Rebecca Young had prepared a few questions for her annual review. She wanted to suggest a couple of new clubs for the children, also wanted to put herself forward as head of Key Stage Two, as the current teacher holding that role was retiring. Rebecca would’ve been at the school a year by then – had learned the ropes and was ready for more responsibility.
She knocked on James Whitman’s door and he called her in. He sat down in the armchair opposite her with a notepad and pen.
‘Hi, Rebecca, good to see you. As you know, this is your official annual review where we will go through your performance for the year and what happens next.’
She nodded. ‘Where’s Claire?’ she asked. The assistant head always came into these meetings as well.
‘I’m afraid she was called away for something urgent.’
‘Oh?’
He didn’t elaborate. Just smiled and held his hands up, asking for her permission. ‘Are you happy to continue?’
‘I guess . . .’
‘OK. That’s good to hear.’ James took a breath. ‘I’m afraid I’ve decided I’m not going to be renewing your contract at the end of this academic year.’
Rebecca was completely blindsided. She thought she hadn’t heard right. ‘Sorry?’
‘I know it’s going to be a disappointment but there have been a few issues that unfortunately I can’t overlook.’
She was still reeling. ‘Issues? What issues?’
He looked at her sombrely. ‘Safeguarding. It’s of the utmost importance that we follow this to the letter.’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘Back on . . .’ – James looked down at his notepad – ‘. . . Friday the eighth of January, you left your class alone on the school field during a PE lesson and a child had a severe asthma attack.’
‘It wasn’t like that. I had another sick child I had to attend to. You know this.’
‘What I know is that the asthmatic child ended up in hospital.’
‘Yes . . . I know. I went to the hospital with her. We spoke about this before. You said I had done the right thing.’
‘I said no such thing.’
‘No way,’ started Rebecca, ‘no way are you doing this to me.’
‘I am simply following the correct protocol.’
‘Bullshit!’ said Rebecca. ‘What’s going on? Why is this coming up now?’
‘It’s your review.’
‘I’m not having this. I’m taking this to the union.’
James looked hard at her. ‘If you resign, I won’t mention it on your reference.’
Rebecca was stunned. ‘What?’
He shrugged.
‘This is blackmail. I’ll contest it.’
‘Who are they going to believe? You? Or me, a long-standing head and government adviser? At the end of the day, this is just going to be one person’s word against the other.’