Inadequate observation 27 weeks pregnant - help

[Serendipper]

I had an observation (with deputy head) nearly 2 weeks ago which wasn’t graded (due to a lot of upset caused by first few gradings given out) I had feedback straight after the lesson which was very woolly and a lot of waffle. I told my hod that I didn’t really know where I stood or how to gauge the feedback. I have now been told that had it have been graded it would have been inadequate and I now have to have support over the next 6 weeks and another observation at the end of that. I am really concerned and feel this is vastly unfair for a number of reasons.

1. Can they leave me 2 weeks not knowing this?
2. I had a crisis of confidence last school year and asked for support with a particular class, I was observed regularly by a different deputy head but no feedback or support was given. I then had a formal obs at the end of the year by this deputy head and the head and was given a good and told it was close to excellent. So my confidence increased and I have been feeling quite good since.
3. I didn’t respond to an email asking which class I should be observed with (as I didn’t see the email) a terrible class was selected for me and I was very stressed and concerned. My hod asked for it to be changed for me and the deputy said no but the head overruled him. It was changed 2 working days before the obs.
4. I have since been told that there was a big issue between the head and deputy over this and I felt I was put in the middle. I apologised to the deputy about the issue and said I should have gone straight to him and should be better with emails in future as I was concerned about him grading me negatively.
5. Due to half term I will be almost 35 weeks pregnant at my next observation, I feel like that will be a really stressful time to do it and I won’t be at my best. However I don’t want this hanging over me through my mat leave.
6. I haven’t had an easy pregnancy (I spent Monday in hospital thinking my waters had gone) and my school had recently merged and is going through a generally stressful time. My gcse students have their exams in 3 weeks and in the week of my obs we marked mocks overnight to give quick feedback and had an open evening. I already feel like School is kicking me at every turn.

Does it sound like they are being fair? Do I have any grounds to argue this?

I won’t defend the lesson as I can agree with some of the points that have been made however I feel adequate would have been more appropriate but that’s my word against his. I feel that some small factors in the lesson have been extrapolated and are being given as general issues (such as a lack of presence, which I don’t believe I have an issue with but can see that I didn’t show that off as I could have in the lesson)

Sorry this is a huge post, I didn’t want to drip feed and it has helped me put my thoughts in order. I have a meeting about this Thursday with hod and both deputy heads. So really want to go into that armed with everything I need.

Thanks

Just a little update.
I have been signed off for 5 weeks by the dr. She was happy to sign me off until maternity leave but I still want this sorted before I go off so have compromised on the 5 weeks and then a review.
I have spoken to the union and they have echoed everything said on here about the school having handled the situation really badly and caused me unnecessary stress in my pregnancy.

I am a lot calmer now than I was and I think the time off has given me a great deal of perspective. I have considered the lesson in detail and the lead up to it and I am thoroughly convinced that it was not a bad lesson and certainly not inadequate. I am planning to take all the appropriate steps to ensure I get the right outcome for this.

I have spoken to the local councils HR department and they have advised me and the school that they think the most appropriate next step would be either for the school to draw a line under this until after my leave or to have a meeting where this is resolved before I come back.

The dr and hr dept have advised that I should aim to go back to work at the end of the signed off period on a phased return to work to ensure that I am able to cope (as being further in my pregnancy and after having a 5 week break it may be too much to go back full time) which I feel happier about.

If this doesn’t get resolved or sorted out before my return then I won’t be going back and the HR dept said that as my note currently says “stress in work during pregnancy” I can ask the dr to not write during pregnancy and they can’t start my maternity leave at 36 weeks anyway. Which was helpful to know.

Thanks for all the help so far. Hopefully by the next update I will be back in work and not have any of this hanging over me.

I'm glad you've got yourself signed off. It all sounds a bit dodgy so I wouldn't worry about it now you've got the union involved. I imagine that will make them retreat. Relax for the next 5 weeks and don't involve yourself in any work - let them work hard to find the cover etc. just for being such pricks.

That's good to hear. Sounds as if you are getting support to do what's best for you and your baby. Well done! X

I now have a meeting with a deputy head (a nice one who tried to help me sort my obs before all of this) and my union rep this week. Any idea what to prepare/ expect for this meeting?

My dr has suggested going back on a phased return for my final 5 weeks, what would be reasonable to ask for this?
My timetable currently has p1/p2 being the same 2 classes everyday could I ask to come in after those so that all marking and planning for those classes is not my job? Otherwise I would be missing random lessons of all my classes and probably need to plan or at least pick up the pieces from that which is likely more work than just teaching them myself.

Also how long can I phase the phased return over? I am concerned about building up when I will be at my furthest in the pregnancy?

Argh more worries!

Bit of guidance here

www.teachers.org.uk/sites/default/files2014/ecr-5-phased-return-to-work_0.doc

Usually a phased return will be over a month or so. I don't see why you can't propose starting off with 2-3 days (from p3) then work up to 5 days pw. Remember you can go off again and start mat leave early, if you need to, so hopefully they will appreciate your presence and treat you kindly

Thank you @DellaPorter I have also arranged to meet with the union rep the day before. I have all dates and notes in writing and both the good and inadequate obs feedback and the targets the deputy head set me.

I will run all this past the union rep first but am thinking of suggesting
wk1 3 days from p3
Wk 2 4 days from p3
Wk 3 5 days from p3
Wk 4 5 days from p2
Wk 5 5 full days (will be the week before xmas hols so should be a nice week with low pressure)

I am also hoping to set my targets for performance management and I have been advised that they can be ones that are easy to achieve in the 5 weeks so I am going to suggest

1. Move dept file system to new area (basically a copy and paste job that I have already agreed to do before leaving)
2. Observe a colleague focussing on presence (the main issue raised in my obs)
3. Prepare handover document for mat cover

The targets set by my deputy head (that I had 6 weeks to achieve) were

1. Improve presence
2. Improve progress in lessons
3. Improve afl in lessons

I think mine are more realistic for the timescale!

I think the timescale for returning is sensible. The targets are unlikely to be accepted though - yours are actions not targets. Do you really need to meet your targets before going on leave though? That seems discriminatory? Wouldn’t you normally have a full appraisal cycle (one year) to meet them?

Thanks @MsJaneAusten I do see what you mean about being actions not targets. I will see what union says. I based them on some ideas from this link that the union rep sent to me.
community.tes.com/threads/performance-management-and-maternity-leave.524215/

One of the posters raises a concern that if you need a full cycle to achieve the targets then you can’t go up a pay scale during a year you take maternity leave. I just want to put myself in the best position to achieve my pay scale increases.

I also definitely don’t want the targets set by the deputy head as I feel I have no scale in which to measure the achievement of those and could easily lead to me having more of this to deal with in future.