Am I being managed out?! Can’t believe this is happening

[ErinReagan]

I’ve had Reception or Y1 for 23 years. It’s truly my vocation. Been in the same school for 13.

Was asked to see (new) HT when we came back from Christmas. I am ‘too comfortable’ and she is moving me to Y6 in Sept.

I am heartbroken. I really am. Moving me to Y1 would have been one thing but Y6 just seems petty.

Yesterday she asked if I ‘would mind’ working with the woman who will take over EYFS during my PPT. I really do mind to be honest.

Again, if I was looking at Y1 I wouldn’t mind, but I’m so worked up about Y6 I can’t think rationally.

[pollyputthepastaon]

Presume the other teachers saying they have specialist staff are in private schools?

I teach in a private school (year 3) and we have specialist teachers taking my class for RE, french, science, music, games, PE leaving me with a lower work load than in the infants. I have all those lessons free (the children go to a different classroom for them) to do planning. It’s a fantastic system and a real shame funding doesn’t stretch to it in the state schools (or all the state schools)

[letmebefrank]

I think you're being managed out if you've been there for that long ...as you'll have one of the highest salaries in the school.

I would push back. That's an insane jump, R to Y6 after 23 years. I would tell them you'd be absolutely willing to work in KS1 if they think you need to stretch yourself past Reception. And I'd consult your union immediately.

[FuzzyAtmosphere]

I would email your HT with a massive lengthy list of all the courses and extra support you will need to be able to teach Y6 and I’d be assertive enough to say in it that you feel you are deliberately being set up to fail and managed out of your job. Tell her that due to your strong feelings on this matter, you want all conversations to be written down in case you need to take the matter further at a later date.

Keep a note with dates/times/witnesses or everything and don’t allow yourself to be bullied out of the job you excel at for one you don’t feel confident of doing.

[neddle]

The only positive I can see with you in yr6, is that (presumably) you’d know most of the children having taught them before.
Other than that, It sounds like a silly idea.

[ErinReagan]

I really would need to go on courses and training days.

[Nanna50]

Who is replacing you and who are you replacing iyswim? There must be a move around of a few staff to accommodate you moving to YR6.

Did the HT not give an explanation? As a parent, if my child was going into YR6 in September I would be concerned.

[ErinReagan]

The other thing, and it sounds very petty, is that a lot of resources in the EYFS base are mine. I have spent money of my own as well as bringing in my own children’s old playroom furniture and toys.

[ErinReagan]

I only know who is replacing me and obviously that I am down for Y6. I do know most of the children and families but I am not big headed enough to assume that will mean perfect behaviour. That’s another thing I’d need to do from scratch.

[Soontobe60]

Go back with a list of development needs you’ll need, and request tine to work alongside the current teacher plus who’s taking over you, NOT in your PPA!

[Soontobe60]

Also make sure you take all your personal items when you move.

[Amiable]

In my DS’s school teaching Y6 is seen as prestigious - you will be preparing the kids for secondary, I wouldn’t think the head would have given you the role if she had any doubts about your ability!

[MrsElijahMikaelson1]

If I were you I would be contacting my union. No HT with their salt would move an EYFS specialist to Yr6 that’s ridiculous. And how will you have time to help the teacher taking your place when you will have so much work to do to prepare for Yr6? The subject knowledge is insane! You could also complain to your CoG.

[WaterSheep]

The other thing, and it sounds very petty, is that a lot of resources in the EYFS base are mine

I know it's petty, but given the situation I would remove them bit by bit. So that come September the new teacher is left with what the school has provided. I know it will make their life difficult, but these are things you have spent time and money on so they belong to you.

[FourDecades]

I'd be making a list and removing the items that were mine from the classroom.

[ConsiderTheCentre]

I think she knows it’s way out of your comfort zone and is banking on you leaving. You’re expensive, she might not mind if a few of the more senior teaching staff leave and replace you with cheaper workers.

Perhaps budgets is one of her leading criteria from her higher ups.

The real thing for you to consider now though is that you’d be expensive wherever you went, and I’m fairly sure all HT’s are getting the same drumming about budgets.

[Itwasntme1]

Make an appointment with the headteacher. As for a formal review of your work.

What does she mean by too comfortable? Does she have concerns with your performance? Has she observed your teaching?

Ask exactly how the move will improve the issues she has.

Don’t be confrontational, but genuinely curious. Take a list of questions and take notes.

It all sounds very vague.

[user14572856389]

What a dysfunctional way to manage a school.

[lyralalala]

The other thing, and it sounds very petty, is that a lot of resources in the EYFS base are mine. I have spent money of my own as well as bringing in my own children’s old playroom furniture and toys.

Make sure that is known.

In the last school I worked in all hell broke loose when a new HT schuffled everyone around. She put her favourite (blatant) into the class of one of the more popular (because she got results) teachers. The favourite was livid when all the little touches disapeared from the classroom as she and the new HT hadn't realised they belonged to the class teacher

[wildcherries]

I'd be making a list and removing the items that were mine from the classroom.

This. And I'd be looking to leave for a school where my skills were appreciated. I'm sorry you have to deal with this, OP.

[IceCreamAndCandyfloss]

Just take anything you own and want to keep home.

SATS results are important to school, they would be very unlikely put in a teacher they didn’t think could achieve so being managed out seems very unlikely.

Our primary swapped teachers around every couple of years. It made sense as then they knew how to teach all year groups.

[Littleshortcake]

I would quietly start bringing my own stuff home week by week (from Easter on) then look around for work. I'm teaching for nearly 20 years and we move regularly but we get to meet the HT to discuss it. This seems very sudden after no moves in 13 years.

[Tinnedpeachesandcream]

In my experience every single time a new head starts they pull shit like this. In my last job we had two new heads in two consecutive years. First one demoted me as I didn’t ‘support her strategic vision’ (didnt agree with everything she said in meetings more like) and the second one upped my teaching timetable to 90%, (was HOD and am perf arts teacher had a massive extracurricular workload and so was running a million trips, school events, etc etc as well as teaching the whole school) and added in so many extra events that I had to run and organise on my own that I nearly had a nervous breakdown.

So I left. And my replacement isn’t coping and is having a horrible time. I offered many solutions to enable me to stay and they wouldn’t take me up on any of them, so it’s their own fault. Sometimes SLT are jealous if they think a member of staff is more respected than them. So they undermine them.

[CocoLoco87]

It's not petty to take your personal belongings with you. Definitely remove them bit by bit so it's not such an obvious 'clear out' when you move classrooms.

[Silvercatowner]

Oh OP I'm so sorry. I can understand your upset. I don't know what your HT is thinking - yr 6 is crucial re SATs and needs a strong KS2 specialist. (I'm sure you'd be really good, but with all the will in the world, you aren't a KS2 specialist). I'm afraid my advice would be to leave and find somewhere that will appreciate you. And make sure you take all your stuff with you.

[RitaTheBeater]

I agree with SE13. I’d genuinely want to go on courses and go into all of the KS2 classrooms to get myself prepared and up to speed so that will have a financial impact on the school. You can embrace the change, at least outwardly, as long as you are adequately supported as it’s a totally different job from the one you are doing now.

How on earth does she expect you to go without your PPA time? When are you expected to have the time to do your actual job never mind prepare for this new one?