Would you complain?

[Bourneo]

I was offered a secondment to another school with the potential for promotion. The secondment was set up by the headteacher who has now retired. It was agreed that I would shadow a senior leader and then I would take over their responsibilities for a year. After which, the permanent position would then be advertised internally.

The new headteacher has now gone against everything the previous head put in place. He has messed me about at every turn. When I started the secondment a month ago, I was told I could shadow and take on extra responsibilities. Within the same week, I was then told that the position was going to be advertised externally with additional responsibilities that I would not have the relevant experience for. I was 'welcome to apply' but the shadowing and covering for a year would not be taking place.

I was assured I still had the position for a year and half. He told me 3 times that i still had the position, but on my existing level, not as acting management. I asked if I could sill shadow and attend senior leadership meetings, but was told no. At the time I expressed concerns about how this would affect my career progression as the whole point of the secondment was to progress to management level.

On Wednesday, I was told that the budget did not cover my wage in addition to the new management position that has been advertised. So the secondment would end in July. I was pulled out of a whole staff training session in front of the external trainer and staff and told about this. I then had do go back in to the training. At the end of the training the head told everyone there would be cuts.

There is a clause in the secondment contract that states either party can end the secondment with half a terms notice. So legally he hasn't done anything wrong. Even though he hasn't even officially started working at the school. He is still employed by his old school, so I'm not sure he even had the authority to make decisions. The acting head should have.

So in my circumstance, would you complain?

Edit to ad: i was taken to another room to be good the news, but given no time to process before going back into a meeting. The end of the secondment means reverting to my substantive posts which is part time, so a significant pay cut

Nope, I would go back to my old school with head held high and do an unpaid voluntary job shadow there and negotiate with the school you were going to be seconded to to pay for a SLT management course for you to do, as a goodwill gesture, for you to then leave earlier - saving them money in the long run.

He's shown you what type of head it is. Run back to your other school and get applying for full time jobs elsewhere if needed

Ah, just seen the financial disparity.
You still cannot complain though because of the clause.
In theory, they could have pulled the plug on the whole thing and let you go at Xmas.

Edit:sorry, just understood it now. Need caffeine.
He has done the equivalent of pulling it and you mean this July not next. I am so sorry. You are right to feel gutted.

They have pulled the plug on the whole thing. I finish at the new school in July. To be honest, I think it's the last straw with teaching. Think I'll look outside of teaching. It's such a toxic environment.

Well, you have had the decision made for you and it is an awful thing to do to someone and to renege like that. So they would have been a terrible boss. And you could have poured your heart into it and still not got the job.
So now it really is a case of ducks in a row now. CV ready for any civil service position.
Look at resignations in May perhaps creating an assistant deputy position or inclusion position for you instead (if you were shadowing a deputy). If you were shadowing an assistant deputy, you'll need to do it in your old school instead and keep going. Part-time means you can do supply to up your income but having done it, I am aware why you wouldn't want to.

Thank you @GivingUpGivingInyes, I could ask to shadow in my old school, my head would support me. I have re done my CV, civil service is a good shout, the pension would be good too. I'm going to apply for Learning and development jobs too. Just so annoying to be treated as disposable and not even given a chance. But, you're right, he's shown me what kind of person he is. I don't want to work for someone like that.