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Original poster

Why has our HT suddenly left??

19 replies

CocktailQueen · 11/02/2013 14:11

Got a letter home from school after Xmas saying that our HT was taking a month off for personal reasons and would be back end Jan. A new acting HT was drafted in immediately as out deputy HT is inexperienced.

Then last week we got a letter saying that the HT had resiogned and would not be back - even to say goodbye!!

Now, she has only been with us for 1.5 years. She has spearheaded a campaign to open a new school; she won the tender for it and it is being built as we speak. Surely she wouldn't just up and resign in the middle?

So, does it sound as if she was sacked? But what for? Must be some sort of gross misconduct thing. And why aren't we being told?! None of the teachers have been told either!! Isn't that odd??

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Owllady · 11/02/2013 14:12

maybe she has ran off with the milkman?

seriously though, how are we supposed to know?:o

TippiShagpile · 11/02/2013 14:13

She's run off with the pope

WowOoo · 11/02/2013 14:13

It's none of your business is it or even the teachers business why someone has to resign?
It could be anything.
Fingers crossed you get a decent replacement in soon.

Owllady · 11/02/2013 14:16

yes it is very strange that the pope resigned on the same day!

Wigeon · 11/02/2013 14:20

I can think of zillions of reasons why she might have resigned and not been sacked:

She has been diagnosed with a very serious illness and can't continue working (cancer?)

A close family member has a very serious illness (child? husband? her parent?) and she wants to care for them.

There are some other family issues that she needs time to deal with, which won't be resolved easily - eg son in serious trouble with the police / addicted to drugs / something else like that

She has decided to emigrate but hasn't given that as her reason for resignation, so no one knows

She has decided teaching isn't for her and she is resigning in order to retrain as a midwife / artist / acupuncturist / accountant.

She has fallen out hugely with her senior leadership team, but it's not a matter of gross misconduct, and she saw no option but to resign.

I think gross misconduct really is only one of very many possible reasons.

tiggytape · 11/02/2013 14:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

CocktailQueen · 11/02/2013 14:52

They said personal reasons to cover her month's absence. They just said 'decided to resign' for the final letter.

No, not home life. Not health. We were told that. And shouldn't she have to give a term's notice anyway??

OP posts:

GanglyGiraffe · 11/02/2013 14:56

The teachers have been told, but are not allowed to share this info with you.

Magdalenebaby · 11/02/2013 14:58

Why do you think it is any of your business?

tiggytape · 11/02/2013 15:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsHoarder · 11/02/2013 15:05

Which is why its likely that its something for which she would get sick or compassionate leave for anyway: she's been off for a month and has seen that she can't come back in a timely fashion so has resigned.

socharlottet · 11/02/2013 15:23

Most likely to be a sick relative.

TheNebulousBoojum · 11/02/2013 15:25

It sounds like she is acting considerately, resigning so that the school is free to appoint. It's a shame that whatever crisis she's facing is being met with lurid speculation from a parent or parents instead of support and concern.
But that's the reality I suppose.

KatieMiddleton · 11/02/2013 15:29

If she or a family member seriously ill they may not choose to share it with you. She may have had a break down.

Just leave it be. It's obviously a sensitive situation and none of your business. What is your business is who is going to be the head now. Put your energies into support the new ht and transition.

littlestressy · 11/02/2013 15:41

Our HT left suddenly, only a few weeks left of the term but she didn't stay. She didn't have to, the governors gave her the leave she needed to go.

You say the teachers don't know....they do, they just can't say.

And what business is it of yours anyway? Do you really want to know if the HT was forced to resign because they were doing an awful job? Or do you want to know the ins and outs of their personal life?

LatteLady · 11/02/2013 22:44

As others have said, none of your business.

You are right, Heads do not up sticks and resign without good reason, most likely following such an announcement is an illness with a poor prognosis... probably for the Head. There do you feel better for knowing? No, thought not... now move on.

Having had to allow a HT last year, to take extended leave as her husband had a terminal illness... it is not easy. Her husband died a couple of months after the leave commenced, he wanted no-one outside his family and close circle of friends to know, as he also taught on occasion within our school community, it was not easy but it was a least one thing in his life, that he had some control over. So please think on, and let this one go.

ELR · 11/02/2013 22:51

Depression? If she has lead a campaign she may have got really stressed with it and had a nervous breakdown

MirandaWest · 11/02/2013 22:56

It isn't any of your business. I have no idea what was said when I literally left teaching (had my most severe bout of depression and one day realised I just couldn't do it any longer. So I left).

Why is gross misconduct the first thing you think of? Why do you think you know all the ins and outs of this persons life?

ihearsounds · 11/02/2013 22:58

A few years ago something like this happened. To parents, it was basically mind your own bloody business why the head suddenly quit. Need to know and confidentiality and all that, which she was well within her right to do so. This is what she requested being a very private individual.

In reality she had a very bad health prognosis, and she decided in the best interests of the school to resign as she wouldn't be around for several months, if ever. She also didn't want parents knowing because of weird stalker nutjobs who would contact hospital, family etc. Which had previously happen to a liked teacher.

Other staff when they leave, give a bs reasons to parents because at the end of the day, its none of your business.

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