Suspended from school role pending an investigation

Anonymous2017

I work as an IT coordinator at a local secondary school. Have done since aged 16 when I joined initially as an apprentice. My record is impeccable. From the UK.

Tuesday we had a new apprentice staff member be suspended for gross misconduct as she had a party which involved several of our students (a big no no). Because of this several rumours have been floating around accusing her of malpractice and safeguarding issues , between students and staff. We were told Wednesday morning about her suspension from the school.

Today the head of the school said he may/may not need to speak to me later on. Turns out he did so he phoned me and I went to his office. Several allegations have been made against me by a staff member who knows the girl and a student at the college at the school, stating I'd been making up inappropriate lies about what went on and why she had been suspended from her job. This got back to the apprentice girls mother who emailed in.

As I know a boy from the school he approached me with some story, which I told him they were rumours I had heard and just rumours, so he's told some friends (stupid move from me). I did play them down as rumours and nothing more. The student claims I made claims of what went on. When telling his friends this has gotten back to the girls mother who has been suspended.

They now have been up on a charge of misconduct.

I have stated in a meeting with the head, numerous students have come up to me themselves telling me a rumoured version of events and I have replied with they are rumours and not to be said. These students have heard these rumours from other teachers as I asked where they overheard the story from. Surely these teachers should be disciplined too?

The girls parents aren't happy we've been told she's been suspended and the head asked how I even knew. I replied that my boss told me so he shook his head.

The meeting concluded with him stating he hated his position on the matter and he wanted me to take care and he wanted the discussion to be man to man as he likes me but he can't comment further. He did say he'd like to be in my corner but can't as it's an independent investigation. He seemed relieved when he said he has to make a recommendation to the school governors but again that it was ultimately up to them.

I am having an investigatory meeting soon. I have a union representative.


I love my job massively and feel depressive and losing it will ruin me. What chance do I currently have?

Anonymous2017

Yes that's all that was said. I merely confirmed I had the rumours and that rumours were rumours. Yes I have been suspended.

My rep thinks it's a bit ridiculous. He said there's no evidence to back up their claims.

Valli

Was editing my reply and I inadvertently deleted it.

Anyway, what I was trying to add was

Are any other staff members being investigated for their possible roles in spreading rumour/discussing the issue?

If not, then perhaps your union rep should ask why not.

If so, then I would venture to suggest that you may all get a warning and it will be lesson learned. Even your boss appears to have spoken out when he shouldn't have.

But your union rep seems to be thinking along the same lines I am.

Anonymous2017

It doesn't seem they have been investigated, no. Despite students obviously hearing things from elsewhere and one approaching me saying he overheard it from Mrs X (which I told the head).

Surely it's all been taken a bit far. Would it still be a warning when I've been suspended a week.

Valli

Overhearing isn't quite the same as being told. But all staff should be careful not to discuss in front of others. Your union rep thinks there isn't a case. It might be a warning, it might not. Fingers crossed for you.

A warning isn't the worst possible outcome.

BUT

It's good that you enjoy your job, but no-one is indispensable. So, if there's a round of redundancies anyone's job could be in the line. Keep your record squeaky clean from now on! And have some back up savings and an up-to-date CV.

sangie595

I'm sorry, but absolutely nobody can answer your question.

Employers don't need "evidence" - they need a reasonable belief that something happened, and that is all. However, the issue here is that you actually don't know what evidence they have - because the investigation is intended to consider what evidence there is. Until an investigation is over, what evidence exists isn't known. That is the purpose of the investigation.

And if your union rep told you otherwise, they really should have done the same thing that you should have done. Said nothing.

At this stage, assuming everything you have said is the entire and full truth, you have been unwise in saying anything, but it may not be so serious as to get too far. My best guess is that the girls patents are hitting out, and to be on the most careful side of this, the employer must be squeaky clean about everything. A complaint has been made and it must be dealt with properly.

As for the other teachers - a student who spreads rumours tells you that what the day was something they heard from a teacher, and you believed them? You have been in schools long enough to know how devious these delightful children are. But even if it is true, and I doubt it, the complaint had been made about you. That is why you are suspended. The complaint want made against them. Which is why they aren't suspended.

You've been naive and silly saying anything at all. But in my opinion you haven't been more than that. And since the head teacher appears too be supporting you, that is going to count in your favour. So don't do anything silly now. Sit down quietly at home and enjoy a bit of paid time off before Easter. Don't start flinging around allegations at others or demanding they get suspended. You need to be quiet and sensible. If you are asked to an interview, then you tell the truth, and don't start dragging others into this. I suspect that if you are, then this is going to result, at worst, with a slapped wrist and a low level warning. If you are very lucky, possibly only the slapped wrist. But you do have every opportunity to screw it up and make it worse - so quiet and calm is the way to go.

ohreally

As you are suspended ensure you comply with the terms of the suspension fully and that will include no contact/ discussion with colleagues.

polgara

How many places are you going to post this? I doubt the advice will be different from digital spy.

ohreally

Isn't the advice from your union rep enough?

Anonymous2017

Thanks all.

Met with my Union rep yesterday and it will seems there's been a huge cover up of some form.

First of all I had to provide my Union reps details to the "independent investigator". This should have been confidential as the head shouldn't know what has gone on as he said he no longer has a part in it. He discussed what went on what the investigation had found with my Union rep (who has told me) and said that between him and the rep I should resign with 4 months lay and a reference valid for anywhere other than schools. Surely this is unlawful? Or at the very least intefering. I'm challenging it.

On top of that, when asked there's been no written statements from students provided to me and non taken either. Only verbal questioning. Previous meetings had had minutes changed too which I have refused to sign.

What now!?

agrinnall

This seems to be getting to a point where you need proper legal advice (will your union pay for a solicitor?) rather than opinions from unknown people on internet forums.