How common is this in schools?

[KittyBennetsUglyHat]

Earlier this year I was told that I was going to be put on an 'informal support plan' by the SLT at my school.
I am a UPS teacher with 16 years experience and have never had any concerns raised about the quality of my practice previously. Always had good feedback from Ofsted, positive observations etc.
At the same time as me 2 other UPS teachers in the school were told that they would need support plans.

I am a member of a Facebook group for teachers who are looking for support to leave the profession and this seems to be a common tale- expensive and experienced teachers managed out using support plans and replaced by ECTs.
However, I am conscious that a Facebook group of this sort is more likely to attract teachers in my position.

I just wondered how common this was in general and if the teachers on Mumsnet would have experienced it.

I don't have any direct experience but from what I hear, it is a tactic to get rid of expensive teachers. It's so awful - you should be greatly valued. Have they given you reasons for them putting this plan in place? Are you part of a union you could contact? I'm so sorry you're going through this.

Thank you for your reply. I really appreciate it.

Their 'reasons' are completely unfounded and they have no evidence for them.

My union are involved and my rep says that she could make the plan go away as it is without evidence but that there would be nothing to stop them from picking fault, fabricating evidence and building a case to make a plan justified. Basically making my life a living hell.
Her advice is that I get out as soon as I possibly can.

I'm interested in how often it's used to get expensive staff to leave.
Considering the teacher retention crisis, it seems a bit short sighted.

Very short sighted and stupid but experienced means nothing when you can get cheap teachers

I've just spoken to a previous Headteacher who confirmed that he never had any concerns about my teaching (infarct he called me awesome and outstanding)
But said, "oh god, not you too." When I told him what was happening.

It seems such a stupid thing to do.

I think you should see if there is another rep available to help you. I am a union rep and would never say that to someone unless they were not suited to the job at all (which is obviously not the case with you as you have been there a while).

I work with staff who are on support plans. In my school, informal support is genuinely that... we are working to support staff in developing their practice.
I am also a union rep.

That's interesting, thank you.

She is the regional rep and said that she had discussed the case with her colleagues so I'm not sure that there is anyone else to talk to.

The letter that came with the 'support plans' was entitled 'pre-capability plan'. It doesn't sound all that supportive.

Surely the staff that you work with have had some conversations about problems with their performance before it gets to the stage of being a plan.

I’d be interested to know if you were working in a particular academy chain. This may be a tactic employed by a certain group of schools. There is a lot of adverts out there right now. If you are looking to move, now is a good time. If nothing else, take a lot of days off in interviews. Maybe your colleagues will be outraged on your behalf.

I am in MAT and colleagues are utterly outranged.

And scared for themselves

It's very convenient that it's all UPS teachers on capability... Are you primary or secondary?

Primary

I've seen colleagues in a MAT be out on informal support and taken off, so there is hope. Unfortunately though, I don't think the recruirment/retention issue has hit primaries in many areas to the extent they'd struggle to replace you. An ECT is an awful lot cheaper and as many MATs just want you to teach by numbers, it almost doesn't matter to them who's at the front of the class. It's awful that as UPS teachers we fear for our jobs.

Yeah... that doesn't sound good.

The colleagues that I'm working with currently all have specific issues which we're working on. It's obviously a written plan but the intention is that we can resolve those issues and end the plan. It's not a stick and I am not beating them.

I do know, though, that that's not always the case everywhere.

Thanks for your reply.

I'd not realised that it was a 'thing' until it happened.
I have been at my school for 9 years so it's hard to work out how I am suddenly a failing teacher.
Workload has increased hugely in the last two years though and it's hard to see how I can possibly give any more to get myself off the plan.

Can I ask how often the staff that you have on plans are observed or have drop ins from SLT?
I have never had any issue with anyone popping into my room and I have the door wide open usually. But the plan says that they will be in 4 X per week which seems excessive.

Once a week planned (ie you'd know I was coming) + a drop in.
I don't have capacity for 4 times a week!!!

4 X per week x 3 teachers

It's almost like they have nothing better to do with their time.

They have to justify that there's a non-classroom role for themselves, don't they. 4x per week is completely unreasonable; that is an argument I'd definitely have. How can that possibly be supportive?

I absolutely could not do that.

I've seen this, both part time (female!) And UPS colleagues. It's a way of encouraging you to jump ship to save money.

I am both part time and UPS so a double whammy.

Just be aware that if you leave this join, you won't necessarily get paid UPS again. I got to UPS2, then had time out after my second child. When I then applied for other part-time jobs, no-one was willing to offer me more than M6. It is a truly depressing situation.

It really is depressing. Trapped because of years of experience and because you stuck out a job that so many people leave quickly.
I think that my cardinal sin was having children and taking maternity leave.