I blocked my Headteacher on WhatsApp this week

[jsty]

To make this post as short as it needs to be.

I am an ECT who decided not to renew my fixed term contract at the school I have been working at this year, my contract ends on the 31st August. On the last day of work I handed in my work laptop and lanyard/fob before I left the building. Fast forward to now, I received a text message from my headteacher this week. Basically I have not completed some SEND paperwork, that was due before the end of the term. The headteacher was claiming it was essential to be completed. The message was worded very politely and wished me the best of luck for the future but they basically asked me to come into work, collect my work laptop and complete it before the end of the summer holidays, preferably as soon as possible.

I do not recall being told that this needed to be completed. The last half term I found so overwhelming and felt all I was doing was working for most hours in the day.

I responded by not replying to the message and blocking the headteacher. I have felt unsupported during my time working there from SLT. I have gone 3 months working there without a single meeting/observation from my mentor.

I probably have responded in the wrong way and dread what my reference from this school could be now but I just want to enjoy my summer holidays in peace and relax.

I am going back on supply in September to decide whether I want to stay in the profession or not.

These are two separate issues:

1. your work place was unsupportive and has potentially driven you away from the career and understandably you resent being chased by the head when no support was given during term time.

2. there is an incomplete SEND document and that impacts the child, their family and their future.

Don't harm the child because the school have harmed you.

Do the paperwork, ask for guidance and walk away knowing you didn’t do to the student what the school has tried to do to you.

@Mushypeasandchipstogo That's incorrect. No teacher can be directed to work over the holidays.
How long ago did you leave teaching?

Same and 100%. The ECT should have been given support to complete this paperwork in her ECT time and the fact that she wasn’t reflects poorly on the SLT.

You have 5 weeks ahead. You could easily do this paperwork. How long would it take? A few hours max, given that you know the student?

I would definitely do this. In fact I am doing a couple of hours tomorrow marking some stuff that is easier for me to pick up than a colleague. This is for a third party (a student) who submitted the docs late and is leaving before I get back from my annual leave. And I only get 5 weeks holiday a year (and used to be a teacher).

As a HoD were you not on the leadership scale rather than main pay scale (M1-6)? In which case directed hours don't apply.

I was a teacher - and I would have definitely gone in and done it - for the child, not the head.

Blocking was unprofessional.

Teachers do what they do FOR the children, you've decided you aren't prepared to do what was missed, which is your prerogative, but it is indication that you aren't really cut out for the profession.

I simply can't imagine reacting as you have, or leaving a child in the lurch. Roll my eyes? Yes. Be pissed at myself for missing something important? Of course. Chunter about it? Absolutely! Go in and do it? 100%.

I would strongly suggest this isn't the career for you.

There's nothing wrong with having boundaries, but if stuff needs doing by a set time/date for students benefit, it needs doing.
I know how overwhelming the last few weeks of summer term can be - isn't therefore very possible that you were told about this deadline and forgot/failed to diarise it?

I'm a student welfare officer - my salary is probably 2/3 of a teacher's and I'm term time only. I've still allocated time to go in over the holidays because the welfare of the kids and my professional reputation are important to me, even though I'm only going back for a couple of weeks before moving to a new job outside of education.

Quite apart from anything else I don't know how you can relax knowing that stuff is outstanding.

I agree.

Good luck with the reference request.

Yes contacting her via WhatsApp is unprofessional I agree. If I were the OP I would email to say unfortunately I am on holiday for the next few weeks and what a shame I wasn’t supported to complete this work during term time as an ECT with additional time and a mentor intended entirely for this purpose (AI can help to refine the email).

I’m sorry OP you weren’t better supported but well done for getting out. Teaching does not get any better. It takes everything from you physically, mentally and emotionally. No matter how hard you work it is never enough. It’s relentless and thankless.

Agreed. Rubbish that they've only realised it now, and not really on the ECT, who should have been supported in that kind of thing.

Lots of people who do not work in teaching are replying on here. Unless you are on the leadership spine (which you aren't, you are an ECT) you cannot be directed to work outside of term time. Contracts run until 31st August but you have worked your paid days already and the Headteacher knows this and is probably hoping you don't.

@Azandme What made you leave?

Lazy

The school which I finished my career in did not have the normal pay scales as it was a private school. Certainly other members of the staff were required to complete work schemes, mark course work and attend courses during Easter and summer holidays and nobody ever complained !

Goady

@Wizardonabroom
Agreed.
But all decent teachers should be working in their holidays. If they don't they are awful at their job and and must consider their role; they clearly don't care enough about the children. Of course they should put their own young children into childcare whilst they go into school and make their classroom fully ready with beautiful displays to be appreciated in September.
Any ideas why there is a recruitment and retention crisis anyone?

This is entirely your LM fault. You didn’t know your objectives/deadlines because they don’t clearly communicate them. They didn’t supervise your progress/performance. They didn’t carry out an orderly handover.

BUT -
vulnerable learners are relying on this being done in a timely manner - as are their parents - do you want to let them down ?

And yes, all HT talk do you’ll be blacklisted if you don’t action this.

So I think I would advise much more of a half way house.

Unblock the HT. Teaching is a smaller world than you imagine.

I would ‘ask if HT can screenshot/forward the form to you and you will be able to write some notes that can be added to the Senco’s input.

You are unable to go into school because you are not in the area/on holiday but you are keen to help where you can’.

There are lines of responsibility for this and there are people paid a lot more than you who will have to complete it.

I know absolutely nothing about the ins and outs of it but if you want a future reference either for another teaching job or for a completely different career it might be an idea to u block and do the work.

You are incorrect about working contracts in teaching. Look up directed time in teaching if you are genuinely interested, but this teacher cannot be asked to work in the holidays as they are only paid for term time days. Contacts cover until 31st August even though term ends in July because pay is split across the 12 months equally.

Legally = doesn't have to work and cannot be asked to (Headteacher could really get in a pickle if their union caught wind)
Morally = depends on the OPs views but if they haven't been treated well or supported and are newly qualified, I'm not surprised they don't want to go back to their workplace, unpaid, to complete this.

Everyone telling you that you have a ‘moral duty’ to do this is the reason there is a recruitment and retention crisis in teaching. Too much martyr culture in education and it becomes expected and taken for granted.

I’m an ex-teacher and I’m with you op. You’re not letting down the SEND child. The SLT’s poor management and lack of support for you as an ECT has let the child down. Let them deal with it.

Can the paperwork be completed by someone else or can it only be completed by you?

If it can only be completed by you, then you need to unblock the head and communicate like an adult, as you are still under contract.

If you don’t, and you keep the head block, then you need to withdraw your place as substitute teacher in September. I’m not sure why you would continue to work there if SLT is so bad?

@Screamingabdabz This fellow ex-teacher couldn't agree with you more!

If I was your employer I'd offer you no work as "supply" because of how you have conducted yourself. Seriously, you dont need to decide if this is for you. Based on your reaction, this will be communicated and you'll be offered no work. Youre still under contract and didnt complete work. Whether or not you knew deadline. It was yours to complete and you have until 31st August!! Honestly for a teacher you dont sound v.smart. I work in HR, when our zero hour contract do something questionable we simply dont offer them work and thats that.