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Original poster

Headteacher is a bully

15 replies

rrf · 06/10/2023 08:04

Hello all

I work in a school and my headteacher has, so I've heard, been slating me for taking time off recently. Iv had cancer in the past and got pluresy recently. I was given three weeks off but only took two. I was very ill as I was physically sick due to coughing continually and also I had a change in meds as mine have been in short supply due to various factors.
Apparently, she has an issue with me taking time off because I was sick. I have lost a stone in weight due to being so ill. I would really like to address how different drugs affect people with her but am unsure how to do this. When I was first off with cancer and returned to work ( three months earlier than I could have)she bitched about me working at all, because it affected her stats with staff illnesses. Basically, she is a bully and I have had enough. Is there anything I can do?

OP posts:
Dessertinthedesert · 06/10/2023 08:06

Speak to your regional union rep.

Notellinganyone · 06/10/2023 08:07

Absolutely there is. Your union should be there to support you in this. It’s obviously a little tricky if it’s hearsay though. Have you actually had any formal feedback? Does your school have an HR person or do you have a line manager you can trust?

Original poster
rrf · 06/10/2023 08:10

Yes, I have it on good authority from a line manager. I will speak to my union. Can I put a complaint in to a formal body like Ofsted? This woman really is poison

OP posts:
BrutusMcDogface · 06/10/2023 08:12

I was going to suggest the union. I don’t feel qualified to advise you but I can guarantee that if you did elevate this as a formal complaint, your colleagues would thank you. It takes a lot of guts to stand up to a bully of a headteacher. I hope you feel better soon.

xyz111 · 06/10/2023 08:13

Definitely speak to your union for advice. Do you like the school generally? Otherwise I would be looking for another job too.

Original poster
rrf · 06/10/2023 08:18

I do like the school, but to be honest, I find the culture shd has created very toxic.
I would leave, but, to be honest, there are so many people affected by cancer, that I don't think it's acceptable that she bullies people out

OP posts:
eveoha · 06/10/2023 08:19

Hello I’m sorry about your illness 🙏🏽 IMO most ‘teachers’ are generally inadequately qualified to run schools - no life experience or people/organisational skills - bounce from school to uni/college back to school and very little in the way of self awareness-pl don’t let this situation affect your health any further - go to union Ofsted etc for you sake and other potential victims - I hope your health improves 👍🏿☘️

Shinyandnew1 · 06/10/2023 08:19

Sadly, these days (in the world of MATs, which seem to have birthed a particularly pernicious breed of leaders) this attitude doesn’t surprise me at all. Which union are you with?

MidnightOnceMore · 06/10/2023 08:25

eveoha · 06/10/2023 08:19

Hello I’m sorry about your illness 🙏🏽 IMO most ‘teachers’ are generally inadequately qualified to run schools - no life experience or people/organisational skills - bounce from school to uni/college back to school and very little in the way of self awareness-pl don’t let this situation affect your health any further - go to union Ofsted etc for you sake and other potential victims - I hope your health improves 👍🏿☘️

Erm, no.

There are good senior leaders and bad senior leaders.

Teaching is an expert profession. Teachers gain relevant and valuable experience through being teachers. The same goes for lawyers, for doctors and all the other professions - the point is they are experts. Yes we want people to transfer in and teachers from a range of backgrounds but we also want the long term teaching experts. Denigrating education experts is not on.

Original poster
rrf · 06/10/2023 08:29

I am with unison. I will speak with them. I just don't think it will make a difference to the way I am treated though. Will the governors have to be told if I bring a rep in with me? I'm hoping so.

OP posts:
VivaLaVolvo · 06/10/2023 08:41

rrf · 06/10/2023 08:10

Yes, I have it on good authority from a line manager. I will speak to my union. Can I put a complaint in to a formal body like Ofsted? This woman really is poison

No you cant
Your school will have a staff complaints/grievance policy and that is what you need to follow.

BrutusMcDogface · 08/10/2023 08:34

Unison- are you a teaching assistant?

Mischance · 09/10/2023 19:21

There should be a staff welfare governor ... I am one. So might be worth speaking to them too. If this was reported to me it would not be ignored.

Original poster
rrf · 09/10/2023 20:03

There is, but unfortunately they are all in each others pockets, so it's pretty difficult to complain in house. I am going to speak with my union though, this week.

OP posts:
Mischance · 09/10/2023 21:57

The governors job is to hold the head to account. If they are all in each others pockets then OfSted need to know. I am sorry you are in this bind. I hope your union can help.

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