Teachers - does this seem likely?

[SensitiveSkinn]

My H is a mainstream teacher teaching GCSEs, there is no head of his department & never has been (small department). He tells me he was offered a head of department promotion role verbally by the head teacher and they shook hands. They didn't actually create this role or write a JD or advertise - they just told him in the head's office that he was getting a promotion and creating a new job for him.

Now, they've gone silent on him. He's asked about the job but they are ignoring him. They've just recruited another teacher in his department (who is friends with SLT) and he is convinced they've recruited him to give to this person now.

I work in a v process driven sector and none of this seems normal. I worry about H wellebing and he tells me he is going to tell the head teacher 'to get fucked' and he's really really stressed about it. Paranoid actually - telling me he thinks this teacher is talking about him, that everyone knows, that people know they've 'fucked him over'.

I'm a bit confused. Does teaching really offer promotions with no process or open recruitment and then take those promotions away to give to their mates - again with no open recruitment? Does this sound plausible? Maybe I'm being naive but H seems a litle vulnerable at the moment and I'm worried he's misunderstood the original offer. It all seems so unprofessional and back-stabby.

Yes it does happen. It's sh*t and it's hard to do a lot about if anything wasn't in writing.

Does it sound plausible...... yes unfortunately

Is he a member of a union? I would suggest union advice for this

Yep. Teachings a strange horrible world currently.

He very much needs to speak to his union. It’s mad that a department teaching GCSEs doesn’t have a head of dept though. Who is responsible for the results? Who orders the textbooks etc?

Really small courses often don't. Or just have a head of a whole group or subjects.

Yes, this happens.

I've heard of it and afraid they will argue that it didn't happen or it was discussed casually but never confirmed hence why it's not in writing.

I can fully understand his anger.

Yes, it happens, sadly.

I would advise he speak to his union - he is unlikely to be able to 'prove' he was offered the promotion but they can advise, particularly if he has effectively been doing the head of dept role.

He is, understandably, angry and upset. Please try to encourage him to think as rationally as possible about it - not worth risking his job.

In all the schools I've worked in any job has to be advertised and you have to go through the interview process. Even when I was the only person going for it, as I was already doing the role in the interim.

he tells me he is going to tell the head teacher 'to get fucked' and he's really really stressed about it.

bloody hell. He shouldn’t be the head of anything let alone a school year

Is your husband acting out of character?

I can't work out whether you think he may have dreamed up this scenario or whether it happened and has hit him harder than you feel it should?

Thats exactly what im trying to work out. He seems v angry, paranoid and upset. He is obsessing over it. And then I started to worry that his MH is not quite where it should be and maybe somehow hes misunderstood. So I wanted to check with fellow teachers if this kind of thing does happen. He is saying the head is now avoiding him, the new member of staff isn't properly qualified. It all seems so toxic.

Do you have children with him op?

Oh yes, it sounds highly on script for a school.

Sound very probable. I’ve seen much worse.

The only thing I would question is the time frame. When was the new role offered and when was it meant to start. It’s unusual (not unheard of) for jobs to start mid year unless replacing someone else.

Oh ,come on. People say things they don't actually mean to enact when they are angry and upset. If he ahs been treated badly, he has every right to take it further and find formal routes which are the employment version of saying ' you can get fucked'
He should apply for another job outside of his current school asap OP. I know someone who did exactly that. leaving the school with their 'preferred' pick who has now proved to be a very bad choice indeed. Now they want her back. She has told them to get fucked no , thank you very much.

Sounds entirely possible - but it also sounds as though your husband would benefit from some external support.

Read the op in full

he tells me he is going to tell the head teacher 'to get fucked' and he's really really stressed about it. Paranoid actually - telling me he thinks this teacher is talking about him, that everyone knows, that people know they've 'fucked him over'.

he seems very paranoid, angry and upset

no, I don’t think he should be the head of anything let alone a school year in this state

If he speaks to the Head in person they won’t have the opportunity to not answer

Do you know any of his colleagues that you could ask if your dh’s story is likely? I know it could be tricky but this wouldn’t happen in my school but seems as though it does in others. You need to find out from someone whether this really did happen as your dh could be unwell

Well - maybe hes not paranoid. Maybe people are all whispering and the SLT conspired to promote their mate over him. It all sounds crazy to me but I work somewhere where its all anonymous recruitment, diversity panels, blind assessments etc.

Teacher of nearly 30 years. It is definitely plausible. I've heard people be offered a permanent job verbally only to be told 24h later that the offer has been rescinded. Reason ? Changed their mind- offer then a temporary post. Disgusting. Your word should mean everything.

This happens all the time in schools.