Any teachers about? Or anyone else with an opinion!

[ButWhyIsTheGinGone]

Hi all,
After a stressful couple of years at my current school, I now just want to get out. In our recent ofsted we were graded satisfactory by the skin of our teeth. Our KS2 data is terrible. However, the LA have since downgraded us to a category 4 school. Morale is very low, and things have now descended into a proper "everyone for himself." I am feeling particularly "got at" by a senior teacher, and while I know the correct thing to do is prove myself and stand my ground to her, I just cannot. I'm waking up on a two-hourly basis in the night and crying at the drop of a hat - this is not like me. And the thing is, I LOVE working with the kids and seeing them make progress - but the negatives are outweighing this at the moment, which is rubbish.

I have 2 questions really - I have been "ofsteded" twice in my career and received Good both times. But I'm concerned my head will give me a poor reference. While my observations are consistently good, extensive and unnecessary planning is just not my strength. The senior teacher is always bringing this to his attention. When I say, "OK, can you show me what I need to do to improve?" she is extremely vague and blustery, so I have no idea what she actually wants! (In other words she's a bullshitter with crap subject knowledge who botty-kissed her way up. Yes I'm in a cow-ish mood,) So my first question is - can the Head actually give me a poor reference?

Secondly, I want the head to know how the bullying tactics of this teacher have really affected me AND OTHERS. However, she really has him in her pocket. She is very domineering and chivvies him around like some naughty school boy. I'm not sure he would take notice. Should I mention it when I go? (Assuming I get another sodding job!) I don't want to burn bridges or be unnecessarily rude, but this person is affecting at least 3 other teachers and nobody is speaking up. What would you do?

Sorry - a very incoherent rant. I have a TON of work to be getting on with, but determined to have the morning to myself. Any advice/comments would be appreciated.

Do you have a Union rep you could air your concerns through?
They might be taken more seriously if all the teachers affected made a group complaint, backed up with evidence. Perhaps you could keep a diary of specific things the problem teacher is doing that are affecting your work, that way it's not just your word against theirs.
I thought primary teachers had some scope for working from children's interests to engage reluctant learners. It might be worth seeing if you can access support or funding to help you find imaginative ways to help your class progress.
Definitely keep records of anything successful or imaginative you do with your class, to build a portfolio you can take to interviews if you decide to move on, this should counterbalance any damage the teacher may try to inflict on your prospects.

Our school had a very similar experience, we had satisfactory and bad data, our head was forced out and a new interim head swept in. Since oct we have had a very stressful time with lots of staff stress and absences. recently we had a monitoring visit and did ok, so I think we have some breathing space.

In answer to your quests, no I dont think he can give you a bad reference, but I think you need to talk to him and explain what is happening. Every man for himself will not get the school through this and he should know that.

In our monitoiring visit ofsted actually asked staff about morale and how the changes were dealt with , so it is in your heads interest to keep spirits up.

I really sympathise about your stress, my work load has gone through the roof, but I know some staff who contact a teachers talk line ( run via county) and had lots of therapy as a result. It may be worth checking that out, at the end of the day you have good feedback (without super , stupiod planning) and it is just a job.

Good luck

Thank you very much, IMST.
My class are progressing well and Leading Teachers who I've worked with have been very complimentary about me to the Head, but I still seem to be their target at the moment. The infuriating thing is - the 2 "golden" teachers there work insane hours, including saturday mornings in school. Sorry, but I refuse to do this and if it takes that long to keep up to date, something is not right.
I think the diary is a good idea actually. Thanks for that. We do have a union rep but he hasn't undergone any union training and isnt really interested in the role. If things get worse, however, I will call my area rep for advice. I will also insist on having a rep in for observations.
Thankfully, I've already started doing what you've said regarding making a portfolio - we have done some fantastic creative things and produced some great work. I will NOT be made out to be a lazy, poor teacher!

Thanks MissMapp - I sympathise with you for having gone through this at all.
it is just a job I keep trying to tell myself this, but it's now impinging on every other area of my life. I mentioned the sleep/crying issues (god I sound a right baby!) but I also drink too much just to wind down. Not too the point of pissedness, but still too much on a regular basis. I am snappy and horrible. I know I could get signed off for a week or two but it wouldn't solve the root problem, and it would make the back biting and snidey comments worse.

I just don't know. Thanks for the comment about the reference. This week we have County people coming in to do massive scrutinies, so I'm sure lovely senior teacher will be keen to flag me up as a weakness. After that I'm just going to apply, apply, apply.

