Need advice – Was publicly criticised by headteacher while on supply

[Se12345]

Hi everyone, I’m currently working as a supply teacher in a Reception class at a primary school. Something happened yesterday that left me feeling really uncomfortable, and I’d appreciate some outside perspective.

Around 11am, the headteacher came into my classroom while I was engaged with the children. She suddenly said, loudly enough for the class and TA to hear:

“Miss, you made two big mistakes – spelling mistakes – tongue and …...”
I tried to explain that the display she was referring to wasn’t my work – it had been up before I arrived and I hadn’t noticed the errors yet. But she cut me off mid-sentence and continued (still in a raised tone):

“Nope, this is your classroom and your reflection as a teacher. It’s unacceptable. I will not have wrong spellings on display for Reception children to carry. It’s not good enough as a teacher.”
I replied, “Yes, you’re right,” just to try and de-escalate. She snapped back, “Yes, I am right,” and then walked out.

The whole thing felt really aggressive and humiliating, especially being called out in front of children and staff. I’ve since emailed her to express how it made me feel — that I welcome feedback, but feel it should be respectful and private. I also sent the email to my agency for transparency.
As a qualified teacher who’s worked hard to get here, it’s disheartening to be treated like this. With so many teachers already leaving the profession, I feel like mutual respect should be the bare minimum — even for supply staff.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? How did you deal with it? Did I do the right thing by addressing it?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

She was unprofessional and didn't set a good example in the classroom. Yes, I've experienced similar in FE. You just have to take it with a pinch of salt and thank God you're not working with them permanently. Her poor communication skills aren't your problem.

Was she talking in jest? Either way it was inappropriate. I would be reporting her to the chair of governors.

Highly unprofessional of her.
I’d be asking your agency to find you a different school who might have HT who know how to behave with at least the minimum levels of courtesy and respect they would expect from their pupils.

Just tell your agency you won’t go back there (from the sound of it, the head would veto you in any case). Then think, “at least I don’t have to work there again.” Best thing about supply. I wouldn’t go any further. You never know when you’ll bump into teachers when you’re on the supply circuit.

I did email her, not sure if I did the right thing, to address it and tell her how I felt.

If she had any professionalism, which is doubtful, she would apologise, in person to you AND in private.

I think it was very brave of you to address it with her. I also think that was a good professional course of action. I hope it made her reflect on her horrific people skills. What an outrageous way to treat your team.

I doubt she will even respond to my email.

Glad you emailed her.
I would also be contacting the agency and refusing to go back to the school again. Surely this is the perk of being supply and getting a feel for different schools and getting to be choosy about where you work.

If you're a supply teacher, just walk. That's one of the benefits of being a supply teacher.

She sounds awful and I'd take it as a favour that she let you know that this is not a school you'd want to work in. Pity the teachers and staff that do and let it go now. You know this wasn't a reflection of you.

How long have you been the regular teacher in the class?

She sounds hideous. In 19 years of supply teaching, I have never been demeaned like this, and during my time as senior teacher I would never have treated colleagues in this humiliating way. As a supply teacher, you can choose not to teach there and to work where you are appreciated. Pity the teachers who have contracts there and are stuck with this awful head teacher.

How much do we want to bet that the reason the permanent teacher is off is loud and clear?!

💯

Oh no - I wouldn't put up with that. Let her find another teacher to harass!

She's no different to most SLT teams.

Since last week of March, so my 7th week really

They said they would fail her ECT year and if she does not want to fail she should leave

SLT in my current school are very similar. I’m leaving at the end of the year! Well done for letting her know the impact of her comments.

I'd be reporting her to the LEA.

You explained it's not your work and not your class.

Who put the wrong words in the display?

Tbh, although she should not have spoken to you in the way she did, I do think that you should have addressed those wrong spellings if you’ve been in 7 weeks.

Just bullies all round then.

My TA