Whistleblowing may be a term you have heard about but might be unsure of what it involves. Whistleblowing is a term to describe alerting the relevant authorities if you think there are rules or procedures which your school is not adhering to and it is in the ‘public interest’ to alert them. One example of when it would be in the public interest is when you believe the school is breaking the law or covering up a wrongdoing.
Author Archives: Andrew Lifford
There may be some situations where you might have to search a pupil due to safety concerns. The Department for Education (DfE) has issued powers to schools which allows school staff to search pupils with or without their consent.
You might be unhappy with your current terms and conditions, or something that has happened during the course of your teaching employment. As an employee you have the right to raise a grievance in a legitimate way.
You may be invited to attend an investigation meeting if you have been alleged of misconduct at your school. The investigation meeting will be the first step of the disciplinary process, potentially leading to a disciplinary meeting and a sanction.
You may have heard of employment tribunals but probably have not experienced attending one before. You can make a claim to an employment tribunal if you think your school or academy trust has discriminated against or you have been treated unlawfully. In this article we outline what employment tribunals are, how you can make a claim to a tribunal and what to expect if you attend one.
You may be invited to attend a disciplinary meeting at your school if you have been alleged of misconduct in your role. This will likely be a stressful time for yourself and you may not know what to expect. This article outlines what a disciplinary meeting is, how you can best be prepared and what the possible outcomes of attending a disciplinary meeting are.
The Prevent strategy published by the Coalition government in 2011 aims to reduce the threat to the UK from terrorism by preventing people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It is still the most current duty where schools have a legal responsibility to “have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.”
You may be aware of instances of malpractice by school staff during exams. You may feel apprehensive to report malpractice in case of any repercussions from your headteacher or line manager. This article explains what maladministration is, what to do if you suspect it and which organisations you can report to.
Flexible working will enable you to change the normal hours you work in school. It might be impracticable for you to work set hours because of personal circumstances at home, caring for children or other factors. This article outlines what flexible working is, how you can request it and what happens if your application is refused.
You may teach a class or specific pupils which provide you with behavioural difficulties. This might have a detrimental impact on your health and well-being. You are entitled to work in an environment free from violence and disruption and to appropriate access to training and support.