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.

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

Thanks for this post - I'd never thought about that properly - my experience ties in with it though. I know many people who have been put through this and they have all left the job due to the unbearable stress of the process which is outright bullying. I don't know anyone who has actually been dismissed due to capabilities. It's sickening that this is widespread. I am really sorry OP, look after yourself.

So all the UPS teachers are on support plans in your school.

many years ago I was put on one by evil exec head. She would observe me before break and then feedback at break. No time for toilet for me then she would come back after break and observe and say I’d failed to meet the targets that had just been set!

the union rep is sadly right as schools will say you have failed the informal and so they are moving to formal. This will impact your teaching career as it follows you.

I noticed an application form said have you ever been subject to a capability procedure or resigned before the conclusion of one!!!

read your capability procedure very carefully. They can’t actually get rid of you until next resignation deadline now if not complicated by May 31 and they are hoping you will just resign so they don’t have do anything more.

get an employment lawyer. Yes you then can’t use the union but may be better in long run.

you can probably ride out a support plan until the summer hols. Utilise your sick days is necessary to avoid then if they continue in September get your lawyer or union to write an agreed reference and a settlement. You will then not have to work autumn term and can seek employment elsewhere.

it absolutely sucks.

It does, it's shit but I don't think there's a choice when it begins. I don't think there's any other way out if you want a shred of a career left.

I have just been forced out after 4 years of this sort of thing. I too was on UPS and had been at my school for in excess of 15 years. Being litigious and outraged by the behaviour of management (lies as well as trumped up charges) I intend to take matters further - i.e. court. It would be tremendously helpful if there are others out there who have been treated similarly to you (or, as in my case, put under investigation for matters that 'may lead to disciplinary action') if you could get in contact.
Put shortly, I intend to put a stop to this if I can. And if I can't to make such a row about it that it becomes a national scandal. If you get in touch send me contact details and then I will send you mine.

100% this happens (I think I’m in the same FB group as you OP). Is not just expensive teachers they target, although obviously this is a cost cutting exercise with budgets falling off a cliff like they are, but it’s anyone they fancy targeting for whatever reason they make up.
I would never, ever, recommend anyone to enter the Teaching profession.

I've just come back to the thread after months and am so sorry to read so many similar experiences.

I walked in the end. With a settlement and NDA, agreed reference etc. As did the other two UPS teachers (although it actually ended up being three others in the end)
I hated doing it, hated that they had got away with treating us in such a way and completely ruining my mental health but I didn't have the funds or the confidence to fight it.
The school delayed telling parents and dropped the 4 of us leaving in one at a time over a period of months so that it was less noticeable to parents.

I have a new, none teaching job which I am loving. It meant a significant pay cut but I work from home 4 days a week and actually have a life. I have evenings and weekends.
Looking back, I can't believe that I put up with such a Toxic culture for so many years.
The whole 'and other duties' clause totally fucks teachers over and should be removed from contracts.
Teaching has become like an abusive relationship. You stay for the kids, accept unreasonable conditions and expectations based on guilt because it's 'for the kids' and even then it's not enough.
I miss the kids and the creativity. I miss feeling like what I did mattered but you couldn't pay me enough to go back.

I'm so sorry it ended that way for you OP, although I'm glad to hear you've found something else that is working well for you. I think as a UPS TEACHER it's probably nearly impossible to change between primary school positions and sadly you need to make yourself somewhat indespensible by doing some other unpopular task like SENCO.

Well done on getting out and prioritising your mental health and well being!

Can I ask what job you do now that is working from home 4 days a week please?

I'm glad to hear that you're in a better place. I'm still teaching but in a different school for a temporary job. It's been a hard term but I'm glad I've stuck at it. I feel stronger but it will take time for me to fully recover. I wish everyone going through anything like this strength.

The people who do this are utterly utterly shameful. I hope they get their commupance one way or another. I would advise getting out, as soon as you can. Then do supply/short contract work until you've found a school that values UPS teachers. They do exist, but I wouldn't bother applying via the traditional job advert route. You risk ending up in a school that employs similar tactics, or just doesn't offer UPS at all. Moving on from a permanent job quickly doesn't look good on your CV, but there's nothing alarming about trying out schools first via supply. If you hopefully find a good one, you've shown them you can do the job so you're less of a risk when something permanent does crop up. If you're in a region where the recruitment and retention crisis hadn't hit, unfortunately I think you're better off trying something other than teaching, as this sort of horrible practice will be much more common.

Oh I've just seen you've got out, well done. What are you doing out of interest?

I was actually inundated with job offers. Two.fifderent charity ones, one with the police service and one with the local council.
In the end I took the one that offers flexible working and work from home.
I was shocked but thrilled. Especially as my confidence was at rock bottom.
I think teachers naturally undervalue their skills but they are highly transferable and we are sought after in different sectors.

That's brilliant to hear, maybe if more teachers realised what the wider job market was like, there'd be fewer instances of this, as schools would find it impossible to keep staff.