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Original poster

Removed from the classroom for my well being

48 replies

BG2015 · 26/11/2022 10:15

I've been teaching for 26 years, 21 at the same primary school.
Rarely off sick, performance always good. I'm 53. Top of the pay scale UPS3.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2021, went back to work on a phased return April 2022 after my treatment ended covering classes and then began teaching again fulltime in Year 2 in September. Loving being back with a class, total joy and feeling so fulfilled. It's been tiring but I've enjoyed the challenge.

Since having covid in April I've struggled with my asthma and had 2 days off in September as I picked up a bug. I then had 5 days off in early November as I had an asthma attack and was admitted to hospital.

On returning to work on Monday my headteacher informed me (no discussion) that he had decided to take me out of Year 2 and wanted to help my 'well-being' by taking the pressure off. I don't feel under pressure, I've just got asthma that needs to be controlled (which is now is).

I am totally devastated by his decision. Returning back to the classroom is what kept me going through chemo, it's my normal and I craved to return to it. He has taken this away from me.

I'll be covering PPA and supporting small groups, I'm going to be bored senseless.

He has handled this is a very authoritarian way with no actual thought for what I want.

OP posts:
tickticksnooze · 26/11/2022 10:17

I'm sorry, that sounds very distressing.

Have you asked for occupational health input?

Philandbill · 26/11/2022 10:19

Probably a very obvious question but are you in a union and if so have you contacted your rep?

purpleme12 · 26/11/2022 10:20

Have you told him you don't feel under pressure and it was asthma which is now controlled? And you want to be in the classroom?

ArseMenagerie · 26/11/2022 10:23

Have you had a performance review?
definintely need to contact your Union. HT sounds very dictatorial - why no discussion with you?

BCBird · 26/11/2022 10:24

I'm.53 in secondary with some health conditions and am.exhausted. dropped a day because of this. Did you have the attack in front of the class? If so perhaps this is his concern. Ieoukd speak to union, they can advise you wat to do. Could you compromise and see if you can be back in class partially? Long time till retirement? Best wishes.

VioletLemon · 26/11/2022 10:25

I'd ask for a personal risk assessment to help identify what you say will help and what is unhelpful, eg boss suddenly redirecting your job without consultation. It might make you feel more in control.

Joyfuljolly · 26/11/2022 10:27

I am sorry you’ve gone through so much and glad you are recovering

i mean this gently but might it not be for your well being, but he is worried about disruption to the kids and covering your classes? That maybe he just wants a stable few months to then ensure stability for the class?

AnnoyedHumph · 26/11/2022 10:30

I think there’s more to this story than you are letting on…

BritishDesiGirl · 26/11/2022 10:30

I would contact your union if you are in one. It's unfair and unprofessional for the headteacher to decide without any consultation.

Massiveaggressive · 26/11/2022 10:35

Sorry that sounds horribly managed .

Who is covering your year 2 class ?

Schools (I work in one) don’t have the budget surely for an expensive teacher to be doing something a LSA could normally do. I say could as virtually all our interventions have stopped as the few LSA’s we have (once they leave they are not replaced and they are leaving due to pay and conditions) who would have done them are dealing with behaviour issues.

Then they have a spare teacher as well ?

Somethings fishy …

Summerfun54321 · 26/11/2022 10:35

Maybe he can see something you can’t? Has the quality of your teaching changed? It’s very difficult to admit when serious illness impacts our work or ability to work, but the children will be his priority. Obviously he’s gone about it in totally the wrong way but is there any truth to what he’s saying even though it’s hard to admit yourself? It took me a long time to accept my own job limitations after a serious illness and wish I had someone else looking out for me. Good luck.

Helpmephrasethis · 26/11/2022 10:40

Union

Tessabelle74 · 26/11/2022 10:44

Your HT will be under pressure to ensure you are healthy. 7 days off in 2 months is a lot, he has to ensure your well being even if you don't feel like that's what it is

Paq · 26/11/2022 10:44

Even if he's doing it with your best interests at heart he's gone around it the completely wrong way.

Agree with others you need to question this and also involve your union rep.

Good luck!

ilovesooty · 26/11/2022 10:48

I think it's quite reasonable to ask for a risk / wellbeing assessment.

I'd also involve your union. My concern would be that you're expensive in budgetary terms and this might be the first step in managing you out.

Aussiegirl123456 · 26/11/2022 10:53

ilovesooty · 26/11/2022 10:48

I think it's quite reasonable to ask for a risk / wellbeing assessment.

I'd also involve your union. My concern would be that you're expensive in budgetary terms and this might be the first step in managing you out.

This was my thought too.

I’m sorry you’ve had a rough couple of years OP, to then have the very thing keeping you going just taken away. Sending lots of well wishes x

Cantseethewindows · 26/11/2022 10:53

I hope @noblegiraffe doesn't mind me calling her to this thread. She's very knowledgeable on all things employment rights in teaching.

Whycanineverever · 26/11/2022 10:55

Maybe they want to see the asthma is controlled? If you are implying that it is since the admission which was only last week then surely that's not really enough time to tell?

Manicpixidreamgirl · 26/11/2022 11:09

That’s a lot of absence (not your fault, obviously, but it is a lot) and the class probably need more stabilisation than they’ve received.
is it a temporary measure ie until the end of the academic year to give you time to properly recover?

Manicpixidreamgirl · 26/11/2022 11:10

That was supposed to say stability. Autocorrect mistake

MrsHamlet · 26/11/2022 11:11

Teaching union rep here: contact your union and ask for support. You might want to go to a caseworker rather than your school rep.
Ask the head to refer you to occupational health.

I'm sorry this is happening to you.

noblegiraffe · 26/11/2022 11:15

This does sound very difficult for you and an odd situation as not many schools would be able to just remove a teacher from a class and replace them. Who will be taking your class?

I'd have thought parents would be more unhappy with an abrupt change of teacher than a teacher who has had some absence (a week and two days really doesn't strike me as enough to be taking drastic action).

Definitely get advice from your union. If it's 'for your wellbeing' but done with zero consultation as to what you need, this needs more explanation.

TrixJax · 26/11/2022 11:31

HCP here.
I'd be asking for Occ health referral. With many employers you can self refer.
If this is truly for YOUR well-being then stability and familiarity of role and workload needs to be taken into account. You are effectively being redeployed temporarily into another area on health grounds. For that to be done the 2 job roles need to be compared and the job tasks you struggle with in current role identified. The new role should then not have/have less of those tasks.

Of course this move may not be solely for YOUR well-being, in which case I'd definitely be involving the union.
Your HT is very foolish doing this without Occ Health input. As others have said maybe he is seeing something you're not realising but without Occ health he's leaving himself wide open! What expertise does he have in healthcare needs at work?

catmothertes1 · 26/11/2022 11:43

Philandbill · 26/11/2022 10:19

Probably a very obvious question but are you in a union and if so have you contacted your rep?

Indeed.

Cailleachian · 26/11/2022 12:35

At the top of the payscale, you are expensive.

Schools are looking for cuts where they can, I would get in touch with your union quickly.