Just want to say I sympathise/empathise hugely. We became special measures in June. Fearing for our jobs after monitoring in October , but make or break visit in January was deemed satisfactory...so improving,but room for more. Workload of teachers is monstrous,(especially the stupid format for planning) and new rules and regulations for ALL of us to follow. We are all frazzled...but improvements are giving results.

Hiya jamdonut.
I'm glad things are improving for you - hopefully you will be left alone for a while now! BUT - can you honestly say that insane planning documents make your lessons go better? My weekly maths plan is about 2300 words - it takes HOURS. But my lessons would be just as successful at a fraction of the amount of wordiness. My Lit plans are even longer....

I know, the planning and paperwork is ridiculous and unnecessary, in my experience though, if you do it for a bit and your obs and results are good, they leave you alone. We used to have to plan with SMT which took hours, but now they have decided I am big enough to plan alone ( only been doing this for 17 years!!) and I can do the job much quicker.

Keep applying, it cant be this bad everywhere!

I've worked in a school in special measures and that was okay at the time but only because of the Head. The amount of work that we had to do to get through it was absolutely insane. Looking back I don't know why I did it. I wasn't in the school when it was put into special measures, I arrived afterwards. A new Head was drafted in to turn the school around and was really vibrant so that made the difference in our case. I worked my arse off for that next year. Now I look back and think it wasn't worth it really...who was I doing it for? A whole year of my life given to the LEA.
OP I think you should get out if you can. Go to a new school and do a really good job and then that can be your golden reference. As for the arse lickers who are in school on Saturdays - how ridiculous. What on Earth do they have to do that they need to be in school for?

God knows what they do, but I think it's insane. One of them openly admits she and her husband lead totally separate lives and the other one's son has just had a fixed term exclusion from his school. Not highlighting these to sound horrible, but surely family issues trump work every time?

Thanks for people's advice to get out. I actually intend from September to go part time, maybe 3 days/week, then spend the other 2 days working for the education-related community company I am co-director of. I really hope I'm able to do this. While I love teaching, I've never intended to do it forever. Still not started work. I have about 4 hours worth to do. Will start at 3.

for you.

Looking at the state of leadership in your school, it shows that Wilshaw's comment:
' If anyone says to you that staff morale is at an all-time low, you know you are doing something right. '
is a load of old twaddle.

Could you do supply while you hunt for a better job?

Staying there while you're job hunting means you could be there for a while - and sounds like you need to get out as soon as you can

:(

mumblesmum - that comment is insane! Probably going to sound ignorant, but who is Wilshaw?

IndigoBell - supply not an option, sadly, as all the schools in the area have now opted to use TAs rather than supply. Supply teachers I've spoken to are really, really struglling this year. I live alone and couldn't afford to take any financial risk at the moment. I think I can see it through to July - as long as I have a goal. The jobs are beginning to crop up now, so I'm just going to apply, apply, apply. Can anyone remind me if it's an old term's notice you need to give, or a new? BTW thanks for listening and advising

I really really feel for you.

FYI teacher resignation dates:

to leave at 31 December, give notice by no later than 31 October;
· to leave at 30 April, give notice by no later than 28 February;
· to leave at 31 August, give notice by no later than 31 May.

I wish you well in your decision and hope you get some rest. :)

ButWhy Wilshaw is the new head of Ofsted.........

I'm pretty sure it's half a term's notice

you health is not worth it. you have something else to go to. try to work towards that.

would you be able to afford to resign after july even if you did not hget a job?

next time that smt tor mentor asks you to improve planning, could you email her with a request for specific points. then the ball is in his/her court and you have proof that you are taking the issue seriously and it should be on record.

I think it is time to talk to your union. do they have a help line or anything to give you advice?

good luck.

The Burgundy Book national conditions of service agreement for teachers provides that classroom teachers, deputy headteachers and assistant headteachers are under two months' notice and in the summer term, three months' notice, terminating at the end of that school term.

For the purposes of resignations and notice periods, the dates of the three school terms are deemed to be:

· for the autumn term, from 1 September to 31 December inclusive;

· for the spring term, from 1 January to 30 April inclusive;

· for the summer term, from 1 May to 31 August inclusive.

Therefore, teachers who wish to leave their jobs should observe the following deadlines when giving their notice:
· to leave at 31 December, give notice by no later than 31 October;
· to leave at 30 April, give notice by no later than 28 February;
· to leave at 31 August, give notice by no later than 31 May.

It is important to note that these provisions only allow teachers to resign their posts with effect from the end of term.

There is no right to leave at half term unless this is mutually agreed by the teacher and the school.

Headteachers are under three months' notice and in the summer term, four months' notice. They must therefore give notice one month earlier than the above dates.