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.

What an absolute bitch! Don't go back on Monday, tell the agency why and leave her in the lurch to find another teacher at short notice. How dare she speak to you as if you're a naughty child.

During my PGCE I was sent on a placement to a school where the headteacher was nuts and totally despised me. She used to appear in the classroom constantly and shout at me over where I was sitting, or how I was doing something, despite the fact I was always supervised by both the CT and TA. She put me on playground duty every single day and once leaned out of a window to yell at me to take my hands out of my coat pockets. It was snowing and I had no gloves!

I walked out halfway through the placement and told my tutor I simply would not go back. Fortunately they took my side and found me a different school. This was all 20 years ago and I'm still not sure what I did to piss her off so much.

I had a member of SLT like that openly criticise me in front of other staff and pupils. When I was off sick she told the supply teacher, in earshot of my class, that I was off because quote, I couldn’t handle the class.

i didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when I saw her pick up a Teacher of the Year award several years later.

I think you should have pointed out her errors in jumping to the conclusion that the spelling mistakes were yours. And talking in front of the children is not good practise, and that was undermining your authority. Your feelings are another thing, but her getting the facts wrong and undermining you would be the main points of complaint for me.

When my son went in to yr 4, we/they received a print out about the teacher and TAs written by themselves. ( photocopied handwriting). One of the TAs had written whatching, as in " I like whatching the waves". That it was wrong, not picked up on, printed and sent out to parents was staggering. But was not the only or worst spelling error ever from his school.

I think you're better off not going back.

Inform your union and the chair of governors. As the previous permanent class teacher left because she'd been told she would fail her ECT, this tells you all you need to know about the school's head/SLT. They are clearly unsupportive. Moreover, whilst I expect the head is hoping you will turn the class around into an outstanding FS, she should not take her frustrations out on you that there is still some evidence of poor practice around. If you like the class and the early years team, stay but if you are not happy there, ask your agency to find you a different job and just walk. That is the beauty of supply.

Sounds like the headteacher was on a power trip. I'm not a teacher and not in the classroom. I'm a Behaviour Mentor and do various workshops with children and very occasionally SLT have kindly reminded me of things. However, it's always in private and respectfully. You're not a naughty child. I would take the further.

Sounds like a lucky escape! 😜

Christ she sounds monstrous. Like dds old head teacher who criticised a younger teachers outfit in front of the class! Even the teens were horrified.

I’d name and shame in so far as I could. I’d also somehow make it known amongst the parents why I’d left, just so there was no doubt. I don’t think I’d want my child in a reception class, or any class really, where the head was so mean! As a PP said, report to the chair of governors and make sure the agency do the same.

I’m so sorry you had to go through this. I’m as tough as old boots, but this would have really shaken me x

So would I. I wouldn’t let her get away with her unprofessional behaviour.
That poor class and those poor members of staff that are stuck with yet another shit HT.

The OP seems to be in total denial about her responsibility for the display error in question. Even when several posters have stated that it was unprofessional of her not to have had it amended, the OP is still only interested in criticising the head.

We only have the OP's account to go on re. the head's method of resolving the issue, regardless even if it took place as stated, the OP should be considering her own professionalism. Getting a TA to put up a display then not checking that it is of an acceptable quality is lazy, unprofessional and lets the children down.

What lets the children down is the Head being a bully and managing to lose two reception teachers over the school year. Having worked, and had my own kids, in a school with useless SLT, teachers leaving during the school year is very upsetting for some kids. One of mine went through 5 teachers in a year. Another had 3. I’d rather they’d have had one teacher and a spelling mistake on the wall.

Wow, that's indefensible.

I'd wonder if she is in the grip of a mental breakdown? If not, she sounds like the nastiest person I can imagine ....

I've worked in education for approaching 3 decades. I have of course has instances of being spoken to by other adults in a way I haven't liked - one headteacher (I actually liked her in many ways) who several times told me off in public for not wearing my hi-viz on duty, which I did NOT appreciate.

But I have never had anybody be so personally, public ally domineering and unpleasant as you describe here.

I'd actually complain to the governors, if there are any. Letter to the chair of governors. The woman doesn't sound fit to run a school. I am properly angry on your behalf!

Well done for taking the time to email her.

She sounds like an unprofessional bully. Make sure you keep a written record of any interactions like this.

Ridiculous. Of course we only have the OP's word. You only ever have the OP's word on any thread. No point in redponding if you're going to invent your own version of events to which only the OP was party.

The OP not spotting (someone else's) mistakes was a temporary oversight which could have happened to any teacher, including one with impeccable spelling, whereas the Headteacher's behaviour is a sign that she is not fit to be in charge of a school. Any member of school staff with an ounce of professionalism knows that you do not undermine or tell off colleagues in front of students. Despicable woman.

Actually I think she should apologise in public, as that was her mode for the original ticking off.

If the OP is otherwise a good teacher, then in my opinion the head was stupid to lose her over this. 2 spelling mistakes on a display is not as big a problem as constantly changing teachers for a reception class is. The kids will lose more from having yet another teacher change (if they can even get another teacher for Monday) then they will from a couple of spelling mistakes.

i once spotted a spelling mistake in my colleague (who I line managed) classroom, I had a quiet word. Again it was the TA’s mistake and she hadn’t spotted it. No big deal, once spotted it was resolved. I didn’t feel the need to have a go or tell her in front of the whole class. Spelling mistakes aren’t great but there’s ways to go about things!

Sounds like she’s on a power trip. She’d be mincemeat in the corporate world.

Are you the Head Teacher? 🙄
I don't think the OP minded being told about the mistake but the totally unprofessional way it was addressed and subsequently handled!

At the point where you’d explained it wasn’t you and she was still continuing with her rant I’d have burst out laughing and walked out wishing her a good afternoon. The money isn’t worth just putting up with that rudeness and disrespect, who on earth does she think she is?

She’s not fit for leadership. Sorry you had to work with her! Good luck to a person with such limited management and interpersonal skills finding and retaining a body of competent teaching staff!

I'd be reporting her to the LEA.

If it is an LA maintained school it would be referred back to the governing board under local management of maintained schools.

If it is an academy, the LA has no jurisdiction. Academies have opted out of LA control.

I'm not sure why you didn't clearly state that you hadn't written it.