Advice needed please - a bit complicated but I'm in a bit of a fix

[pleasestoparguing]

I have been working at a school for 2 1/2 years on supply - I asked recently if I would be going on a contract next year and they said they could offer me 0.4 - I said I wanted more as since I would be working every morning and getting supply rates for the extra hours and I wanted all the hours I worked on the contract.
On Thursday I got a letter (written in Wednesday) confirming futher to 'our conversation' I would be working on a 0.4 contract next year. I was a bit pissed off as i had said I wasn't happy and it seemed like a fait accomplis.
Meanwhile I had applied for another job in another school but has assumed I was unsucessful as they had said if i hadn't heard by Wednesday I should assume I was not successful. So today I said to our school secretary ' I got your letter thank you.'
I have just this afternoon received an email inviting me for an interview at the other school.
I have not formally accepted any offer from my current school but there is an implication that I will stay - what is my position in terms of applying for this other job?
I know it will affect my HTs attitude as she will feel I have let her down - well I have but she hasn't been entirely straight with me and there are other issues at the school which prompted me to want to leave for instance her shouting at the staff including me when she's in a bad mood - the thing is if I don't get the new job I want to keep my current one but clearly she'll be pissed off with me and then I'll get a hard time from her .
I was wondering what my actual legal poisition is and what I should do - I really want the job at the other school as it's offering 0.7 on contract which will make a lot of difference financially.
Bugger bugger bugger - please help.

Sorry i know its friday and no one wants to think about work i just want to decide what I can do before Monday.

I don't understand the problem - why not accept the contract at your current school, then go for the interview with the other school anyway? There's no guarantee you're going to get it, and if you do you can just give notice on your current job.

Thanks Spring - this job is to start in september so if I go for it I'll have to not accpet the contract now - if I accept the contract I'll have to work a term's notice before starting.

Sorry is that what you mean - or do you mean I should waith and see if i gett he job then tell current school I'm not starting in Septemeber - just a bit worried about what kind of reference I'm going to get.

Apologise for the spelling, I have admitted I'm a teacher and now written an appaulingly bad post when there's another thread about stupid teachers

Currently you have a p/t job and only an interview for another one- you have not been offered a new job yet. The current one knows you want more hours and why is it that you do not have more? The shouting boss does not sound nice- I have been through this and honestly if you can get away from her do so .If you do get the new job and she causes prolems. I would put in a grievance above her head .At the end of the day they would probably prefer to let you go quietly but make sure the grievance is pleasant : I wish to go f/time you currently do not have any opps for me and I wish to further my career and hope you will support me in this.

I have just read your post about the term's notice. Surely the new school realises you will have to do this ? The old school has the summer to find another teacher or get supply

Thanks putthatbookdown I think you're right - now i need to pluck up the courage to tell her I'm going for this other job. I know she'll shout at me, I am a bit scared of her but that's one of the reason's I really need to get a different job.

At the moment I'm on supply so have no commitment to any notice at all - i only will have to give notice once I take up my new contract - they have written me a letter but I haven't had or signed a formal contract but i don't know when I'm tied into it - whether it is from when I 'accepted' it or when I actually have the contract.

Ah, I get it now, and understand your dilemma, sorry. It doesn't sound to me like you have formally accepted the current job yet. Can you stall until after the interview?

I haven't been given a contract so I am not legally comitted to anything yet - i suppose I'm concerned that if I go for the job and don't get it then I'm going to be in real trouble with current HT, she can't remove the offer on the basis of my applying elsewhere but she can make life uncomfortable for me in the job.

Springforward- she is scared of the current head who shouts at the staff She fears the head may put a spanner in the works when she tries to leave Also she does not want to be without a job. Am I right?
She has not signed a contract with the current school yet and they also know it is a term's notice.Standard notice in a LA school

Whoa there.
She can make your life uncomfortable for you because you've applied elsewhere?
She's horrible.

You can apply for any job you like and they have to let you go to an interview.

