Pre-PGCE School Experience (Programme).

Darren08

Andypandyboy wrote: »

Perhaps, but I assume they thought you would realise doing that had inherent risks.

Schools are rapidly changing workplaces and that means that when circumstances change; new HOD, sickness, Ofsted pending etc, they often cannot make good on informal agreements.

I think you are just going to have to chalk (!) this one down to experience and let it go. Suing a school in the local area is really not a good move, your reputation will precede you if you apply for jobs locally. Teachers talk....

Take a deep breath and move on!

I get what you're saying, but how imposing could it possibly be just to arrange for a silent observer for 10 days? Surely it wouldn't have any impact on anything? The lessons will still be going ahead as planned. All I'd be doing is sitting there, silent. They already agreed the 10 days that could work, before then cancelling.


I struggle to let things like this go. They've really, really, really messed me about from day 1 .

bellaboo86

Darren08 wrote: »

Bit rude. Why would it be stupid when the school offered me the 10 day placement and agreed to sign all of the SEP forms?

Schools are under no obligation under an informal route which is why it doesn't make sense to do it, especially when you had the option of a formal one.



I can't take the clothes back, I bought them months ago, it took that long for the school to sort out the DBS and get me in. I won't be doing the PGCE/ITT/SCIT until September 2017 so I won't need the formal gear until then, unless I can secure a placement from October, which there is no guarantee of.

If you get a placement then you will need the clothes won't you? I haven't been in a school yet where men aren't expected to wear a shirt and trousers.

Darren08

So what can I do about my upcoming application in October, for entry in 2017? I don't have the 10 days needed for the courses, thanks to this school.

Darren08

bellaboo86 wrote: »

If you get a placement then you will need the clothes won't you? I haven't been in a school yet where men aren't expected to wear a shirt and trousers.

I'm really trying to shed some pounds. Come late September, when the new academic year starts, the schools will be too busy to have observers in until things settle, perhaps in October, then it takes weeks to sort out a DBS check etc. Realistically, by November/December, I'll have lost a considerable amount of weight so I'll need clothes that fit.

Andypandyboy

Up to you, you really don't have any claim on the school, so why bother to rock the boat?

FutureGirl

Darren08 wrote: »

There's absolutely no guarantee that I will get a formal SEP placement. From January 2016-present, there have been no local SEP placements within a workable distance. The nearest was the one I originally booked - which was still a considerable distance. The next closest was a 40 minute train journey away, with a 90 minute walk from the station. Not practical at all. There's also no guarantee that formal attire will be mandatory at other schools, they might accept smart-cas.

I see the lost time and the clothes as being what I can claim for, as I am out of pocket because of both.

I don't think you can rely on this, as the placement you were going on wasn't an SEP placement.

You can't claim for lost 'time'. How are you out of pocket for your time?

Are there no other schools in your area you can do an informal placement with?

Bare in mind that if you're now going down the 'the clothes don't fit' route, you can't claim for the ties or belts as they'd still ft. It's only be the suit and shirts. You will have to pay the fee for claiming against the school and, if you lose which I feel you will, you then also have that cost to fork out as well.

Darren08

Andypandyboy wrote: »

Up to you, you really don't have any claim on the school, so why bother to rock the boat?

How can I not have a claim when I have a written and verbal agreement with them for the placement and, on their promise of the placement, bought £65 worth of clothes, lost time doing the online training, going into town for the DBS check and into the school three times? How can I not have a claim when my upcoming application probably won't be accepted because I don't have the 10 days minimum of observations which they offered me and then reneged upon?

Darren08

FutureGirl wrote: »

I don't think you can rely on this, as the placement you were going on wasn't an SEP placement.

You can't claim for lost 'time'.

Are there no other schools in your area you can do an informal placement with?

Unfortunately not


I might, -might-, be able to get into my local Primary School, as the 10 days requirement applies to any teaching level, I can observe a primary school but apply for secondary teaching.


That primary school accepts smart-casual attire, so again, the suit is useless.

silvercar

Your DBS will still be valid.

You can use the clothes for other events. You won't win a claim.

Move on.

Darren08

silvercar wrote: »

Your DBS will still be valid.

You can use the clothes for other events. You won't win a claim.

Move on.

Sorry, could you please enlighten me as to what events I will be able to use the clothes for in MY (i.e. not your) life? Last I checked, MY calendar is pretty empty in terms of formal events.


You're not a very good troll...DBS checks expire after 3 months. Last I checked, May (when it was done) to September/October was 4/5 months...unless our entire Calendar system has changed whilst I was asleep?