Well it looks like it's happened.....

[Range Rover Blues]

I've lost my job.  Yeah I know clumsy of me, might find it again if I look hard enough etc etc.  Bit annoyed about it because the only thing they have against me is one lousy lesson observation.  They've offered me 4 months pay and a reference though, so I don't think it's worth fighting.

[fld77]

Hard lines mate!
hope you find another soon..

[andrew2986]

Really sorry to hear that. My misses says to me, "everything happens for a reason" .
Something else will come along, keep your chin up..

Andy

[Dirt-Devil]

Sorry to hear you lost your job but i'd do the opposite depending on factors like how long have you been there, it sounds like they was looking to make cut backs and jumped on the first person hard. If you was only there for a couple of years then 4 months pay sounds fair but if you was a long timer 10 years+ that sound like a slap in the face. The reference means nothing really as by law they cannot give a bad reference so can only go on a neutral or + comment about your work standard.

All said and done i hope you find a new job soon as i know what it's like not working and I myself are going to be starting a new job a week on Monday.

[lambert]

Do you have the facility to go self employed? I did recently ish and now save for a few hours a week cleaning for pocket money I'm the happiest I have been in years. Best you can do though is to fight as hard as you can till you get fixed up, much healthier than mooning about feeling sorry for yourself.

Keep calm and carry on.

[Range Rover Blues]

Thanks for the comments guys.  thing is in teaching, because it's with kids I have to have a reference from my last employer, normaly the head.  They threatened to put me into capability (which they can put on a reference), that means a written warning for being bad at my job.  Quite hard to prove as it's based on one observation by a paid outsider (not even a current teacher, or teacher of DT but an opinion for hire).  Last summer I mentored a student teacher and have always had reasonable observations.  I only past the NQT year 14 months ago.

But I'm possibly the 8th member of staff to go in the last 2 years under a similar cloud, my entire department has been put into capabilty now and my HOD/deputy HOD both demoted.

I know I've been stitched up but I think I'd be better moving on. For one thing I can't take another job unless they release me from my contract.

Now I understand why 60% of teachers leave within the first 5 years.


Now looking for a lecturing job, or something in engineering or project management, so wish me luck.

Again, thanks guys

[lambert]

Have you spoken with your union rep as to my mind there sounds to be a systemic failure within school if there are that many staff being found to have issues especially if these are not being forwarded by offstead. Equally it seems a bit iffy to go down their path on the back of one assessment, what about 3 strikes and you're out?

[Saffy]

Make your own luck, never too late to make life changes and new career paths, all the best. Really sucks for people to get shyt on especially at this time year.

[Range Rover Blues]

The school re-wrote it's procedure in anticipation of becoming an academy, but unless I serioulsy put students at risk I am supposed to have 4 weeks to turn things around.  the school have made it clear by their attitude they have no intention of me passing that process, that's what sucks. 

I have had no support at all this term, the one observation was over 6 weeks ago, I had no feedback for 3 weeks and what I did recieve does not match their position.  My HOD did my performance management observation and said I was doing fine, in the morning he was ORDERED to cease PM immeadiately, they didn't want a contradictory opinion put down in writing.

Both the HOD and deputy HOD have been demoted too, the whole department in in capability now, it's like working in a funeral every one is so sad.  One of my colleagues has already thrown the towel in and I'm now off work through stress.

I could fight it, but do I want to spend the next four weeks in what amounts to an interview situation with 15 of the worst behaved students in year 11 (all boy group) because you can put money on all my observations being with my worst group.

[Lucy1978]

You thought it was coming. Fingers crossed something better comes along soon.

[Range Rover Blues]

Thanks, if you hear of anything.  I'd drive a van for a while if it pays the bills.

[Bob696]

Damn stupid idea these academies. The stress everyone is under means there will be no staff to recruit soon except inexperienced people who have no idea what they are getting into and will only last a few years.

Consider supply teaching as well. Pay is not at all bad and there is non of the marking or planning 

[Range Rover Blues]

Thanks, I'm looking at a couple of temp positions for 1 or 2 terms, just to keep me going.  The good thing about that is they would then be my referee, not the place I work.

Most vacancies, and their aren't many, to choose from, are in colleges or FE.  That might suite me TBH.


Still waiting to hear the final outcome of the meetings they are holding in my absence.

[lambert]

RRB how goes this, any nearer to a favorable conclusion, vindication or a new post?

[ARMYBOB]

i thought they were screaming out for teachers? it is one of the carrers they suggest to those finishing their time in the army

[dxmedia]

Yup, NQT's who are cheap. Not for the expensive ones though.

[Range Rover Blues]

I'm waiting for the paperwork to go through now, I get quite a decent lump sum (hush money) and a reference.  I've got 2 offers for half a term's work so I need to choose which is best, but I'm still thinking of leaving education.  The standard expected is so high now and the money isn't that good all things considered, many of the vacancies are temporary at the moment too.

That said, I saw the bursary for a trainee Physics teacher is up to

[lambert]

Ah well not all bad then. Hope you get sorted. Don't let it ruin your Christmas.

[Spacemud]

Completely understand where you are coming from and would have done the same.
Great time to re-assess your goal's in life. I was a manager in a call centre, now I work with adults with Aspergers and challenging behaviour. I don't know what I am going in to in the morning but I do know that it won't be exactly the same as the day before....................crap money but 100% satisfaction that you did a good job when you go home at night!

[Niel]

Damn stupid idea these academies. The stress everyone is under means there will be no staff to recruit soon except inexperienced people who have no idea what they are getting into and will only last a few years.

From a Governor's point of view all academies do is make life harder all round, once all the hype and B.S. is cut through it's about getting school's beholden to central, not local, Gov't.

[LiftedDisco]

RRB... sorry to hear and hope everything sorts itself out...

Might be worth a PM to Mudrat - he's something reasonably high up in a local Academy and might have contacts etc...

All the best

[Range Rover Blues]

Thanks, I've spoken with MudRat in the past but he's not too local to me.  There is a bit of supply work around next term, aparently lots of staff will be off with stress, nice!

Hope they aren't just building me up for nothing though, one has some maternity cover and I've been taken on by a local college as a sessional lecturer which will give me experience.

Going to be living hand to mouth for a while though until I get a proper job.

One thing I'm surprised about is how much more I'm worth in the private sector now, if I can land a job.