Sacked - well contract not renewed

Bossyboots

alice's_mum wrote:

Sorry don't know what you mean by this, what I've listed is exactly what happened, I've had no adverse remarks from him or my line manager and as I said he spent some of the "appraisal" telling me how good I am at my job. I went into this yesterday, expecting to ask about Courses and possibly more hours and came out with nothing. I did consider speaking to one of the governors, but as you say they are all mates together. The staff governor is only new to that position and is in a difficult situation so wouln't want to make them rock the boat. The teachers Union have been involved lots with this head in the last 4 years - about 6 staff have left since it started, both office staff resigned at once last year. The staff I have spoken to are all "Anti" the head - and therefore seen as trouble makers, they have all had the union in to him at some point, one still have a griveance going thru. I'm going to speak to the Union today and speak to my local Councillor as I think my 18 months continuous service must count for something. A number of parents recently left due to the head and the governors went mad, hopefully some of them can go mad for me. Just need to find the right ones.

And they can afford the post and my line manager said he'd better arrange interviews straight away or I'm out of here- so the job is not going away, and I don't think he's got anyone lined up for the job.

Bamber19 is right. I am sorry my post has come over a bit wrong but I wasn't suggesting for one minute you had done something wrong but exactly what Bamber has said.

You need to use a govenor to resolve this issue but choose well. Its a shame the staff govenor is new and in those circumstances it looks as though that would not be the best option.

I'll be honest with you, this is beginning to sound more and more like the primary school round the corner to us! Everything you are putting has happened there as well. The headteacher is only still in situ because he hasn't done anything sackable but no-one else will employ him (and believe me he has tried). He is so arrogant that he believed the school would sail through their OFSTED inspection and then OFSTED or other schools would be falling over themselves to give him a job. The school failed and he has been stuck there ever since.

alice's_mum

Thanks for all of the above. Have spoken to the Union and to the staff at school who have issues with him. Am going to write a letter to the Chair of Governors, don't know who's the Chair of the Staffing Committe, was planning on just send it to the Chair of Governors. If I draft a letter would anyone be willing to give me some tips if I put it on here?

Bossyboots

alice's_mum wrote:

Thanks for all of the above. Have spoken to the Union and to the staff at school who have issues with him. Am going to write a letter to the Chair of Governors, don't know who's the Chair of the Staffing Committe, was planning on just send it to the Chair of Governors. If I draft a letter would anyone be willing to give me some tips if I put it on here?

Yes I will. I used to do this for staff and parents and used to proof read and amend the replies my OH had to send. I am going out soon though so won't be able to look on the forum again until tomorrow.

alice's_mum

Hey guys Have roughly drafted this letter. If anyone has anything they want to add/change or things they think I should say. Just let me know. The Deputy Head was only informed this morning in his weekly meeting and appears to have been told I've decided to move on, coz I want more responsibility!!!! he was shocked when I started crying on him.

Anyway this is it so far.


Further to the letter I received from Mr (A.HOLE the head) dated 15th November. (copy attached).

I am at this time writing to offer you the Governors of ******** Primary School my sincere apologies that you feel I have failed in my role as Admin Assistant at the school. And that you feel that to renew my contract would not be in the best interests of the school. I was saddened to learn from Mr A.HOLE that members of staff and parents alike dislike approaching the school office when I am present and have actively avoided me. I was also saddened to hear that several staff feel that I am rude to them and disrespect them. I am writing to you today to ask that you identify, if possible, these persons with the sole aim of offering them my sincere apologies I never for one moment intended to disrespect anyone.

During my time in post I have had no formal warnings or indeed any formal discussion with my superiors on this issue. I feel it is very unfortunate that no such action was taken, which may have allowed any concerns to have been resolved without it being thought necessary for me to leave the school.

I feel that my time at ******** has been positive and that I have at all times had the best interests of the school at heart.

I will continue in the next few weeks to provide a professional service to all who call at ******** Primary be it on the phone or in person as I have done since January.

Bossyboots

I have amended the letter but don't know how to put it here in colours so you can see the changes.

One thing that occurs to me is that the letter is basically confirmation that you are leaving. Do you not want to fight this decision? What you actually want to achieve dictates what you put. If you want an answer to this, then the letter needs to be firmer. You can be firm without being bolshy. In its present form, it does not convey what you have posted here.

alice's_mum

At the moment I feel I just wouldn't want to work with/for him. But equally with a few more days to get my head around it. I can see that it makes sense to stay ... "don't let the B'stds grind you down" is something my dad always said. So if I did stay I could start looking for another job and have a fulltime contract. I'll think about it over the weekend, at present I just feel sick at the thought of being there and can't wait to get away. but your right I've done nothing wrong why should I go. So ..... can you put in a firmer without being bolshy letter. I think you just copy my letter down and then alter it. Coz there's strike out etc on the advanced box.

