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.

Do you mean someone employed directly by the union? If you don't have a rep in school, then I would see if there is a branch/district officer who can help you.

I really don't think this is great from a union rep, and a good union rep ought to be willing to discuss the situation with the school, try and find out why they are doing this, and support you.

If nothing else, getting a rep involved will show you aren't willing to be treated unfairly, and ensure they do everything by the book.

Yes, she is employed by the union.

We have had multiple meetings. The school can't provide any evidence of where they have previously raised concerns but just keep saying that the plan is needed and supposed to be supportive.
Not a word of the plan or how they come across in meetings comes across as vaguely supportive.

Doctor with experience - fantastic.
Plumber with experience fantastic.
Solicitor with experience fantastic
Teacher with experience... We must save a few pennies by replacing you with a babysitter!
Whilst simultaneously wanting to raise standards.
Oh and if you are in England expect 10k a year less than Scottish teachers. You have to smile at how farcical it is.

Vile evil SLT.

They've got to be really disgusting people to treat their fellow teachers this way.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Schools no longer value experience; they want cheap young people who are willing to jump through hoops and work ridiculous hours on stuff that is of no benefit to children.

Most primary adverts are only offering up to M6. This means experienced teachers can't move without taking a pay cut, so most stay put. Schools then can't afford to allow younger staff to move to UPS without forcing out others. It sucks and it’s ageist.

From experience when your face no longer fits you are for the high jump. There is little solidarity, even among SLT; they too turn on each other.

so awful. I can see easily how it happens. One minute you are the answer to their prayers and the next you are the problem.

I have to be honest, I would consider getting out. I didn't, I stayed and fought, passed my first plan and they came back for another go earlier this year. Don't put yourself through it. The effects will stay with you for a long time. Protect yourself. It's shit but you have to do it

Hi

It is absolutely appalling that this is being allowed to happen.

What happened when you fought it. You said you passed the first plan. Did they still keep gunning for you. Did you Leave in the end.

I left. I had time off with stress and just couldn't face going back to another plan. It left me stressed and lacking confidence in myself. I lost all love for the job and just couldn't relax. Its a terrible thing to go through.

I would say to anyone facing this to leave. I know it's not that simple but don't put yourself through it if you can find a way out

I agree @anatasia. find a way out as quickly as you can.

Tha you all so much for the lovely, supportive messages.
They really have helped.

I am genuinely not crap at my job. Until recently I was the member of staff used for shared observations and as a mentor for student teachers and teach first participants. Our previous Ofsted's talk about my lessons as 'best practice'.

I don't know when it all went so wrong but I am a nervous wreck at the moment. I jump everytime the classroom door goes.

DH wants me to go to the GP about being signed off with stress but I would feel so guilty leaving my lovely class, especially as my job share left at Christmas so they have had a string of supply teachers alongside me.
😔

I understand but sadly the way the system works, they have the power to do this. Please consider protecting yourself. I know the feeling of waiting for the door to open. It's not worth putting up with the stress.

Hi OP

Just to say I massively know you are excellent at your job and it did not all go wrong. You have been targeted to manage out as you are too experienced (crazy eh?) and too expensive now. The union have said this happens all the time. Do you really think they care about the well being of the kids. They don't care about taking away a very good teacher who has built rapport and and a really good relationship with their students, which is actually the first of the teaching standards by the way. The kids have become units that you churn out now like a factory. If you end up manged out, in any kind of settlement and for a reference you have to sign a non disclosure so that you will not challenge any of this. That is why it is not highlighted to DFE or anyone else even colleagues. Arggggh.

Part time, experienced and expensive is as bad as pregnant and screwed.
My school doing the same. They even openly say they don't like part time staff

Yes, @NEmama I have heard this uttered many times. It is discrimination but it is disguised.

I had to pull over the car this morning as I had a full panic attack on the way into work.
I had an email asking me to come to see SLT for a chat during my lunch today. It was sent on Friday and my anxiety levels have been through the roof all weekend.
I called in sick and am back home trying to work out what I am going to do.
I don't think I can do this.

I am so sorry, I remember this feeling so well. I hope you've rested up today and are feeling a bit better. It is so hard but I would advise getting out. It is not worth it

Go to your GP.
Get yourself signed off until the end of the year.
My old HT was a Friday evening emailer. He was also a nasty bullying bastard. I hope he dies a painful, long drawn out death.

You're being bullied. Get signed off and contact your union for support. Sending hugs.

I would also advise getting signed off. Don't try and struggle in regardless. It is not worth your health. Sending hugs also

I’m going to go against the grain here but my advice is that this is a well worn tactic to get you to jump ship due to the fear of capability and of that being declared in your reference. And even with the dire shortage, you will struggle to get a UPS post. As wrong as this is, school leaders are not doing this for shits and giggles … they are driven by fear of the yawning hole in budgets although that is not an excuse.
Anyway, if they have no evidence, then they have no evidence and no they can’t ‘manufacture’ it despite what anyone says. If you are in a MAT is likely even less easier for them to ‘prove’ as you probably have a shed load of policies ….. T&L, assessment, behaviour etc. They will have to show where you are not meeting them and most importantly where/when/how your practice has changed as it has not been a problem before. If it’s the policy that has changed and you are allegedly not meeting it then they need to demonstrate how they have provided support & training before enacting it and how your practice is falling behind others who have received the same training.

I have supported loads of teachers through this bullshit and the best £200-400 you will spend will be to get an employment lawyer (unions are useless). They will trawl the PfM and capability policy and usually tie SLT/HR up in knots in what they have and haven’t followed and they will collate your previous successful PfM and point out the incongruity of this sudden change especially if you have evidence that all 3 are on capability and you have previously been used as student mentor etc. They will demand explanation and evidence in the way unions should but are too spineless to do. They will also place some ‘reasonable parameters’ around contact and communication to stop the Friday afternoon email shit.
In my experience, after the first couple of letters from the employment lawyer …. they will back the fuck up and go away. You are far more protected through your T&C than you think and the law will protect you even if the unions won’t. Virtually no one gets dismissed from teaching due to capability as it is really difficult to legally prove and a tribunal will look at evidence not hearsay. Loads of people do get bullied out though but if you can, then stand up to it and say fuck ‘em and to use a well worn MN adage in a different context, get a shit hit lawyer. It’s no where near as expensive as you think and it works.

*shit hot

This was a really interesting post - thanks.