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Primary education

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Original poster

High teaching staff turnover - common?

84 replies

PasMoi · 07/07/2012 20:44

What level of teaching staff turnover do you consider unacceptable versus inevitable?

Background - affluent suburban area, 80% of class teaching staff leaving this year and almost all specialised teachers, not a single member of the teaching staff in post more than 2 or 3 years. The head is there about 5 years and most of the long-term staff left almost immediately then. However the board of governors is standing by the headteacher who is not popular with parents.

Trying to work out if it's time to withdraw my DC from this school, which of course will be very hard as multiple school places are as rare as hens' teeth around here.

Are teaching jobs that easy to find?!

OP posts:

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Tiago · 07/07/2012 21:54

80% us really very high. My SIl worked in a school where that happened - and it was entirely down to the head being a bitch towards all the teachers. School got good of stead reports, but the staff were just too miserable to stay. SiL moved to another school and now gets excellent ofsted assessments without the nightmare boss.

alphabite · 07/07/2012 21:57

You definitely must be lucky Abigail which is good at it means there are some good people out there.

I left teaching completely after severe bullying by the head and deputy (and believe me I HATE to use the word bullying). I was put on anti depressants by my doctor, I was seeing double regularly throughout the day due to stress, I lost a stone and a half in weight as I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep and was crying daily. I threw up regularly and had severe headaches daily. I forced myself to work rather than going on the sick as I refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing me suffer. Without the amazing teaching team and TAs around me I wouldn't have survived.

My teaching was deemed good during observations with outstanding features, my class made 3 sublevels progress a year (KS1). I had leadership qualifications and led my subject with a great deal of success. Suddenly after 6 years of teaching they decided to make my life hell and believe me it was hell. They later did the same to others too but no one felt they could do anything as we still needed references. It still makes me feel sick when I think of it all.

mumnosbest · 07/07/2012 21:57

i think some SMT confuse pushing teachers towards better teaching and pushing in order for promotion. i've been told in the past that 'i lack ambition' and should 'seek broader experiences'. what my (past) SMT didnt consider was that i like many am happy being a good class teacher/subject leader and that thats enough. im more than happy to receive support to enhance my teaching but dont want more work responsibility.

alphabite · 07/07/2012 21:59

It was because I dared to say I was looking for other jobs.

darthsillius · 07/07/2012 22:00

Alphsbites were you in west London?

alphabite · 07/07/2012 22:04

No darthsillius.

Original poster

PasMoi · 07/07/2012 22:04

I fear that the reasons listed here are similar to our situation. Hearsay suggests that teachers are being vocal to some parents as to their reasons but again, references are so important.

The BOG are more than aware of the unhappiness of the parents but have sent out a letter expressing confidence in the leadership team.

OP posts:

darthsillius · 07/07/2012 22:05

That's a shame as there must be at least 2 of those schools.

alphabite · 07/07/2012 22:06

Sadly there is more dathsillius. I have lots of friends in the teaching world and I also did supply for a bit so got to know lots of schools. It is far too common.

mumnosbest · 07/07/2012 22:11

lol @ BOG! very appropriate initials for ours, full of

AbigailS · 07/07/2012 22:11

My sympathies alphabite, that was appaling for you and I hope you are doing well now. I agree mumnosbest, why shouldn't staff be happy being an amazing classteacher; why should "doing well" mean they have to want promotions. I'm an ex-head, I gave up after having my second child, and would never want to go back to it. I did it because it was expected, I was flattered to be thought capable of it and at the time I thought I wanted it. I hated it! Now people can't see why I'm not planning to look for a headship post now my children are getting older.

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 07/07/2012 22:18

I am a rat deserting a sinking ship. Our HT is a bully but just can't see it, it is worrying that it is a fairly common occurrence though.

exoticfruits · 07/07/2012 22:22

The only times that I have known it happen is when you get a new Head who is horrible to work for. It makes for an unhappy school.

mumnosbest · 07/07/2012 22:24

good for you abigail. if you do ever go back to it let me know i'll come and work for you :)

darthsillius · 07/07/2012 22:27

I looked around a school recently and the head was so incredibly boastful and full of herself said that most if thestsff had been here for 2 years ie just after she arrived. I decided not to apply for the job. Ironically she talked about how there was no bullying of children. I bet there was of staff though.

exoticfruits · 07/07/2012 22:29

Saying that there was no bullying of children would put me off - how they deal with it is the important part.

AbigailS · 07/07/2012 22:30

Sorry mumnosbest, unless you have a weather forecast for hell freezing over. My own well-being isn't worth the money!

darthsillius · 07/07/2012 22:33

She said so many awful things. She said she don't put up with moaners (how would she classify bullied kids) and that no one should ever come to her with a problem, only a solution.

yanbu123456 · 07/07/2012 22:58

I am at the same school OP and have direct messaged you.

Can anyone advise us on what we can do if the governors don't listen to parents' concerns. What would our next steps be?

AbigailS · 07/07/2012 23:01

The school should have a written complaints procedure, if you can't access it speak to the LA.

yanbu123456 · 07/07/2012 23:34

Thanks, I've found that on the website now.

We need to see if the GB respond appropriately first.

RiversideMum · 08/07/2012 07:15

I think there is very little you can do. The Govs, usually in association with the LA, appointed the HT and are very unlikely to admit they have made a mistake, particularly if the Ofsted is good. If it is a church school of any sort, there may be someone in the diocese responsible for education that you can talk to. I'd recommend looking for a move.

exoticfruits · 08/07/2012 07:24

It isn't easy. I'm sure that staff wouldn't have moved had there been a solution. There is a primary school near me where a new Head came and every teacher left within 2 years! It was not natural movement- they went because they were not happy with her management. The school got an outstanding Ofsted - so you can't complain about the Head although she is dire!

GateGipsy · 08/07/2012 07:50

but I bet Abigail that you don't have an 80% turnover. I think that's high, and would indicate to me that there's something wrong. The performance of a class, even a high performing one, always goes down when a teacher leaves mid-year, it is always the case. They will go back up again if well managed but it still isn't good for their progress.

FallenCaryatid · 08/07/2012 08:46

OFSTED don't care about the mental of physical well-being of the staff. If the school is achieving good results and the children are making progress, that's what they will care about.
Rather like shopping for a new outfit and not caring whether it was made with sweatshop labour. The head and SLT will be able to spin why so many staff are leaving.

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