Early beginnings

It didn’t start well. During the interview process for a new head, we caught our first glimpse of her. Her coldness was immediately apparent; as was her general lack of humour.

As my class and I walked past her in the corridor, I distinctly remember telling my children (within earshot in daft-humour-mode) to look sensible and not show me up, as this could be my future boss. This was met with no attempt to engage. Nerves? Rudeness? Lack of awareness? Possibly embarrassment at my puerile joke I guess.

We were informed that she had been given the job the next week. 

She had been in education for 6 years if my memory serves me right. And barely had any experience in senior management. 

Alarm bells may not have been ringing loudly, but most of us were certainly surprised. Still, we were assured by our much-esteemed incumbent head that she was to uphold the community spirit of the school and carry on most of our feted accomplishments. 

Little did we know.

Before we broke up for summer break, we were all given the opportunity to have a brief one-to-one with her. Greeted with a pained smile, she told me how happy she was to be working with us all; that she was looking forward to leading us all into a new adventure; full of new radical pedagogy. Not realising (naively?) what she meant by this, I assured her that as long as we were respected and consulted, she would have our support. I think I even mentioned loyalty.

We were never trusted. 

We were never respected.

Only those willing to follow her every decree, were to be tolerated. 

As for trust and respect? Not a chance.

And what was in store for those of us who dared argue or disagree? Those of us who chose integrity over toadying? Gas-lighting, victimisation and harassment.