How do I cope with this colleague?

[Downbutnotoutyet]

I returned to teaching last year after a long career break. The colleague next door ( open plan school ) seemed determined to undermine me constantly but in a very covert way. Comments that were unnecessary but hard to pull her up on. The new term started three weeks ago and she has passed me no information about her class at all. Not one piece of paper, plans, assessments or jotters. Absolutely nothing! I have been very nice and patient and asked very politely but all I keep getting are nonsense excuses. I don't know if she has nothing or if she is just being really awkward. Management are useless. They know but don't care. It is Meet the Teacher night next week and I am floundering about what I am going to say as I don't even know where to begin teaching these children. We have no schemes or resources so it is not like I can ask the children where they were. I was a bit grumpy with her today but she honestly doesn't care. I don't really want to say anything in public but it is really getting me down now. I don't even know what I'm asking. Maybe I just needed to vent? Thank you for reading anyway.

This sounds completely bonkers

You are a saint for even trying. If I were you I would be dusting off my CV...

Goodness me, that sounds tough.

are you sure you even want to start?

I'm sure some of you probably think I am making much of this up, I certainly would if I read it, I honestly am not. I have never claimed to be the best teacher in the country, but I'd like to believe I'm not the worst. I genuinely care about the children and considering what many of our kids have to cope with they are truly amazing, often infuriating, but just brilliant. I just feel so bad for them.

Don't know how to highlight a previous comment but derxa that comment has made my night. Thank you for making me smile. Definitely appealed to my sense of humour.

Just had a thought that maybe my thread title should simply have been 'How do I cope? ' as I'm beginning to think that my colleague is the least of my problems. Yikes! It is going to be another long year.

1. In addition to chasing your colleague for the information you need, ask SENCo (please tell us this colleague isn't SENCo) for info that they hold on the Chn.

1. Meet the Parents meeting should be just that - just to see how Chn are settling in, names to faces and any individual issues.

1. I would suggest that you submit a copy of your baseline assessments to Head/ Assessment Co-ordinator/ KS Lead as you may be in danger of the colleague's data miraculously being "found" and the chn's unmoderated levels for the end of last year being surprisingly high.

Thanks Apple. We don't have these exact positions in Scotland, or at least not in my region, but there is a new ASN teacher whom I think would be very supportive. You are also correct about the Meet the Teacher night. It is more an informal group chat so I am probably getting ahead of myself there. I think speaking to people here tonight, putting it down in words and realising that I am not the only one who thinks the situation is bonkers has helped enormously. All I can do is to keep doing my best for my class. Thank you all. It is so good to have had your support this evening.

If you sell it cleverly, you could make a little questionnaire for the parents:
Things my child enjoyed/didn't enjoy last year
Things my child wants to achieve this year
Things my child can do/needs help with
...

You get the idea. Parents will think you are really interested in their child (not that you aren't), and you can gather a whole lot of valuable information that way.

I'm Scottish but worked in the English system for 10 years. Your 'colleague' should be hounded out of teaching. Not light hearted. good luck.

Thank you both. A questionnaire is a really good idea. I can definitely work with that idea. Derxa, I am glad you said that as personally I would rather work with a teacher who lacks confident and is willing to admit faults and seek help than one who is completely arrogant and selfish. Think I'm stuck for the next year but I can live in hope of a transfer after that. Many, many thanks to everyone. Sometimes a little acknowledgement of your feelings can make all the difference.

I left a school like that last year. The chaos became overwhelming in the end. Sympathies. I would wonder how accurate any transition information would be in any case.