An "informal support plan" - capability isn't it?

[Capability2025]

They're sidestepping answering the question if that's what it is. But it is isn't it? Especially when I've made it clear I don't feel I need support, but they want me to "set targets" blah blah?
Speaking to union rep tomorrow but any advice anyone?

It's not necessarily capability. I run support plans of all kinds - most of them are genuinely to support colleagues to develop their practice.
I am also a union rep. I wouldn't be involved if it were a fait accompli.

Can be a precursor to capability but not always.

@Capability2025 how old are you? How long have you been teaching?

In my fifties. Over 15 years altogether but with gaps

Typical 50's, female (presume you're female) in education and they suddenly decide you can't do your job.

It's disgusting.

Yes. What galls even more is that it's female in their 50s instigating it. Long live the sisterhood!!

What are you thinking of doing? What are they saying you're failing at/need support with?

I'm 56 and decided to retire from teaching this year. I'm going to try and get a job to top up my pension doing something totally different, admin, Tesco, cafe, charity work - anything really.

Luckily our mortgage is paid off, kids now in their 20's and both working and self sufficient.

I'm totally done with education.

Ah. You're expensive to keep then, but they'll never say it of course. Did you speak to you union rep @Capability2025 ?

@BG2015 how long did you teach? Sorry to digress.

I am in touch with the union. Considering my options- sorry to be paranoid but don't want to say more just in case. I am also very tempted to do something different altogether

I've been teaching since 1996. 28 years in primary. 24 years at my current school.

Totally lost all love for the job.

I'm only 10yrs in and feel the same. Sad state of affairs really, isn't it!

Good luck, hope it all works out for you

Whilst I've no doubt this does happen, it's absolutely not a given that a support plan leads to capability leads to dismissal.

I appreciate it's frightening but being on a plan should get you access to additional real support.

But I don't feel I need support, and it's not been made clear to me why I suddenly should need it when nothing has changed and everyone has been with me until now

If there's a plan, there should be a meeting at which the success criteria and the steps to help you achieve them are discussed and agreed. I'd expect the reasons why to be discussed then.

@MrsHamlet go over to the Facebook group Life after Teaching. There are dozens of teachers who are suddenly, out of the blue deemed 'needing support' whereas they really are being pushed out for varying reasons, too expensive, face doesn't fit, too out spoken.

They have a podcast too called the Pit Pony Podcast and some of the things ex teachers have said they have gone through is mind blowing. They then go on to talk about what they do now.

I do not dispute that. But as I've said, I work with staff on plans and it's genuinely a supportive process to help staff to improve, I wouldn't have anything to do with moving staff out like that.

This happened to me without warning or specifically telling me why - they suddenly decided I needed support. It was a toxic workplace in general, felt by many. I jumped ship before I was pushed.

Not in all schools...!! My old SLT team were awful if your face 'didn't fit'.

As I said, I'm aware that this is true. I'm also a union rep!
But sometimes support is support.

It is not necessarily to ‘manage you out’ as that’s the tone of the comments and what they imply.

As a HT, I have used informal support plans on colleagues to develop a weakness and to develop their experience. That said, I have used it to manage poor performers.

I’d be asking for clarity as to why they intend to do it…. Are you underperforming?

Formal capability has to be declared in a reference if the question is asked (it always is). An informal support plan does not.

@Capability2025 how are you getting on?

@MN2025 Oh come on now! The OP is an experienced teacher, she does not feel that she has any weaknesses. What are the chances that she’s suddenly become a bit shit at her job? In no other job would this be allowed! We all know of heads who use these so called ‘support’ plans as a bullying technique and we all know of colleagues who have been victims of this. They are generally always in their 50s and on UPS… hmm what a coincidence!