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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

As a GTP to expect better treatment from my school colleagues?

45 replies

NancysGarden · 22/09/2009 20:25

During PPA time today: my school-based tutor was out on training so was supposed to meet with other year group teacher to plan. At said time, she completely buggered off til lunchtime. I went to lunch then I saw her going to the workroom.

During the last 2 hours of the day I tried to ask her a couple of questions about planning but she completely blocked my questions and said that she and the other teacher don't plan "together" they just use one another's plans. (Which btw is total BS as I know they are really good friends and chat all the way through PPA time.)

She did do some work but seemed more interested in chatting (about other staff) to other colleagues in the workroom.

I got the feeling from this woman from the off that she didn't like me. Tbh it was mutual but I wouldn't let it get in the way of being professional.

Now I am just left thinking: what a b-itch.

Or is that unreasonable?

(Thing is, she did the GTP herself 2 years ago!)

OP posts:

KembleTwins · 22/09/2009 22:49

I do sympathise - training as a teacher is hard work. BUT... (and yes, I am a teacher), the person in question did not agree to be your support during your traning. You are not her responsibility. Yes, she was rude and a bit mean, but PPA time is so valuable, that tbh, I might have run off and hidden too, if I had a lot to get through and I saw a GTP coming my way. Sorry. The other year group teacher, who you are attached to, should be getting extra time (and poss money - not sure how it works as have never worked with a GTP, but I got extra for mentoring PGCE students) and so she it's part of her job to support you and give you the time that you need.

Your thread title makes you sound a bit precious, I'm afraid.

notanumber · 22/09/2009 22:52

I do feel for you. I know that the training year is stressful without having to rely on other people who don't do things in the way that works best for you.

Practically, you do need to meet with her at some point. She can't just refuse to ever meet with you.

So ask her - explicitly and directly - when is the best time for the two of you to get together and plan. Say that you've got some ideas that you'd appreciate her imput on.

But try not to get her back up by being too pushy or acting too "entitled". You get more bees with honey than vinegar.

TheFallenMadonna · 22/09/2009 22:52

I'm with the others really, so to answer your thread title, it's probably best that you don't expect more from your colleagues (except your mentor of course)

Alambil · 22/09/2009 22:52

This happened on my PGCE - my tutor bullied me the whole way through.... I'm still waiting to qualify as I have to re-do the last placement (uni took me out of it for my own good)

I say, if it doesn't get better, don't sit quietly and patiently - tell the SCITT and whoever you can and sort it out. It just isn't worth the worry and stress

They're MEANT to support and help you - it's their job, or else they shouldn't have said they'd have a GTP student

KembleTwins · 22/09/2009 22:54

Lewis - the teacher the OP is complaining about isn't her mentor. She is another teacher of the same year group. No one is bullying anyone, as far as I can see.

Original poster

NancysGarden · 22/09/2009 22:54

I am lucky to have a very supportive tutor (Not the one I am complaining about!) but let#s not forget she gets paid for this extra role - not out of the goodness of her heart. As I say, luckily we are respectful and get on well.

Time to leave this thread now, I feel I am protesting too much - I know how it made me feel today and what it says about her, (although I am an adult I can amend my opinions on people: I fill continue to try with her) and I know I haven't demanded too much of anyone so far: I have good support networks with other GTPs, within the wider staff team and of course personal friends and DP. Just one of those things I suppose.

Tomorrow is a new day.

Thanks for the advice

OP posts:

notanumber · 22/09/2009 22:57

Oh lordy.

Nancy ...You're not coming across well here.

Please think about what I said about behaving with a sense of "entitlement". People don't like it, it gets their backs up. And you need to work with these people.

The GTP year is hard . Don't make it harder for yourself.

Original poster

NancysGarden · 22/09/2009 22:58

ok one more: apols if my thread title sounds precious - I blame the bloody AIBU - it always make the rest of it sound stilted if you ask me !

Agreed Kemble, it is the other one, and yes she's being paid, is lovely etc etc.

