Didn't get internal job, devastated

[Snowdropsarelovely]

I am currently acting deputy at my school, whenever I have asked the head if I am doing the right things she describes me as her rock and said I am a massive support. She had 3 weeks off with stress and I ran the school. Interviews happened, I didn't get the job... a younger man has been appointed who is apparently inspirational. I have been totally professional, sprayed my smile on and been in work every day but I'm in bits about how I didn't see this coming. I put everything into my interview and presentation and now feel totally rejected and don't know how I move on. I am looking for other jobs, but there's nothing suitable at the moment to be honest I absolutely love this school. I don't want to leave. But I've realised I can't motivate myself to do anything. I just feel broken and like I am watching the world from the outside but I'm not part of it.

Everyone I know that has had this happen to them has left not long after. It's crap and it robs schools of decent teaching staff

Just wish I had been given some warning that they really wanted a different person. The head has constantly told me I’m amazing at the job … She’s just been to say that I can choose which year group I’d like to teach in September when I’m back in class full time. I suppose I should be pleased I’m being consulted! She’s acting like I have no reason to be upset yet I genuinely feel like I don’t know how I get through the day. I have never felt like this … always loved my job

This happens fairly frequently. It is a kick in the teeth however it’s worded.

I’d be actively looking elsewhere….and they won’t be surprised to know you’re doing this. Remain calm and professional. When it comes to having to tell someone because you’ve applied and references might be sought, you can tell them that the fact you didn’t get the job means the school isn’t a long term prospect for you. They won’t be surprised to hear that.

If necessary, As long as it’s several weeks a go and you’ve had time for your feelings to calm down, I’d talk to the Head and tell them that you really will need to be looking elsewhere and you’d like help to prepare. You’d hope they feel they owe you that support.

Sorry this happened. There’s always a risk it will, but it’s never easy when you’ve been doing the job. And sometimes after the good and solid temporary person who stood up and then moved on because they weren’t given the job, the school will regret it’s decision and be sorry. But it’s happened now and m img in us key.

Do recognise that your feelings will calm down from deep and painful hurt to something which is more manageable and more of a dull ache. So don’t act hastily, but certainly keep your eyes open. All you can do is hold your head high and be professional.

Hang on. Aren’t there laws about exhausting the pool of potential internal candidates BEFORE going external? I don’t know - you’ll need to do some research on employment law - but I think I heard that your process should be finished and you should be rejected BEFORE external candidates can be considered

DogsAndGin (great combination! ) no, sadly not in schools - I’ve always heard of senior posts being advertised externally

WombatChocolate that’s great advice, thank you. I am certainly trying to keep my head held high and be professional. Currently thinking about which class to go into in September. Thinking about maybe a complete change from the key stage I taught before then I will widen my experience for future job applications

a younger man has been appointed who is apparently inspirational

A man eh? What a surprise. Don’t you just love governing bodies? They know nothing about the job and have no idea how much you’ve done for the place. I’ve seen this happen in schools I work in. It truly is a kick in the teeth.

I’d go off ‘sick’ for a while if I were you. See how things pan out for the Headteacher without her rock. Find another job where you’re appreciated. It’s not you!

This happened in my last school. Our Head was retiring and for the last couple of years, our amazing Deputy Head had pretty much run the school. She was approachable, hard working and always put staff welfare at the top of her priorities. When the Head announced his retirement,the governing body didn't even give her an interview. She (and the staff) were gutted. She left and got a headship elsewhere and got glowing comments when her new school had Ofsted. Don't make any rash decisions, but if I were you I would find a school that appreciated you.

I'm really sorry, OP. If it helps I have seen this from the other side; I was appointed as an external candidate over an internal applicant who had more or less been told informally (and incorrectly) that the job was as good as theirs and that the external advert was just a formality. The situation was compounded because the other person made some really foolish comments to me and the other candidate on the recruitment days (e.g. 'oh I hope you haven't had to come far, I wouldn't want you to have had a wasted journey' etc etc). It was all very badly managed. They just couldn't get over it and things were very tense in the term that we overlapped before they moved on.

As a pp has said, don't do anything rash, but I think you need to take time to absorb the very clear message that you have been given. The outgoing headteacher has not handled this well, I'm afraid. I'd be actively looking for something new while you still have the 'acting deputy' title as this will really help your applications for similar roles.

Sorry - I've just re-read and realised that the HT isn't going. TBH if she has been off for three months with stress the governing body were probably looking for someone who could step up to headship sooner rather than later. Have you got your NPQSL or NPPQH? If not then starting one might help you to feel like you're doing something proactive.

I'd be actively looking for something new while you still have the 'acting deputy' title as this will really help your applications for similar roles.

This is a really important point, OP. If career progression is a priority for you then you now have a short but golden window to apply for other DHT roles while you still have the acting deputy title.

Thank you, you have all been lovely and given me some fantastic advice here. I am going to start the NPQSL, although you can't actually register register for it at the moment.
I am looking for other posts, but if I'm still there in September I will make sure that I am ultra professional towards the new deputy and not growl at him at all

I've been there. I applied for a HOD job I had been doing for a year very successfully and was also passed over for a young inspirational man (what are the odds eh...?). In the end he reneged before even starting and I got the job. I'd have left but the Head herself left so I felt able to stay. It's a horrible feeling. Look after yourself.

