I think SLT is going to try and throw me in front of the bus

[ForChristsSakeBecky]

NC for this.

I work in a school outside of the UK which has a lot of different international projects. This is a huge selling point for the school and parents chose us for this reason. We had a long standing trip that has unfortunately fallen through, after many years. It was a class project that pupils specifically enrol in the school to do.

We only learnt this at the very end of the school year so had very little time to think about what to do. Unfortunately, this class also had their project changed the year before, as sky rocketing prices meant that the budget had more that doubled, so the school (rightly) decided it would be unfair to propose a trip that would put so many families under strain. An alternative trip was organised domestically.

However, this was met with a lot of muttering from families and the colleague concerned received a particularly virulent email from a parent who accused them of being idle and asked why couldn't they "make an effort". SLT have since had a number of remarks from disgruntled parents and the general consensus is that the cancelling of this project can be forgiven provided they have a 5 star experience lined up for the next year.

Fast forward to my turn. After hearing that our planned project could not go ahead, the teachers who organise this project and SLT had a meeting to talk about the way forward. I asked for a letter to be sent to parents, outlining clearly that why the project has to change and what our alternative (a shorter trip, but a trip all the same) is. I followed up the meeting with a written request that this letter be sent to parent from SLT, but I never received a reply.

We go back in a few days and I am certain that my HOY (who hides from any and all communication with parents for fear of conflict) is planning to have me annonce to the families at our parent-teacher meeting in the first couple of weeks, that the anticipated trip is no longer going ahead. Having experienced an extremely unpleasant meeting of the sorts a couple of years ago, I'm dreading that the parents, shocked and angry at this news, will shoot the messenger.

I think my HOY will not refuse outright, but will mutter vague assurances and then try and subtly twist my arm to do it at the last minute.

WWYD in my situation? Would you skive the meeting and let HOY deal?

I would definitely skive the meeting and put everything in writing.

I would be at the meeting as I'd want to know exactly what had been said to the parents and the exact tone because I don't think I'd trust a third party re-telling of the story.
How viable is it for the future? If it's not viable any longer, it needs to be pulled from the prospectus. If it is viable in the future, I would have a blanket email that gets sent out basically saying you are very sorry for change and you share the disappointment and are trying your best in the background to reorganise something for next year.
Any extremely difficult parents, I would be forwarding their email onto the HoY saying you won't respond to this so they need to.

Damn... I didn't think about what might be said in my absence. You're right... SLT might easily try to imply that the project had fallen through on my watch (not true!!) or that I was working on a solution and would have a brilliant alternative for them shortly, which is just not going to be possible to a) find whilst working full time, and b) organise whilst working full time.

It's unfortunately dead in the water, which is a huge blow to the project, but sadly there is no saving it. That sort of letter is exactly what I what sent to parents, but the HOY is against it as they think the parents will come after them. They would prefer to keep everything vague so as to avoid "giving parents something to attack us with". Which of course just sows more bloody confusion and creates more frustration.

What have SLT said about the HoY's thoughts?
I would be making it very clear that you want your name removing from anything to do with it moving forward. Explain that it's no longer possible because of X reason. You are happy to send out a letter to parents but have beeb advised by the HoY not to, that you'll attend the meeting to show support for the school but moving forward, your name needs removing from anything related to this.