Accepted a promotion, not sure I want it :(

[PollyCazaletWannabe]

I have been teaching for 10 years and always been ambitious to become head of dept (core subject and v large dept in current school). Never wanted more, strongly believed that I needed to work my way up and have done so. In September I finally achieved my goal of becoming head of dept and was really chuffed. It wasn't easy at first but have settled into the job well.

However I have last week been told that they are restructuring the leadership in the school and basically the upshot of it was that they externally advertised my job in TES this week :( but that I was offered (on a plate, no interview or anything) a promotion to a leadership post in sixth form. Higher TLR than my current job, quite prestigious, lots of potential to make impact, but probably less stress.

The problem is that I am not particularly happy. I didn't want to apply for my own job and also thought it was stupid to turn down a good promotion that was being offered to me. However, I feel as though I have abandoned my original goal of being an excellent head of dept. I feel sad not to be working with my team any more (or not as much) and am not really looking forward to this new job.

Somebody slap me please- I'm being an idiot, aren't I!
Sorry this is so long...

Surely they can't do that!

They can, because I was on an 'acting' contract. The school is CONSTANTLY doing this- half the leaders are on this type of contract. My new job will be 'acting' until July 2015, too.

Might be worth a quick phone call to your union to find out about the legality of that. I don't think you can change a JD to that extent.

I think you should repost in legal and contact your union ASAP. It sounds like they're making your role redundant, but they can't do that without consultation etc. Sounds seriously dodgy to me.

Ah, xposts. I still think you should contact your union.

Spud masher and ATruth, thank you- but did you see my update before posting?i think what the school has done is legal given that it was an Acting position.,

Can you apply for your HoD job? I did mine acting and applied when it was externally advertised (and got it).

Do you have a good working relationship with a line manager who you could talk this through with?

I could- but I would feel really awful if I applied and didn't get it :( also, the time scale means that if I applied for the HoD job I would miss out on the sixth form job, and could end up with nothing.

I also get the strong sense that the school really want me to do the sixth form job, so would be unlikely to give me the HoD.

To be fair, the sixth form job does sound great, but the whole situation would hugely put me off. If I was you I'd be on the TES looking for another job because I just wouldn't trust my bosses. On the other hand, they clearly value you to give you the job they've offered.

I know, I feel really pissed off and cheated, but then feel stupid for feeling that way because hey.. I've been promoted! I did consider TES but just couldn't face the loooooong application process and fear of failure :(

Or, the feeling of success when you get a job at a school with a decent leadership!

That's why you need to have a decent chat with your line manager. It's policy in my school to advertise head of core departments externally, so I knew it was coming, and it was a proper process too. I wasn't a shoe in. But I knew I was valued (I was approached to take the acting role) and I knew I had a shot. My line manager was supportive of me applying.

It would have been ghastly if I hadn't got the job. I would have resigned I think. But it was the job I wanted at the time. Is the new role pastoral? I wouldn't take a pastoral role - it's not my strength. It's a tough one for you.

What subject is it? Would looking at the TES help you understand your worth? For example, there are 41 roles for heads of English advertised at the moment. 41! Now! At this odd time of year. Success may be nearer than you think.

Before I applied for my current HOD job I spent about a year looking at the job specs coming up for the type of job I wanted and slowly went about making sure I had all the experience they asked for. Then when I came to apply I felt much more confident about it.

It is English. My line manager is supportive but doesn't want to lose me altogether so is keen for me to take the sixth firm job. I have accepted it anyway, so will have to make the best of it! My plan is to do this new job until next July and then get a head of English post somewhere else for Sept 2015.

I didn't know they could just offer you the sixth form job without any application process!

I don't know how they are doing that either to be honest- I think possibly because it is a newly created post they can say it was created for me, or something? Sadly the machinations of SLT at my school are far from transparent.