Can anyone help

[Jkd1969]

Good morning everyone. I am posting on behalf of my wife who is a .6 primary school teacher currently doing year 4 job share. She has been in teaching for 25 years. She is currently UPS1 and has never asked to move up the UPS.

She has been at her current school for 18 years and the current head been there for 5. My wife has had no issues what so ever never a bad observation etc. Just before summer hols her nightmare began and her head pulled her in and said In September she would have to prove that she is worthy of UPS. My wife worried all summer and returned in September and the nightmare began. She has been subject to weekly learning walks and book looks, and way more than colleagues. Then called in to a catchup and was told she was not up to standard and was pulled up on 1 maths question marked incorrectly.

My wife has been a wreck and has admitted to having some dark thoughts, her blood pressure is through the roof. My wife took it upon herself to email her head to outline everything and how she was feeling.

She got pulled in to a meeting with the head and bus manager and was told that she will still be getting observed but for no real reasons.

She then following day had a work place stress risk assessment where she told them that she'd considered taking her own life and obviously the bus manager was shocked. My wife was then given the paperwork to complete.

She completed it and documented how the situation was making her feel and handed it in a d within 1 hour was again called in to heads office, where the head proceeded to tell my wife that what she was saying was now starting to affects the heads mental health. We couldn't belive what we are hearing!!

My wife Is on half term currently and went to docs on Monday, the doctor was appalled and has given my wife a sick note, my wife is extremely conscientious and doesn't want to use the sick note as she loves her class. But she said if the excessive monitoring returns she will go off.

We think its all down to financial pressures and she wants her out. We cannot afford for her to resign. And jobs are few.

She returned to school yesterday, her first day after half term. Since September she has been scrutinised almost daily. All she's been picked up on is a maths question marked incorrectly

She was informed in the toilet by the bus manager that the head was going to observe her again this afternoon. ( this would total it to a weekly observation and several 'drop ins' every week since September). This was the straw that broke my wife's back. She phoned me sobbing. The bus manager told her to be wary of her professional conduct in being upset in front of fellow colleagues!!!.

My wife subsequently came home and has activated her 2 week WRS the doc gave over half-term.

She is now going to contact the union for next steps once she has regained strength after today.

The bus manager phoned her at 3pm. I answered they were not expecting me on the line. They said it was a well being call, I explained my wife was in no fit state to talk to anyone and the sick note is activated. I told then that I was extremely worried about my wife and I'll hold the school accountable if she deteriorates further.

25 years teaching, 18 years at her school, total unblemished record never pulled up on anything, now since September, totally pulled apart. UPS1 grade. Obviously its financial and they want her gone.

But what kind of person, sets out to destroy someone's career and life to balance a budget.

There are 8 UPS teachers in the school, only happening to my wife.

Sorry for such a long post

My best wishes to you all
,

Hi

Did I see your post also on Leave Teaching and Thrive?

It happened to me as well. 18 years in secondary setting. New HT. favoritism, inner circle, ECT being promoted over very experienced staff who had been there for years etc . Happens all the time just that it is not called out. It is an absolute disgrace and time to call it out! Tell your wife to stay off, union support. Write down everything that you feel, times of observations of "learning walks", negative feedback with no support etc and build up a picture if what has been happening and how it made her feel. I know exactly how you feel about the kids you teach, the guilt you feel but you are replaceable in your job but not replaceable in your family, life, friends. I had to go through a grieving process as I had invested so much of myself in teaching and it was like losing a part of me. However I have since learned that you need to separate yourself from being just a teacher and build strength in all areas of your life. Let it be part of you not all of you!. Could be a case of every cloud has a silver lining.....

This is appalling. I do not think that legally a school can take a UPS point away from a teacher (to be honest not sure). Contact the Union and keep a copy of everything and also a diary of all contact with the Business Manager and the other members of SLT. I have been in a situation similar to this. I failed an OFSTED observation and the school could not get rid of me quick enough, although the same week I got an outstanding OFSTED observation. I suggest leave. There is life outside the classroom and it is muhc nicer.

Thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate it, I did see your reply and everyone was so kind, bur I've come here as I didn't think my posting on the other place was appropriate.

I think only way we can go is through the possibility of a grievance process, I'm just hoping the union can advise. Unfortunately we are not in the financial position of her just to resign.

It's so sad and thank you for sharing your story I really appreciate it and wish you well.

