References

dandelionclock30

Im not putting you down, Im telling you like it is. Why would a school employ someone whos got issues with their reference when they can employ 100 plus other people who have excellent references?
You cant sidestep them as they were you last placement and if you try to this will ring alarm bells anyway. Other people may have had worse placements than you but may not be reflected in their references.
They have put something down that has reflected badly on you and if you were very good you wouldnt have a weak reference would you? Obviously you need to find out what they have said but theres little you can do if they have told it like it is.
You dont have options like missing them off as your last employer-not in teaching its strict and you wont get away with using your 1st placement instead.

ultimatedingbat

That is why I am trying to find out what they have said. I think they have sidestepped all the improvement I made during hte placement as my first two weeks were really tough.

I am not however going to give up my teaching dream. i have just spent £3,500 ish on a course to become a teacher, why would i quit at the first hurdle

I am more likely if they are being difficult going to find work/voluntary work somewhere else to replace their reference.

I need to find out if they are lying or rather bending the truth. Omitting facts is just as bad as lying and if I know they have omitted facts then I can deal with it.

Also, if they are treating their trainees like this, and they are being offered more trainees, i want to stop someone else getting into this position.

I see what you have said as very negative as you are telling me at 22 years old to give up on my dream when I have just slogged a hard year out to qualify in this field. Why would I give up now?

dandelionclock30

If you want a job in a school as a teacher then you wont be able to use voluntary work as a last employer reference. Also if you get another job out of teaching and then wish to return to teaching they will want your last employer in teaching e.g.your last placement and a reference from the course.
They will only change the reference if they have lied, as then they would legally be at risk. They can state opinions but will have to back up what they said. They wont change it just because it doesnt suit you.
You could run it past an agency and see if they will take you on. But theres very little supply work available at present.
Im sorry but you are up against it really.
Im not being negative Im telling you like it is.

ultimatedingbat

You are being negative. Fact

Voluntary work will count. I have spoken to a school near me who have said I am welcome to go in as a TA (used to volunteer there) and asked if I owuld be willing to do supply teaching for them as well.
I'm not asking them to change it to suit me, I want to make sure it is an accurate and up to date reference which reflects my whole time there not just the first week or two.

If everyone gave up at the first hurdle, we'd all be in the dole office

mynameistallulah

ultimatedingbat wrote: »

You are being negative. Fact

Voluntary work will count. I have spoken to a school near me who have said I am welcome to go in as a TA (used to volunteer there) and asked if I owuld be willing to do supply teaching for them as well.
I'm not asking them to change it to suit me, I want to make sure it is an accurate and up to date reference which reflects my whole time there not just the first week or two.

If everyone gave up at the first hurdle, we'd all be in the dole office

No, you are negative, unrealistic, and failing to see the bigger picture. dandelionsclock30's advice is excellent - stop being so dismissive.

ultimatedingbat

mynameistallulah wrote: »

No, you are negative, unrealistic, and failing to see the bigger picture. dandelionsclock30's advice is excellent - stop being so dismissive.

When his advice is give up that is not useful advice. He is effectively telling me to throw the last year away, a year which I spent training to be a teacher, and tried very hard and passed.

I am not being unrealistic at all in saying that I am going to continue to try and follow my career path. I have trained for this job and don't see why I should give up now when I love my job and am good at it.

I thought this forum was supposed to be for practical advice and support, not a judgement. I asked for advice and all I have had since dandelion replied is 'Give up'. Well there is a short answer to that. No

Person_one

A friend was in a similar situation but a different line of work.

She arranged a meeting in person with her last placement, spelled it out to them that their reference was ruining any hope of her getting a job in the field and that due to this, her career was going to be over before it began when it was all she'd ever wanted to do since she was a little girl.

She basically pleaded with them to change the reference to at least give her a fighting chance against the hundreds of other graduates in the area so she wouldn't have wasted years of her life. I think she might have even cried.

They changed it, she got a job, she's doing well now.

If they're going to change it I'd suggest being very humble and contrite and throwing yourself on their mercy rather than going in angry with all guns blazing.

ultimatedingbat

Person_one wrote: »

A friend was in a similar situation but a different line of work.

She arranged a meeting in person with her last placement, spelled it out to them that their reference was ruining any hope of her getting a job in the field and that due to this, her career was going to be over before it began when it was all she'd ever wanted to do since she was a little girl.

She basically pleaded with them to change the reference to at least give her a fighting chance against the hundreds of other graduates in the area so she wouldn't have wasted years of her life. I think she might have even cried.

They changed it, she got a job, she's doing well now.

If they're going to change it I'd suggest being very humble and contrite and throwing yourself on their mercy rather than going in angry with all guns blazing.

Thank you for your advice. I wasn't thinking of an all blazing row as I left on fairly good terms. I was going to approach them with the issue and ask them if I could see my reference and let them know that I lost a job on the back of it as it was considered weak. I've asked for feedback on weaknesses from the school I applied to so I have a clear idea.
I've also asked for advice from the university as they write my second reference to let them know of the issue.

cardiffgrad1

I'm glad you're not giving up yet OP. A 'weak' reference to one school maybe perfectly acceptable to another school.
Good luck and keep trying. I know a primary school teacher and I can't tell you how many interviews she had to go through before getting the job she has now.
Well done for passing your course. I think it's to your credit that you stuck with the placement and attempted to resolve whatever issues there were.

Person_one

Dandelion, the OP knows what your opinion is now, no need to keep repeating it.