A friend of mine suffered similar treatment. She was signed off with stress, came back, was told she had failed her placement and would need to do an extension. She did the extension and they failed her on that (long story of shenanigans between ex-mentor and course tutor). She appealed to GTC, appeal was upheld and she now has a full time perm position in which she excels.

Write it all down. Check the schools/uni have not flouted the rules with regard to support, timings etc. Then, if the, urge takes you and the "what if" question niggles at you, contact the GTC.

With regard to the union, they may not be of help. Depends on whether the rep is afraid of causing a stir.

piglet171

With regard to the union, they may not be of help. Depends on whether the rep is afraid of causing a stir.

Hi,

Something similar happened to me but it was quite violent in some cases (I do not wish to go into details). I was left with no support and when I phoned my union they told me 'get over it love, this stuff happens all the time, go and see your Gp to get some anti-depressants'. My LA was helpful but could not do much to help me, as they should have put someone else in the classroom with me to support me but could not afford it. No support either from my PT or mentor who just told me to get on with it and get used to life as it is in this school.

After the several incidents that happened to me, I was so scared to go back in the classroom. I would come home, burst into tears and shake from fright.

After careful consideration, I decided to give up teaching and my probation year. I loved it and I do miss it but I never want to feel so scared in the work environment ever again and I do hope this does not happen to anyone else. I now work at a university and very happy.

A similar thing is happening to my wife who has been teaching for 18 years, and very successfully to date. She is being treatened with all sorts of proceedures and written warnings at the moment and is being constantly observed.

She was so unwell for a couple of weeks at the start of the summer holidays, I keep telling her to go to the doctors for stress but she is 'old school' and insists on seeing things through.

One student stupidly tasted the salt water during an observed practical last term and now she has another accusation against him. She is a good teacher and gets good results, the children like her and she has a good raport with them. She works like a trojan (as all teachers do) and now we find ourselves wondering what to do next.

Should she just resign before it gets worse or should she see it through? It is bad enough to dislike the job because of the kids but quite another because of the constant observations and being on your back the whole time.

She is totally at a loss as to what they want in this school. She asks one senior member of staff what to do and runs through the lesson plan with them and does what they say and then those observing say it is a poor lesson. Two weeks later a different couple of people observe and say something different, and so it goes on. She is feeling very belittled and demoralised by it all. 

Anyone else had a similar situation, how did you resolve it, without leaving and having a slurr on your previously good record?