Thank you for your reply I really appreciate it. Unfortunately we are not in a financial position for her to resign. But hopefully the union can guide with possible steps forward.

Reading everything that's been sent to her and said to her I think there's a possible grievance case here.

Thank you again so much for your reply

Thank you for your reply I really appreciate it. Unfortunately we are not in a financial position for her to resign. But hopefully the union can guide with possible steps forward.

Reading everything that's been sent to her and said to her I think there's a possible grievance case here.

Thank you again so much for your reply

Tell your wife to stay off sick. She is entitled to 100 days full pay. The doctor will support you. They have seen it many times. Take that time to reset. Build your case with the Union. It is bullying.

Please tell you wife the kids will be fine and not to worry. It is the System that is letting them down, a bullying HT and not a dedicated teacher. That's what needs to be called out.

Thank you so much

I am a Headteacher albeit secondary.

I am sorry to read what your wife is going through. It absolutely seems that your wife is being managed out and they are scrutinising her work and making excuses! They clearly do not have anything else to manage your wife on.

First and foremost, the mental health of your wife is more important than anything - she is not fit to be at work right now and should not feel guilty whatsoever in not being there. Hers (and your) priority is to ensure that her wellbeing and mental stamina is in a much much better place.

I would definitely be encouraging her to look for an alternative job - whether in teaching or not - 25 years as a teacher she will have plenty of experience that other employers will value.

The financial impact may be short term, but the long term result is that your wife is happy again.

Thank you so much for your reply

I’m absolutely disgusted reading this, and yet it doesn’t surprise me that this goes on. I would say that there’s definitely a case for raising a grievance and, if the situation deteriorates further, constructive dismissal. The head and business manager sound like bullies and need calling out. See how they like it when they’re the ones being scrutinised.

Thank you.for your reply, it feels like we are living in a nightmare at min.

How you can go from no concerns raised in 18 yrs to suddenly a teacher with concerns since September. I cannot fathom.

There's also been no paperwork to justify why they are doing this to my wife.

Thank you for your reply I really appreciate it

It's dreadful what goes on in some of our schools. Headteachers who design anti bullying policies end up being a terrible bully themselves. I had similar issues myself with SLT members scrutinising my planning, marking but not doing it themselves. Such hypocrites.

Firstly, your wife needs to stay signed off, and get her entitled pay. The doctor will support her and sign her off for as long as she needs. They have treated her appallingly, so she should get everything she is entitled to, 6 months full pay, 6 months half pay. She should take the time, get paid and recover.

Whilst being off sick, she has two options. She can either fight the school with the support of her union and OH, with the intention of returning or, she gets the hell out of there. Take the sick pay, get better and resign.

She must get advice from her union and take it from there. If she fights the school, she has been there a long time, so the school has a process to follow. I have seen one or two experienced staff, go off for a year, and return with the unions supporting them and occupational health, pressuring the school to look after their health. The school has a duty to look after the health of their staff. But, if it was me, I wouldn't want to work for such horrible people, I would take everything I am entitled to, and then get out of there.

I’m sorry to hear this is happening to your wife. Unfortunately I have witnessed this happening ina previous school of mine. Get your wife to email any evidence to a home email address. If the school get wind of union involvement they may block her school email account. Any document every conversation from now on.

I have already posted on this thread however I am putting on a second post as I have been in a couple of situations similar to this. I have worked outside of education and it is fair to say that only in education have I seen and experience bullying as a tool of management.

The behaviour towards your wife is unacceptable and I wish you success with the grievance procedure. I understand that everyone's financial situation is different.

There are other options available, supply, tutoring and work outside of education. A teacher has a number of transferable skills that teachers have.

This toxic situation will have both physical and mental health implications and they may have long term consequences. I am speaking from experience as in 2 schools I was there was the underlying implication that it was "me" I left and have just finished my teaching 20 years later.

Thank you

Thank you so much for your reoly

Thank you so much

Thank you for your reply, there is no way she can return. As I write this I've been up most of the night with her. We have children this is a living nightmare for my wife and my children. I'm trying my best but feel useless

It is so awful that this is happening to a teacher that in the grand scheme of things is being paid a rubbish salary anyway after 25 years of service. What an awful headteacher and the school sounds toxic. I am so sorry your family is suffering because of this. Your wife should stay signed off sick and work with her union. As per the PP, she should take everything she is entitled to and then leave the school and never look back. There will be other jobs she can do, or she could become a tutor. Best of luck to you.

Thank you so much for your reply I really appreciate it