Observations

[BadgerBadgerMushroom]

Imagine this...you are an experienced teacher who has taught for some time. Lesson observations in the past have been good or outstanding. One day you have an observation which doesn't quite go to plan and you end up with a result that's out of character for your teaching. What would your school do next?

Offer to come back another time in the first instance.

If they're still not happy there will be a school policy that they should follow.

You okay?

Have a chat with me. Discuss what we thought went wrong. Give me the option of a different one if I wanted one. Both would go on my record though. You okay?

I agree with the others. Chat, ask what happened. Give me the choice of another observation, but both would go on my PM record. Maybe put some coaching in place depending on what it was, but not necessarily.

Do you have someone you can talk to today?

This has happened in lots of schools round here. Often when one of all of these things have happened

New head.
They feel threatened by things you’ve said in staff meetings which might make them look stupid.
They’ve realised how expensive you are and that they can get two NQTs instead of you.

Usually, it’s a rigorous program of observations until you quit or go off sick or they offer you the choice or a compromise agreement/reference and leaving immediately or capability.

Your school might not be horrible though.

What are they doing about it?

My last school the head was trying to force me out, I'm sure. Had I had a bad obs, there would have been no repeat obs for me,. I would have been called in for a meeting and most probably put on capability. Fortunately for me, though, their performance management cycle just didn't exist so I managed not to have any formal observations last year.

In my schools before that, a repeat obs would have been scheduled after an informal chat, as they knew I was a reliable, capable teacher who maybe had an off-day or wasn't feeling well or had issues at home.

Exactly what Fedup said but my head was a complete arse. He was sacked shortly after I (and 87 others) left.

Thanks everyone. I've had a good grumble today and feeling a bit better. Im glad you all mentioned a reobservation as I'm sure that would have happened in other schools I've worked in. I worked with one teacher who had a shocker after teaching for years and she got a redo. We all have off days you just don't normally have people in your room I've been put on a plan and looking at Union stuff it just doesn't sit right with me. Yeah the lesson was a duffer and that's not on but it certainly isnt my usual standard by any means. Not much I can do but it's good to vent.

You shouldn't be being graded for observation lessons any more anyway!