Hi, I'm just looking for some advice/thoughts on this situation really.

 I'm an NQT working in a 1 form entry, struggling school. A new headteacher started at the same time as myself and for the first half term, I LOVED my job, along with every other member of staff. Despite the fact that the school is in a poor area and we don't have basic resources such as an ICT suite or a library that consists of more than a couple of old book shelves.

Anyway, the last day before half term we were warned that it was going to get tough after the break and anyone who isn't up for the challenge should consider leaving. Well the head wasn't joking - this half term myself along with 2 other NQTs have been left no alternative than to resign. This is how it has happened. We have all been subject to fortnightly joint observations by the head and 'outside support' against the new OfSted criteria. Most of us were graded inadequate for the first 2 observations as the children 'didn't make progress' during the 20 minute observation slot. We then all received letters in our pigeon holes following a chat during verbal feedback stating that if we were to score inadequate during the next observation, capability proceedings would follow.

As you can imagine - morale went down to an all-time low. It wasn't just NQTs involved in this - it was also the most experienced teacher in the school who was previously graded as outstanding. We got the union involved and had a meeting at school earlier this week. The union couldn't offer much support as the head is not doing anything 'illegal' as such.

Everyone was dreading these third observations, and as I predicted, I scored inadequate again. Despite the fact that I put everything in place that I had been told to during my last feedback. Things such as clearer TA direction, differentiation throughout the mental/oral starter and main input (by sending groups of children away to do different activities, something I was never encouraged to do during training as I was taught that for the main input, all children should be present!) and by making my teaching more child-led rather than teacher led. 

I was told during feedback that despite the fact that she head could see that I'd put these things in place, the children still didn't make feedback during those 20 minutes. The head was not interested in seeing the books which I told her would prove the children had made progress, saying that it's irrelevant due to the fact that if they'd made progress during those 20 minutes, they would have made a third more progress by the end of the lesson than they did. 

It was a long meeting, but the outcome is that I have a choice. I can either write to the governing body and request an early release and get out before the last day of term with a clean record. Or I can stay and be put on capability proceedings after Christmas. This would mean that I have 4 weeks to 'improve' and score higher than inadequate in a 20 minute observation or I would be dismissed. 

I'm very upset about the whole thing as I KNOW that the children in my class are making progress. During planning and book scrutinies I've always had good feedback. My mentor has also given me a satisfactory with elements of good observation previous to all of this and my TA assures me that I'm a good teacher. During assessment week, my class proved they had all made progess also.

I would be even more upset if I felt this was personal, but I know it isn't. As I mentioned, the 2 other NQTs are in the same position as me, in fact a worse 1. This was their final term of induction - both had passed with flying colours during the previous academic year. 1 of them is now pregnant and has just bought a house, but still is in the same situation as me, ie: resign before you get fired.

Although the head has told me that capability proceedings are in place as a support mechanism, I don't believe that in 4 weeks, I can change her mind about me no matter what I do. And if I'm dismissed, that will be a black mark against my name and I can't imagine how I will get another post - it took me a year to find this 1.

This is my other problem - I did supply work for a whole year since qualifying before getting this post and now another term has gone by, so my 4 terms of supply as a NQT are up. What can I do after Christmas for money!? 

I can't believe that it has come to this, but as I said, it's throughout the school. There are only 8 teachers there and 3 of us are being forced out before Christmas. 3 others are seriously considering resigning due to the impossible demands and deadlines. Verbal warnings are being given out for minor things left, right and centre and people are afraid throughout the working day.

Support staff are also suffering. My TA was signed off sick for 3 weeks recently due to stress. All the support staff have had interventions thrust upon them this half term with practically no training or preparation time. They are now having to plan, prepare and assess during their own time, which of course they're not qualified or paid to do. The head reasons that interventions are part of the job description, but the point is they do not feel supported or confident in what they're having to do.

Is it like this anywhere else!? If this is what teaching actually is, I need to figure out what I actually want to do with my life. Any thoughts?

secretstar:

This would mean that I have 4 weeks to 'improve' and score higher than inadequate in a 20 minute observation or I would be dismissed. 

I would get out to be honest. School and head sound horrible. Get everything in writing, do not have meetings with head - communicate only in writing and log everything. Get your union in to negotiate a reference.

 Thank you all for your advice - it's done now. I resigned yesterday afternoon, following a talk with the HT where I was basically told in not so many words that if I stay, she will be looking for reasons to start capability proceedings against me and that if that happens, she's 'unsure' whether or not she would legally need to give me a 'head's up' before putting it on my permanent record.

I was told that if it was purely a few inadequate 20 minute obs, it would just be a failed first term. However, because it's that along with the fact that: my displays weren't perfect the first time I put them up and because I received a verbal warning a few weeks ago for not submitting my foundation plans on the correct planning format and because a problem parent complained that I wasn't giving her child special treatment, it is more than likely that capability is the route she would take.

I simply do not deserve to have this on my record - I have put my all into this job. And the children have made progress in all areas, my displays look great now and I work damn hard. The HT said that if I go on capability, there is a chance that I could meet the standards and targets she lays out for me and go on to succeed. However, I don't believe that I could EVER have pleased her. She will have always found reasons as to why I couldn't possibly be successful at this school.

Nobody had a good day during observations - out of the 4 of us who were observed, myself and another teacher from KS1 were graded inadequate due to no progress being seen, despite the fact that the evidence of progress was in books. The other 2 teachers, previously graded as good and outstanding, barely scraped through. The outstanding teacher came out from his feedback in tears, saying he'd scraped a satisfactory but was ripped apart. The good teacher was also graded as inadequate based on the fact that her 'WALT' was 'not relevant to the subject or year group she was teaching'. My colleague then showed the HT where she had got the WALT from in the primary framework and after a 45 minute discussion, got the HT to change the grade to satisfactory.

It has just hit me this morning that I will now be unemployed after Christmas. I'm baffled as to how I can go from being perfectly happy and thriving in my new job to being unemployed so quickly and for no fair reason. Of course I could have stayed, got my union involved and fought a battle. However, the HT has a reputation for being a b***h and from what my colleagues have heard from the staff at her previous school, she knows exactly what she's doing in terms of legalities and getting what she wants.

I don't think I stood a chance of getting through capability proceedings - she would have made my targets unattainable, just as she did for the other 2 NQTs who are also having to leave in 3 weeks. I'm gutted. Everyone believes that she has people in mind who she is intending to bring in. Even if I DID manage to fight my way through to staying, how could I possibly be happy there now? I'm gutted, I genuinely didn't believe that this sort of thing went on in primary schools.

 You must talk to your union about what has happened. Even though you have resigned it may well be that they could consider a case of constructive dismissal against teh school. The full situatiuon needs to be investigated. In the words of Oscar Wilde, to lose one NQT could be seen as a misfortune to lose three seems like sheer carelessness. Who was the outside adviser? I hope they know employment law well, or this head could be in serious trouble.

James