DH facing capability measures - your advice and support needed please.

[Crimebusterofthesea]

So, DH has come home and has said that following an inadequate lesson observation, he is being placed on formal capability measures. He feels like this is a bolt from the blue as his last lesson observation was rated 'Good'. The school is renowned in the area for being an impossible place to work and since DH has been there, so many teachers have left because the pressure is beyond ridiculous and expectations are just beyond what seem fair, reasonable and achievable (I'm aware that this is the case across most schools, but his school has a reputation IYSWIM).

I am so scared for him, for us, for our family. He is broken. They have beaten him down to a point where he feels worthless and truly inadequate in every way. I need help to understand the process and whether the reasons behind doing this are fair and reasonable. His last scrutiny of work was 'Good', his last observation before this one was 'Good'. I know that they have told him that he isn't meeting the targets with regards to pupil progress, but they just get more and more impossible and harder to achieve.

He is far from being a lazy, coasting teacher (70 hours a week normal) and he takes such pride and care in his work. Last week he was up until 11 every night doing his topic books. He just feels that the strive for outstanding means that the school don't want him there as ATM he isn't an outstanding teacher and he is the first to admit that he probably never will be.

He was off sick a couple of weeks ago and I keep looking at the card his class made for him upon his return - 'Hooray!! So glad you are back!' it says. I'm being overly sentimental I know, but my goodness, this is hard.

So, if you have read this far, thankyou. What will happen next? He has a meeting planned for the last day of term which will either result in a formal notice to improve, or things can apparently return to normal. I may have got this wrong though. What are the chances of him finding another teaching job? Are unions any good when it comes to this sort of thing?

I'm just rambling now but any words of support and encouragement would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou.

I left teaching last year because of a situation like this.
After 10 years of Satisfactory or Good lesson observations, new Head joins school (not officially appointed Head, but a seconded Deputy from another school), gives me a level 4 observation and tries to start capability. To be honest, it was the straw that broke the camels back.

It was very tough to leave, and I still miss the children. I had 3 months of counselling as it was almost a kind of bereavement for me, losing my career, my status if you like.
My amazing supportive husband (also a teacher) helped me through too, and I'm sure your DH values your supportive more than words can express.

There IS life after teaching, and I would never go back. The way schools are run at the moment is just horrid.

So sorry you and your DH are going through this. I'm in a very tricky situation myself at work, although not the same, and it's been a terrible Christmas. I really sympathise and hope everything comes out in the best possible way for you guys. X

Thanks everyone, big day tomorrow as DH will begin negotiating. Still trying to look at things positively and it
looks like we may have been lucky enough to get a decent rep as DH was on the phone with him for an hour yesterday.

The rep now has copies of the 'support' documentation he requested and it's basically lies. They have tried to say that DH had been subject to loads of different
things but it's all stuff that every teacher in the school has been subjected to! Nothing specific to him or his
teaching whatsoever. DH feels slightly more confident as he was doubting himself so much. He is slowly starting to realise that it's the school and not him. He has also phoned the teacher support network and I've urged him to get some counselling too.

Onwards and upwards, let's just hope the head lets him leave with the capabilities lifted.

Does sound like you have a good rep! Good that your DH is feeling more confident. Good luck for tomorrow!!!

I hope everything works out for you .

I don't think it is fair to totally blame the teacher if pupils are not progressing. There is only so much a teacher can do if a pupil isn't academically able.

Really good luck, Crime and Mr Crime; please wish me luck for Wednesday when my horrible meeting is! X

Good luck to Caff2 and your DH. You can get through this and still have a career, trust me.

Thank you! Mine isn't competency, more complicated; should be my way if I listen to Union, but still scary! Fingers crossed. Could have any number of outcomes :(

Caff stay strong... for all of us...... x

Sending you lots of luck Caff. Keeping everything crossed for you.

Good news update! DH's resignation has been accepted and the capabilities will be lifted. The head has also agreed to negotiate a reference. So relieved! Once again, thankyou all for your kind words, advice and support. It has meant the world.

Crimebuster Hope today went well for DH, have been thinking of you both! Caff thinking of you for Wednesday too! Hope all goes well x x

That's great-a huge relief for you. Hope he gets a new job soon.

Think we posted at the same time, haha, great news for you both must be a huge weight off your mind. Onwards and upwards!

Oh, great! Hopefully it will be onwards and upwards for you guys now. x

Have I got this right .

He was told he wasn't up to scratch and everyone is happy he gets to leave and go to another school without this ever being recorded?

If he is a brilliant teacher who has done nothing wrong why isn't he fighting for his job?

I'm predicting your comment is not going to go down well toffee, but it's difficult one. On the one hand it is really not difficult for a Head to push out a person who doesn't fit with their plans, by means of unfair observations, unfair work conditions, etc.
However, I've been in the position of working so someone truly dreadful who came to us with a glowing reference. He did real damage to our relations with parents, to our data, etc. When we finally got rid of him via a pay off, he got another good reference so is free to teach elsewhere.
In this situation where nobody knows the OP's partner, surely just best to offer support?

I am merely trying to understand what has gone on and that was the questions I had. I will only not go down well if the OP's DH has basically got away with not being a very good teacher and is free to go and not be very good somewhere else.

I will offer support but not blindly.

If her DH goes into capability and proves himself to be capable it will still be on his reference. If he cannot prove himself he may be reported to the home office and unable to teach again in the state sector. If you look carefully at how teachers are graded under the ofsted criteria, a requires improvement lesson (which would be a fail under capability) means all children are making satisfactory progress, so everyone learning to a satisfactory level is unsatisfactory! He would have ensure that all children make about average progress and statistically not everyone can be above average. None of us know the op's partner's skills and there are many checks on teacher's performance within schools so it's unlikely that in most situations a poor teacher could stay in post for long.

ToffeeOwnsTheSausage

If he is a brilliant teacher who has done nothing wrong why isn't he fighting for his job?

Because the person in charge wants him out, and if he wins the person in charge still wants him out.

My question to you is

How long would you stay in a job where the boss wants you out and makes your life difficult every single day?

I have no idea as I have never been in that situation.

I just aren't going to join in the pom pom waving if this man is not up to his job and has free reign to just go and be not too good somewhere else.

If he is being bullied out of his job then of course that is totally wrong and needs reporting otherwise it won't stop.

taking each point

If he is being bullied out of his job then of course that is totally wrong and needs reporting otherwise it won't stop.

Report to who?

I just aren't going to join in the pom pom waving if this man is not up to his job and has free reign to just go and be not too good somewhere else.

Its a website for help, if you don't want to wave your "pom poms" then fine, but why post?

If it is the head then who ever is in charge of head teachers surely.

I have posted as I am interested.