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Original poster

Stupid decision - career over?

11 replies

Bencarra · 27/10/2025 08:06

I am a very new member of SLT in a school that is currently RI. We had our first monitoring visit from ofsted recently and whilst they were there I had a preplanned visit to a primary school to attend, taking along 2 pupils to talk to the school.

At the last second one pupil dropped out so me and the other student went off to the visit. We went in my car and ofsted saw us leave and return.

I had written parental consent, HT consent and correct insurance.

i have now been told I have broken all safeguarding rules and will need to leave the school by the end of the year. If I go quietly with no protest I will get a good reference and nothing on my record but I do have to leave.

Does this seem like blackmail? Or is it justified??

I also feel another member of staff is being lined up to replace me on SLT until the end of the academic year.

I am absolutely devastated that a good deed has ended my career at a place I love to work

OP posts:
yellowsun · 27/10/2025 08:10

That doesn’t sound right at all. Did you have a risk assessment?
You definitely need to speak to your union.

tempnew · 27/10/2025 08:11

I don't know the rules around this but we have always been advised to never be alone with a child in a room so I guess the fact that it was just you and the one child could be an issue. I would say contact your union for guidance.

Thereisalight4 · 27/10/2025 11:52

Yes Union asap

azafata2 · 27/10/2025 14:58

I was once told by the Headteacher to accompany a student home in a taxi. I was the SENCO and the child was SEN. When I returned the DH said yo me you should not have been alone in the car with a students. I said it was with the DBS driver the school used. I said well take it up with the Head as she instructed me to!. Direct it back to the Headteacher and contact the union asap. Sounds very dubious and then tell them to update their Safeguarding Policy around accompanying students alone.

Smeegall · 27/10/2025 17:45

I just think in this scenario no matter what happens your time has come to an end. Probably better to focus your energy on getting a different job rather than trying to fight it I would say.

Obviously this has already happened - but I would ensure you never put yourself in this position again. Very easy to look back and say it shouldn't have happened - but probably best to look forward to your next job.

I know SLT jobs have more people applying and they are hard to get - but just apply apply apply.

I would just say even if the union got involved and rectified the situation - it's going to get ugly and it's not worth the stress....

CeciliaMars · 28/10/2025 16:16

Please say you are in a Union? It sounds like you did everything right and had the head's backing. Did the head know one child had dropped out and it was just you and one other child? This doesn't sounds like you should have to leave the school at all. Isn't that what DBS checks are for, to show that we as teachers are safe to be with kids?

MN2025 · 30/10/2025 20:09

This isn’t right at all. It’s also absurd protocol. Who has told you to leave? What has the headteacher said?
You would have been suspended pending an investigation if you had breached safeguarding protocols. Keep all proof that you had consent - are you in the union - I would be getting onto them asap!

In our school, if students go off site then we use the school mini buses and usually 2 staff members go.

ProudCat · 31/10/2025 23:11

Sorry, but it's a massive breach of safeguarding observed by OFSTED. Presumably, this is against school policy (giving kids lifts)??? I can see what the school are doing, given it's RI, and they have to demonstrate to OFSTED that they're 'on it,' especially as you're SLT. They're covering their arses.

Original poster
Bencarra · 01/11/2025 19:36

Thank you for all your replies.

yes I am in a union - they are stating constructive dismissal

it is the head of the trust who has said I must leave. They have given me until the end of the academic year but I must hand my notice in by May 31st and not argue it then I will get a good reference and no stain on my record

in our policy it just says it is “inappropriate” to transport students in your car without proper consent and insurance both of which I had

I have decided to just go quietly. It is best for the school and for me.

OP posts:
Rainbowcat77 · 01/11/2025 23:54

That part makes no sense, you have to leave by the end of the academic year?
Either you’re a safeguarding risk or you’re not. If you are then you should not be around the children at all. Leaving you in post for the rest of the year is just odd.

Willsmer · 05/11/2025 20:26

A few years ago I was nearly in a similar position. I was asked to give 3 female students a lift back to the school after a D of E training camp as the school minibus had broken down. I refused. As with other users on this forum, contact the Union and if there is an e-mail trail prior to this visit, then forward these to you home account.

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