Investigation interview

[Redblong]

A colleague told my HOD that I had said I wasn’t going to mark students books but just put data in system - no way that could even happen with all the scrutiny at school
My HOD went to the head and I was ‘ under investigation’ I’ve been at the school 7 years with no issues at all. Books were checked , students were interviewed - my books were marked when checked
Other colleges said I’d told them I was behind with marking and made statements to that effect
I’m gutted at their back stabbing - an investigation is taking place all based on gossip and conjecture - I have yet to hear if there is to be a disciplinary meeting
Do I have a case for a complaint against my department / school ? Surely this is not right or fair ?

The HOD should have carried out their own investigation in order to verify the validity of the concern raised. If it wasn't valid, it would go no further.

The only way something like this could get to disciplinary is if the investigation identified that the areas for concern are warranted.

A couple of questions though: does an element of this have merit? Have you been saying to colleagues that you are behind on your marking? Or that you're not getting it all done?

This sounds like workplace bullying and I'd contact your union or acas to get proper advice

@EllieNBeeb

This sounds like workplace bullying and I'd contact your union or acas to get proper advice

Spot on advice. You need Union advice ASAP.

NB And I'd ask my Union about the possibility of launching a civil claim for slander/libel (depending on how they transmitted the information) against the 'colleague' as well.

Most teachers I know are behind in their marking!!

Sorry OP - this was missed off my message.

It sounds like you’ve been treated really badly and it must have been very upsetting for you. Most teachers I know are taking books home at Easter to catch up on. I certainly have a few big bags home with me. That’s beside the point as you are up to date but even if you hadn’t been, staff running to the HOD and a subsequent investigation seems way over the top.

Hi
Firstly, apologies for the awful spelling in my post !- I’m not sure how to edit 🥴
The accusation was that I had falsified data- as in added marks ( yr 8) to a school system without marking the student’s books 🤷🏻‍♀️
The books were called for and they were marked -they tried to prove I had marked them retrospectively by interviewing students
A colleague produced a tx ( we had been friends) I’d sent asking her to bring some marking home for me as it was my day off before weekend and I was planning and marking as usual.They tried to use this as “proof” I hadn’t marked previously As a 0.6 teacher I regularly take books home and straight after the interview I queried taking books home I had packed in my trolly with the head and she laughed and said of course you can take them ? I have not been suspended and taught before and after the interview
I feel there is an agenda here - I have been teaching 22 years with not a blot on my service - I have been mentioning lately that I might retire next yr - …3 staff on maternity due bk at same time , classes were merged and made bigger - to accommodate and I can’t see that changing now - now staff are teaching other subjects as they can’t fill timetables with main one …
At the ‘ fact finding interview’ another member of staff had said she had witnessed me leave a class unattended for 6 minutes and said I told her that “ sometimes my data didn’t all match up ‘ ?? I had PPA time and wasn’t teaching when this is supposed to have happened as I pointed out
It was also put to me that ky st 3 papers from last year had been found unmarked ?! - they were drafts as I pointed out too …
It felt/feels like a witch hunt - I told them as such -I’m astounded at the way the dept has turned on me - no precursor except main perpetrator who has who has always disliked me ( it’s mutual ) They have made me feel I have committed a heinous crime
My union rep is quite astounded too - I now feel too anxious to go into school - I feel the majority of the department are against me and are looking over my shoulder , talking behind me back -and for the life of me I don’t know why as I have always had a decent working relationship
I feel this is all so wrong but I don’t know what to do about - I have heard nothing abt it going to a disciplinary meeting
Thank you all for reading

Redblong, it sounds as if you work in a toxic environment, to be honest. As I said above, keep your Union fully involved, and I'd do 2 further things:

1. Keep a copy (off site, not on school IT system) of every message any teacher/TA etc sends you; and
2. Do not send any friendly messages to any 'friends' on the staff (or colleagues at all); i fact communicate as little with them at all.

Sorry to say this, but you need to protect yourself.

Sounds like “mobbing”…

From the wiki page:

mobbing is a form of group aggression innate to primates, and that those who engage in mobbing are not necessarily "evil" or "psychopathic", but responding in a predictable and patterned manner when someone in a position of leadership or influence communicates to the group that someone must go. For that reason, she indicated that anyone can and will engage in mobbing, and that once mobbing gets underway, just as in the animal kingdom it will almost always continue and intensify as long as the target remains with the group.

mobbing is typically found in work environments that have poorly organised production or working methods and incapable or inattentive management and that mobbing victims are usually "exceptional individuals who demonstrated intelligence, competence, creativity, integrity, accomplishment and dedication"

Oh blimey, this sounds like a school with a horrible culture. I complain about my school and it's not perfect but what you are describing is unimaginable to me in every regard.

I hope you get this sorted asap, but I really hope you find a school where you can be part of a supportive team.

This sounds awful. Don't attend any future meetings without a Union rep present.

Your colleagues sound like utter twats and underline the importance of not saying anything either as a joke or otherwise to anyone.

I think I would be saying that I didn't recognise the comments that some staff had reported. Perhaps they are confused or are taking things out of context. Suggest that bullying is the cause then say nothing else.

Then say nothing else.

Thank you all for responding - I feel at tad better getting it off my chest - thank you again for your comments

This sounds awful. I really feel for you. We're all under intolerable pressure these days. It's good to know I'm not alone.

@cansu

Your colleagues sound like utter twats and underline the importance of not saying anything either as a joke or otherwise to anyone.

I think I would be saying that I didn't recognise the comments that some staff had reported. Perhaps they are confused or are taking things out of context. Suggest that bullying is the cause then say nothing else.

Then say nothing else.

Good advice

OP,

I am so sorry this is happening to you. I am very glad you are in a union. Please keep your union rep updated on your situation and follow their advice. The tips upthread about trusting no one in your department and keeping careful records that your school cannot access are also excellent.

You work in a nest of vipers. Tread carefully. Very best wishes

OP,
I worked at a College once where this sort of behaviour was not uncommon. Desperate people jockeying to be "in" with the Head of Dept/Principal by whispering against colleagues, often with no justification other than a personal dislike of that person. I'm not saying for one minute this is happening in every school/college, but it was very common 20 + years ago. I used to find it sad they had so little confidence and self-worth that they resorted to it. Keep strong and I agree with PP - be polite but have as little to do with some colleagues as you can, until this is sorted out.