Not being bullied, just avoided and a bit insulted, but I'll get over it

OP posts:

TheFallenMadonna · 22/09/2009 23:00

Yikes at "she's paid for it". Well yes, possibly she is. But that is not a helpful attitude at all. Staffroom etiquette - seriously - it should be part of the core standards I reckon

scottishmummy · 22/09/2009 23:04

the payment isn't adequate recompense for the additional workload and stress of a student

ps don't bring up "she gets paid" - bad form

Original poster

NancysGarden · 22/09/2009 23:04

I haven't behaved as if entitled, I did just also say I would try to get on with this woman because we are colleagues. And I stand by what I have said about not demanding. These were personal thoughts, I asked one or two questions which were met with a brick wall so I got on with my own work. Basta. I felt insulted because I am new and find it unfriendly and if I am meant to be team-teaching, I need to know what I am teaching. I am new to this remember and have been training off-site for a week, today was first day back.

OP posts:

Original poster

NancysGarden · 22/09/2009 23:07

(Sorry I didn't realise it was bad form to mention the money - someone else mentioned it before me...)

OP posts:

Quattrocento · 22/09/2009 23:07

GTP and PPA are TLAs with which I am unacquainted

Original poster

NancysGarden · 22/09/2009 23:09

I've kept my head down and tried hard to get on with everyone since i arrived. It's hard work being new, then add to that the fast-track element, all the kids...that's stressful enough in itself. Personally have always made effort to be friendly to new people.

OP posts:

TheFallenMadonna · 22/09/2009 23:14

See, you have to realise that teachers are a particularly cantankerous lot. Really. When I was training, we were made to sit right next to the phone. And always be the ones to answer it, even though we didn't know who anybody was.

Perhaps you sat in her chair in the staff room?

scottishmummy · 22/09/2009 23:16

or used her cup

Original poster

NancysGarden · 22/09/2009 23:19

thanks, was beginning to feel a bit sorry for myself there

OP posts:

Goblinchild · 22/09/2009 23:37

I'm mentoring an NQT who has been very needy so far. I have the responsibility for her, I'm not paid any extra, nor do I have more time and I have my own class to run and a family.
I am professional, helpful, supportive and I've shared everything but my toothbrush.
KembleTwins is making a lot of sense, you might want to ask yourself what you are bringing to the team other than needs. Sometimes my team plan together, sometimes we have an hour and sometimes we plan separately. I tend to work in the late evenings, like now.
You could have asked her for a copy of the plans that you are going to share so that you can adapt them for your own classwork.
It's the beginning of term, she's very busy and you are at a very early stage to be throwing around your definition of professionalism. Sometimes being professional is doing your best in challenging circumstances without whinging.
Tell your mentor all about it when she gets back, it's her responsibility to help you in all areas, including relationships with other members of staff.

scaryteacher · 23/09/2009 08:33

I wrote schemes of work with other colleagues, but my planning I did by myself.

If Nancy you are older than her, and come with previous experience, she may feel threatened by you, or not know how to relate to someone at least 5 years older who is a trainee. She may already have done her planning and wanted her PPA for something else. I used my PPA time to catch up with stuff for my tutor group, or to do marking/photocopying/fiddling with making new resources, worksheets etc.

Your mentor was away who should be taking you through the planning; it seems a bit rich to expect someone else to pick it up. I always gopt cross with my boss who palmed all the support of the PGCE students on to my colleague and I as he wasn't good at the supportive stuff. He got the pay and the points, and we got the students and had to spend so much time over and above the call of duty in some cases, that i used to lock my classroom from the inside when I had a free, so I could get on with things.

Education these days is about fostering independent learning; so be independent. Make sure your differentiation is in the lesson; that your objectives are clear; all your resources are in place, and voila!

MissM · 23/09/2009 08:46

If she's younger than you and only two years into the job then that suggests that she's quite insecure and perhaps not feeling qualified to help train you. Doesn't excuse her behaviour, just trying to find a possible reason for it. Sadly people can often be like this towards trainees, or towards colleagues that have been teaching for years - it's just part of the weirdness that is the world of work I guess.

My suggestion would be to carry on as you are, but if she carries on being as she's being then have a word with your personal tutor. She might have some words of wisdom and be able to suggest some ways forward, and if this still doesn't work and it's having a detrimental effect on your training then you might have to take things a step further.

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