Moving up an increment - help please

[Littlebluebird123]

My head made a passing comment in the staffroom today that I won't be moving up an increment as I haven't done a cycle. I was a bit taken aback and want to email him about it but wanted some advice first.

For context, I started at the school in April. When I took the job and discussed pay I said I thought I was on M4. (I was previously at an academy and only working one day a week.) He said, ok, with a view to going to M5 in September, I said yes. He said he was happy to match that. The first contract I was given was fixed term to end of Aug. I then signed a contract conversion to be made permanent. No discussion of pay, no new contract etc so I was under the impression that I would go to M5 in September. Now he's dropped this bombshell!

Where do I stand?

Did you get anything in writing about moving up to m5 in September?
I would email him to remind him of the conversation you had when you first started. If he’s honest he’ll honour it.

@CuckooCuckooClock

Nothing in writing sadly. It just didn't occur to me that changing mid year would make any difference. :( If I had known, I would have asked to go straight onto M5.

It's the fact he's said I won't have done a cycle that has worried me. As if he has an actual reason.

Not being there for a whole year shouldn’t matter. Check the school’s policy documents.
When you joined in April did you set new performance management targets? Have you met them? If you didn’t set new ones can you evidence that you met the targets from your previous school?

You could call your union for advice

Thank you.
I've looked at the union guidance and it says not being at the same school shouldn't matter.
I think I'll forward that to him and see what he says.
I really enjoy working there so don't want to hugely rock the boat, but equally, I want to be paid properly!

SBM here. It would be a bit unusual to increment someone in sept just like that - though you should speak to the head to say ‘ can I just check what you meant by xx as it was agreed at interview that I would progress to m5 this sept. What is the actual process and timeline for that, please?’

In my school, depending on start date, there would be a review meeting at some point, after which you would receive your point, backdated to sept 2019.

@DellaPorter

Thanks for your reply.
If someone in your school started in April, had performance management in Oct, would you expect the pay review to then happen in April and be back dated to September?
As far as I can tell, as I was working previously I should still be eligible for going up after performance management and back date to September because the changing of schools shouldn't penalise me - they can check my progress from previous performance management.

Yes, you would go up at my school, but your line manager might not be sure what to do - best to ask what the process will be/how you are appraised. It might not be done as quickly as everyone else

Thank you.