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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to feel cross that headteacher is leaving our school in the lurch?!

16 replies

Bluebell99 · 05/05/2010 18:48

Huge shock at school pick up - our wonderful headteacher is leaving at the end of term. This is following two letters in recent weeks saying the lovely office lady, who has been there 30 years, is leaving and the deputy head, also long standing, is leaving. Headteacher is going to a school in special measures. I am feeling quite emotional about it, feel like she is abandoning our school and community. Now I feel like I am being ridiculous! So I guess she wants the challenge of turning around a failing school, but am I being unreasonable to feel cross about it? Also we won't get a replacement head until January.

OP posts:
clam · 05/05/2010 18:50

YABU to feel cross. Upset/sad, maybe, but not cross. She has the perfect right to move on in her life.

Northernlurker · 05/05/2010 18:51

Of course yabu Did you think you owned the head and that she would just stay until your precious dcs moved on themselves? Get a grip!

compo · 05/05/2010 18:53

hmmm bad timing both the head an deputy head going at the same time

she's mad to be commended to be taking on a school in special measures though

toccatanfudge · 05/05/2010 18:55

bad timing as compo says - mind they got a new head at our local senior school that was in special measures and while it's still not great it's gone from the worst of the 3 to the best of the 3 and "the" one to go for in the town in a very short space of time

Original poster
Bluebell99 · 05/05/2010 19:05

I think it is bad timing as the deputy head is leaving too, but tbh I didn't particularly rate the deputy head so didn't really care about that. I cared more about the lovely office lady (not the miserable old bag one).
I will get over myself, but tbh I wasn't just thinking of my own dc but the town. We already have a senior school in special measures so the primary school being so good was the one thing going for it.
I do hope she doesn't regret it though, as our school is lovely with great school, and I just read the ofsted for the new place and it is dire.
I think I don't like change, and this came as a shock today. I will be pleased for her tomorrow

OP posts:
piscesmoon · 05/05/2010 19:12

Some people like a challenge-if they have a dire Ofsted the only way is up.

Pozzled · 05/05/2010 19:20

Completely agree with Clam.

mrsflux · 05/05/2010 20:40

at least you will have a head in jan!

our new one started in sept last year. left on the sick in october and hasn't been seen since!
deputy was acting head and now we also have some bloke being a co-acting head too - whatever that is!

lou031205 · 05/05/2010 21:14

The sought-after Grade 1 school near to me is losing both deputy and head this year.

I can understand your unrest though. DD1 has SNs and she is in her last term of preschool. Her SENCO, keyworker and 1:1 (all the same person) has resigned, and leaves in 3 weeks. Too soon before DD1 leaves preschool, but too late for her to establish a working relationship with her replacement. I am gutted . It is hard enough for her as it is.

thehat · 05/05/2010 23:00

Wonder if there is some other issue going on with the Governors? Could explain why both the Head and Deputy are leaving.

ChasingSquirrels · 05/05/2010 23:07

our small village school (4 classes plus head - although lots more teachers due to job shares) lost last Jul

  • head (left to another school)
  • deputy & FT class teacher (on mat leave, not coming back)
  • nearly FT(4 days) class teacher.
Another FT class teacher had only been there a year at that point.

The new head seems v good (as was the old one who I really liked).
The new FT class teacher is a bloke (only one in the school) and seems excellent.
The mat leave was covered by existing PT teachers doing more hours, and they have now recruited another PT teacher.

(well that identifies my school to anyone who also has a dc there).

Change happens.

AngryPixie · 05/05/2010 23:19

YABVU
This is her job, she doesn't owe you anything other than to be 'wonderful' whilst she's in post.
Wish her well and look forward to welcoming your new Head.

piscesmoon · 05/05/2010 23:32

I don't see why there should be an issue-people move on. I expect she has been 'head hunted' for the failing school, they will want someone with a good track record.

ChippingIn · 06/05/2010 02:13

I can understand why you're feeling a bit sad/let down/unsetled with them all going at once (I'd be wondering what was going on myself?!), but if she has a great opportunity in her career, maybe something she's always wanted to do, then she has to seize that opportunity doesn't she... after all, it's her life!

mayorquimby · 06/05/2010 10:10

yabu. end of term does not = leaving in the lurch. It's the infinitely sensible time to leave so she can tie up all her loose ends.

lucykate · 06/05/2010 10:19

yabu, the head teachers career is nothing to do with you.

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