Do not sign the new contract until you have had the interview for the other job as you may be expected to give notice of one term (I know you know this, I'm just confirming).

Are you in a union? If not join one now.
Write down every incident of shouting/unreasonable behaviour with dates, times and witnessess where possible.
Then speak to your union rep with all of this information.
She is bullying you and whether you stay or go this must stop, your union can have a quiet word and make it go away.

It seems that your current school are pushing you around (re contracts etc) anyway.
Your union will help you to know your rights, which in turn will help you to stand your ground.

Thank you lizbee you are quite right - as I have always been paid on supply I have never got round to joining a union, I know I should have been as actually I have been effectively working part time for 2 years I know I should be - I'm not keen to stir things up by complaining just because it's a small school and she does shout at us all equally but it's a case of that's what you get if you work at this school and if you don't like it work elsewhere - the few long term staff have this attitude the rest of the staff don't stay around for long - it's a shame as it could be well actually is a lovely school it's just she's a mare to work for.
I did mention that for financial reasons I wanted all my hours on a contract and it was my reason in my application for applying for this new post and that part is true we do need the extra reliable salary- so those are my reasons for moving on - I'd like her not to be approached until they offer me the job but i think that they'll request references before I go to interview so I'll have to let her know what I'm doing.
You are right though there is no reason why she should behave like that it's just she does get shirty with people without reason so I don't want to give her a reason.

Yes I agree she has grounds- the Head is way out of line

Hold off signing the contract for your current job. Ask the other school not to contact your current HT for a reference unless you are going to be offered the job. That's what happens in the real world.
I can't see a problem.

Can I do that Mirry - won't it sound a bit like I'm worried about her reference I don't want to sabotage any chances - oh god I'm so pathetic - if I didn't need the money I would leave anyway to be honest .
I have just joined AtL this evening so thanks for that lizbee it's something I've been meaning to do for ages.

In education it is quite common for them to ask for references up front BUT like any other employer they have to be truthful She is moving on to get more hours and that is all. This bullying head needs reporting but our supply teacher here just wants to move on

I'm a bit that any new employer would want references before making a conditional offer, and I'm public sector too. I agree with Mirry.

I'm in ATL and I've always found them to be good.

You can ask the new employer to wait before they ask for a reference, it's not unreasonable or unusual.

You sound like someone who is being harrassed/bullied 'oh god I'm so pathetic'.
You aren't being pathetic, what you want is both commonplace and fair.

It would be hard for her to give me a bad reference as she has actually offered me a job in her school if her reference was enough to put another school off employing me she would have to explain why she is prepared to have me on a similar albeit fewer hours contract for essentially an identical job - so i guess i'm not worrying about that anymore but I'm still worrying about the consequences of her knowing I've tried elsewhere if I don't actually get offered the new job . If I am offered it I am less worried as there are only 3 weeks till the end of term and knowing I'm leaving will make life easier.
Thank you for spending your Friday night talking about work with me it's really helping me to put stuff into perspective.

Sorry xposted lizbee - how would you suggest I phrase it when I ask them to hold off on references - would it be OK to say my current school are asking me to agree contract terms with them for next year or does that sound a bit like I'm saying if you don't have me quick someone else will?

You don't have to give a reason. Just say 'please would you not ask my HT for a reference unless you want to offer me the job.' Most emplyers understand perfectly that you wouldn't want your current emploer knowing you are looking for another job. However if you haur Ht hasn't offered you the hours you want they would be very unreasonable to hold it against you

Thanks mirry i just feel I'm being a bit dishonest doing all this behind her back - I was going to tell her when I applied for the job but she was too busy to catch for a couple of days and then I decided I probably hadn't been invited for interview anyway so I didn't mention it - now I feel like I'm sneaking around - I also feel I'm abandonnig the children I would be taking next term - so of course I'm indispensible where I am talking now - better go to bed but thanks for all your help you are all right I need to stand up for myself and do what's right for me and not be scared too wimpy to do so.