Thanks for your help. L

Bossyboots

When I go advanced, I don't get any options for strike out or bold or anything at all.

A_Nice_Englishman

alice's mum - perhaps you could consider a different approach?

How about asking the Council's HR Department if they have any other jobs for which you would be suitable? From what I've heard Councils usually try to redeploy staff wherever possible. Presumably that's what happened to you when the woman whose maternity leave you were covering went back to work so why shouldn't it happen again?

I wouldn't write to the Governors in the terms suggested. Governors tend to be well-connected people it might damage your chances of finding another job in a school or elsewhere.

Claudie

Alice's Mum I understand where your letter is coming from but I would suggest it may be starting a bit too negative and apologetic. If you are asking for clarification of the role and it's future I would be more inclined to say something positive and not go straight in apologising as if you have done something wrong. I also wouldn't ask for naming of names as that may seem confrontational. That is purely as an outsider looking in...

I would try asking about your job itself.....something like

Further to my conversation with Mr A Hole, I am concerned that the future of my post is uncertain and I would like clarifaction concerning my role and the job itself.

I thoroughly enjoy my role as Admin Asst and believe my hard work and effort has really helped the Office Manager and the teaching staff. Ms Lovely has commented that my work is very thorough, I am quite proactive and much valued member of staff.

I enjoy my time at Little School and from discussions with my Line Manager believe this is a role which may be expanded next year. I feel that my time at ******** has been positive and that I have at all times had the best interests of the school at heart. If this position expands to 25 hours a week then I would like to carry on as Admin Support for Little School.

I would be grateful if you would confirm whether this post is being renewed and appreciate your written reply.


Going back to your appraisal - were any of the Head's comments written down as your appraisal or was he just talking off the top of his head? Your appraisal should also allow for your comments in reply. I would use the appraisal to give a response to any written notes ie " I am disappointed that staff feel they are unable to approach me and I am truly sorry this has happened as it has not been brought to my attention. I will make a concerted effort to ensure this doesn't become a stumbling block" Then I would ask for regular one to ones to discuss my work. It isn't admitting one thing or another but answers a statement.

Sorry didn't mean to be so long! It can be very subjective but keep your chin up and prove just how good you are!

alice's_mum

Thanks TSAly, a Nice Englishman and claudie. I have spent several hours thinking about this letter, and in some ways you are all right. Nothing was written in the appraisal - he had no notes nor did he make any, he just talked off the top of his head. In my opinion it wasn't an appraisal it was a "let the head listen to his own voice activity".

I am going to send my letter to HR, but knowing the school and the governors, (and also knowing -well am pretty sure) that they don't know about this, he has done this off his own back with no recourse the staffing committe, (which isn't meeting till MOnday). I am pretty sure that he will portray this as we have mutually agreed, ...... want's more hours etc and responsibility and its not available here, she's decided to leave. (He's actually made the mistake of sending me an official letter terminating the contract!) I also know he's recently had run ins with the Governors due to a number of families leaving because of him. My aim with the letter is to get across the fact that I AM SORRY that people feel this, but also to lay it on that THEY THE GOVERNORS have made this decision - as I say they haven't I don't think. The Chair of Governors was in school briefly in the office yesterday and didn't say a word -that is not his style, if he knew he would have said something he is a really nice gentleman.

What I am hoping to achieve is that he is taken to task about acting like a little tin pot god, without doing things properly hence the copy to HR. To be honest I don't want to stay now - am seriously considering going off sick, becuase just being there turns my stomach, I am concious all the time of which staff are around and what they are stayin/doing near me - there are possibly 3 who so far can't look me in the eye. But equally he hasn't had the guts to announce it publically so maybe they don't know. everyone who does is whispering about it. Makes for a great atmosphere (I don't think) I wouldn't want my kids going there!

I have already applied for 2 other jobs and the Deputy Head at this school has said he'll happily give me a reference so, I'm feeling better, well am not crying all the time now:rolleyes: . I also know that as a qualified Legal Secretay I can easily get work, just want to stay term time only, as kids only 4 and 7.

Well I have until Monday at 12 to decide what to do. Any one got any other ideas.