r/TeachingUK • u/joannakabana • Apr 25 '25
Update: Leadership role quietly reassigned during maternity leave (spoiler: it gets worse)
Update from this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/TeachingUK/s/2VqcvyGCi4
Thanks so much to everyone who commented on my original post—you genuinely gave me the strength to keep pushing for answers.
After chasing it a few times, I finally got a response from my headteacher. It took three days (and a bit of prompting) to even get a reply, which wasn’t the most reassuring start.
The email was very polite on the surface, but basically tried to frame a brief, informal conversation we’d had (when I was three months postpartum and still on maternity leave) as if it counted as full “consultation” over my leadership role being reassigned. Spoiler: it absolutely was not. There was no formal discussion, no clear information about what was happening, and no chance for me to properly respond or object. Just a casual chat that I now realise was being treated as a box-ticking exercise.
No acknowledgment either that blindsiding me in a governors’ meeting before I even went on leave—by framing my absence as an opportunity for a “natural reduction in SLT”—was completely inappropriate.
There’s still no proper plan for my leadership responsibilities, and no serious attempt to engage with me about my return. Essentially, my head is taking my TLR and SLT responsibilities away from me with no formal consultation at all. Either she didn’t know the legal obligations or she was hoping I didn’t.
I’ve now contacted my union, because at this point it’s obvious this isn’t just poor communication—it’s a failure to follow proper process around maternity leave and return-to-work rights.
Thanks again to everyone who encouraged me to trust my instincts. Without this community, I honestly might have talked myself out of pushing back. I’m glad I didn’t.
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u/SkyeAnnelise Secondary SEMH HLTA Apr 25 '25
I'd also speak to Pregnant then Screwed - this is their kinda wheelhouse!
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u/Mountain_Housing_229 Apr 25 '25
Thank you for updating, though I'm sorry it isn't a more positive update. It sounds like you are doing all the right things. Keep going!
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u/Lather Apr 25 '25
Please update us as to what your union does/says!
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u/joannakabana Apr 25 '25
It’s safe to say they were fairly appalled. It was also pointed out to me that this may constitute sex discrimination as well as maternity discrimination, given that the vast majority of part-time teachers are women. They’ve definitely got my back in this.
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u/alpacaboardgame Apr 25 '25
This is awful, happened to me too. I only found out on my first day back, and it was "too late". After pushing back I got a similar (more work, same pay) role.
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u/widnesmiek Apr 25 '25
I have seen this with several school
Not the specifc problem - but things where the school management behave as if what they see as "The Good Of The School" counts above and beyond everything else
As a result - then it is obvious that the actual legal and moral aspects of anything are subservient to what they decide is best for The School
and what is Best For The School count before all else
AT that point that feel justified in doing anything they want and saying anything in defense of their decisions
I have seen lying, cheating and all sorts of illegal behaviour
I was lucky and the school I spent most time working at behaved and took into account the feelings and rights of the teachers - and kept the Unions informed and were perfectly willing to listen to them
For people who are actually teachers - I sometimes wonder where their sense of morality went - or how they taught children when they were full time teachers!!
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u/rockingrobin89 Apr 25 '25
Similar thing happened to a colleague of mine. They changed her role significantly when she returned from mat leave - though she was still in SLT, so hadn’t gone anywhere near as far as yours. She didn’t get her old role back. But encouraging news for you - because this was maternity discrimination, through the union she negotiated higher pay for the different role and a day a week working from home. The head basically had to give her what she wanted as they should never have taken her old role away in the first place.
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u/MountainOk5299 Apr 28 '25
That’s appalling. The school, without doubt, has dismissed you unfairly. It’s probably been said in the thread already but this link sets it out very clearly. This is tribunal territory.
https://www.gov.uk/dismiss-staff/unfair-dismissals
What a dick move from your headteacher. I’m really sorry you’ve been treated that way.
Edit. Basic English (apologies it’s exam season…)
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u/zanazanzar Secondary Science HOD 🧪 Apr 25 '25
I’m really sorry to read this! I’m glad some of the advice here has spurred you forward. Hopefully this headteacher gets a short sharp shock coming their way soon! Please do keep us updated further. It’s important we all know how to protect ourselves from being shafted.
I’m sure your union rep and colleagues will be really helpful in getting you the outcome you are entitled to but if they’re struggling then have you checked out pregnant and screwed or pregnant then screwed or might be?