feel the support plan is necessary now that I have resigned...I guess in their minds mission accomplished quicker than they thought! it's almost as if the progress of the kids was never the issue....