Grievance against Head

[Noneofyouhasseenadeaddonkey]

Has anyone got any experience or advice about this? This is what my union are pushing for but I am shitting a brick about any consequences. The stress is really getting to me.

I don't want to provide any details , other than it is longstanding bullying and concerted bullying by SLT (not just the head but previous head and other SLT which complicates things).

I feel a grievance could be risky and don't actually understand the procedure.

Posted here other than employment in the hope someone has advice specific to teaching.

I teach in a large secondary, have a post of responsibility and we have no HR.

I don't think they are seeing flaws as such ... if I am being genuinely honest, I think they think there is almost too much info and they are a bit overwhelmed. The issue is that it is subjective, I guess!

I have had an objective look at it. Obviously I am not going to broadcast around work but a few people I have spoken to are all horrified. One of these showed it to an expert she knows who was not impressed by the head (and that is based on one bit of evidence) and an employment lawyer was pretty appalled. One of the difficulties is the union will not support you if you have sought (formal) advice from employment lawyers.

Suck it up, buttercup, I guess...

A subjective grievance is never a good thing in my opinion.
A grievance needs to be backed up with solid evidence.
I am sorry - but it is almost impossible for the person who has the grievance to be objective about it.

You need to either =
Take advice and support from union
or
Take advice and support from Employment lawyer and accept cost
or
Look at your options and find another avenue.

Yes, thanks , I know I do.

I think bullying is always seen as subjective. Which is why so many teachers leave schools and the profession altogether, especially older ones, dare I say.

I don't think there is anything subjective at all about the issues I have faced (and the mounds of evidence I have!) but I would most likely be told it's all down to my a) perception and b) laziness/ difficultness.

It is interesting that I do have experience of a grievance form another angle and the most flimsy evidence was used in the presentation of facts : most of it highly subjective. If this wasn't the head, I wouldn't have any issues with raising a grievance and would just expect the outcome to be that the perpetrator accepted their actions were unkind and said sorry.

It is the very fact that we are talking SLT here that makes it dangerous rather then the case itself. The union haven't expressed doubt over whether I should raise a grievance. They have just engaged in semantics over constructive dismissal.

What do you actually want, None? Because it looks like your options are:

• ask for a change in line managers and a complete separation between you and the Head - so anything that needed to go them would go through an intermediary (this is where you having a second in a dept if you're HoD/HoY is useful)

• to ask for all information about you to be submitted (emails, meeting minutes in which you're mentioned etc) and then use this for constructive dismissal

• for breathing space while you look for another position. So a removal of SLT from your day to day life while you look elsewhere.

I can't imagine that having a grievance against the Head is going to do wonders for your career and these can follow you (they shouldn't, but teaching can be bloody incestuous and gossip is rife, especially in unhappy schools). It might help to know your position in the school None as it might provide options there. PM me if you want to talk - I had a similar HoD who terrorized me for two years and was then annoyed that I left.

I definitely can't put my post on here as it is very specific!

I may PM you in a bit ... it's complicated but essentially there is no buffer . It has been very concerted over the years so any SLT link has made life hard for me.

The second option would certainly prove most enlightening ... but I don't have the balls. Literally, in the case of my school.

To use the MN adage, I need to get my ducks in a row.

I have been stuck before you can’t win against this level of power. Leave and build up your career somewhere else. TLr can be got again

Not sure about that bit but yeah.... I have tried leaving! I am quite old now and have dependants and a DH who wants to get out of his job so can't have loss in earnings for too long. I did apply for two non teaching jobs this year both of which would have seen a distinct drop in earnings. I withdrew form one and failed at interview stage in other, so I am trying. I am sure they all feel most upset with me when I tell them I have not been successful!

Okay. You sound like you're in a horrid position. I have been where you are with a dreadful SLT who ganged up and just seemed to enjoy demoralising me. I am now a head of my own school, and I work very hard to make sure it doesn't happen in my school.
From what you say you have choices but don't want to take any of them without being guided rather than making that decision on your own.
Raising a grievance against the head is not going to change anything at all. It will make you that nutty employee who thinks they can topple the head. Regardless of outcome you will come out of it unemployable. You will not make things better and whatever you are told, if they are bullying you all that will happen is they will do it better and without an evidence trail.
You will not be happy remaining. It will not get better, it will carry on. You will eventually break and say or do something stupid that makes you unemployable. It says something that the two decent people in SLT have moved away. That tells me that the issues were insurmountable for them too.
If your husband wants to move jobs, it is the perfect time to get a role out of county and well away. Work out the bare minimum salary you would need to survive and then shop from there.
I cannot see a happy ending where you are, you need to move.
Obviously this is up to you, but if I were in your shoes, if I didn't 't have much career time left I would make the move sooner rather than later.

You will get there it is rubbish now but keep going I would put my energies into escaping ....good luck

Thanks both : old that's good and wise words. I think you are right.

One of those SLT went, came back and went again. All on good terms : but she was definitely too good for us! The other retired. My main ally in school was ex union rep who is now SLT, so effectively he is gagged. But I know he would speak up for me if anyone said anything about me.

DH doesn't want to move away. he wants to give up working! Also a teacher, the irony is he hates his job, whereas I quite like mine, sort of. When not being bullied .

Thank you all for the sympathy and tough love.

Isn't it sad that teaching has so many bullies?

I wouldn't raise a formal grievance. Keep your head down and plan your escape!
In my experience SLT will just close ranks with the Head teacher in order to look out for their own jobs. You will be made to look like a trouble maker or it will put down as a "personality clash". Don't go there. Put all your energies into finding a new job and leave when the time suits you.