I don't know why there is a received wisdom that internal candidates are at an advantage. In my experience the opposite is true. You are assessed in the light of all of your faults and mistakes as well as your successes, alongside shiny new external candidates. No matter how successfully you have fulfilled the operational side of an 'acting' role the onus is still very much on you to show that you are outward-facing and have a strategic vision to take the role forward. For a deputy you additionally have to show that you are capable of stepping out of the existing headteacher's shadow, and I agree with the pp who suggested that succession planning may have been a factor in the successful candidate's appointment. It may be painful but I highly recommend asking for honest feedback from someone who was on the panel but not the headteacher.

PP can sneer at the 'inspirational young men' if they like but in my experience they tend to be much less squeamish about being openly ambitious and proactive about building their CVs in preparation to seek promotion. It's good that you are considering NPQSL but perhaps consider jumping straight to NPQH if you can get on. In secondary IME you wouldn't even be shortlisted for a deputy role without evidence of some kind of further study in the field of education leadership.

PP can sneer at the 'inspirational young men' if they like but in my experience they tend to be much less squeamish about being openly ambitious and proactive about building their CVs in preparation to seek promotion.

In other words men are generally better at bullshitting their way to the top. Schools should realise women have been socialised not to appear too ambitious or boastful and not conclude that that means they are less competent than men.

@ValancyRedfern

PP can sneer at the 'inspirational young men' if they like but in my experience they tend to be much less squeamish about being openly ambitious and proactive about building their CVs in preparation to seek promotion.

In other words men are generally better at bullshitting their way to the top. Schools should realise women have been socialised not to appear too ambitious or boastful and not conclude that that means they are less competent than men.

It doesn’t have to be bullshit. I know plenty of women in senior leadership who have taken their career progression seriously. Most of my NPQSL cohort were women and all are now in senior leadership roles.

It’s not enough to assume that caretaking the operational side of a role is enough to get you the permanent position. I appreciate that primary is a little different but in secondary, as I said before, we simply won’t shortlist AHT / DHT / HT candidates who don’t demonstrate that they have developed their knowledge of education leadership.

@DogsAndGin

Hang on. Aren’t there laws about exhausting the pool of potential internal candidates BEFORE going external? I don’t know - you’ll need to do some research on employment law - but I think I heard that your process should be finished and you should be rejected BEFORE external candidates can be considered

That's not how it works in teaching

@PlumsInTheIcebox PP can sneer at the 'inspirational young men' if they like

I do sneer, because I’ve been in the job long enough to discover that these ‘inspirational’ types are anything but. Governing bodies see one thing, rank and file staff see another lazy bullshitter.

[quote ClaudiusTheGod]**@PlumsInTheIcebox* PP can sneer at the 'inspirational young men' if they like*

I do sneer, because I’ve been in the job long enough to discover that these ‘inspirational’ types are anything but. Governing bodies see one thing, rank and file staff see another lazy bullshitter.[/quote]
Take a lazy pull-quote that fits your agenda if you like, but my posts were nuanced and informed and you might do me the credit of reading the rest.

I've been on panels where we had to make the very difficult decision not to appoint internal 'acting' candidates. I'm sure this wasn't the case for the OP but on those occasions the candidates were underprepared and had frankly lazily assumed that simply doing caretaking the day-to-day basics of the job would be sufficient when up against stiff external competition. FWIW we appointed women to each post.

@Snowdropsarelovely

Thank you, you have all been lovely and given me some fantastic advice here. I am going to start the NPQSL, although you can't actually register register for it at the moment. I am looking for other posts, but if I'm still there in September I will make sure that I am ultra professional towards the new deputy and not growl at him at all

Shame mask wearing has stopped....I found them great for growling behind !

Head up ....smile on......you will go far.....

frankly lazily assumed that simply doing caretaking the day-to-day basics of the job would be sufficient

Lazy assumption on your part…

@ClaudiusTheGod

frankly lazily assumed that simply doing caretaking the day-to-day basics of the job would be sufficient

Lazy assumption on your part…

Forgive me. I didn’t realise you were on the panel too.

I think that schools often think there will be someone better out there. Often, the supposed amazing appointment will leave a few months down the line or prove to be rather shit at the job. I think that men in particular are often prized especially in primaries.

Look for somewhere else.

Thank you for lovely support I have received on this thread. I certainly wasn't just caretaking the job and I put a massive amount of time into interview prep. I'm actively looking for other jobs but nothing has come up yet. I'll keep trying and if not will remain professional and supportive in September but really hoping I will have moved on by then! I feel it will be really hard to work with someone who has what I hoped was "my" job. If anyone has been in that situation and has advice I'd be grateful to hear it

Happened to me too. I was acting deputy, applied but didn’t get it. Was told I flew through everything but didn’t answer a question as they thought I.should. New head brought a part time teacher who had been working with her for five years but had been a deputy head before. I am sure she would have been given the interview questions before as it’s clear who she wanted. I am looking elsewhere. Sure she’ll get rid of others too as she wants her own team.