Is compromise agreement the best thing and is amount fair…

<p>Is a compromise agreement the best thing for me to do and is what I've been offered fair?</p><p> I have worked in a Secondary School in Stoke on Trent since 1997. <br />I have seen a number of staff be bullied by the Headteacher and her close friend who is an Assistant Headteacher. <br />I have been forced to work with no breaks for two years. I was told by the Headteacher that as I was on the Leadership Scale rather than the teachers pay scale that this was allowed. I knew this wasnt true but feared that I would be targeted for bullying if I complained. <br />However, over the last two years I have had to endure escalating acts of bullying and harrassment. In early November I confronted the headteacher about the bullying and the effect that this was having on my health and well-being. I requested a further meeting which she never gave me. After this the bullying escalated ten-fold. My performance management objectives in Nov 09 although evidence contradicted her judgements and correct protocol had not been followed. I appealed against this decision. Minutes of meetings I had with her were distorted to cast me in a negative light and inaccurate. When I asked on a number of occasions for these to be corrected I was ignored. I was targeted and humiliated in public meetings in front of staff whom I line managed. Responsibilities were taken away from me and given to a close friend of the headteaher with who she regularly socialised with no explanation. I asked for meetings to discuss this and none were forthcoming. The headteacher then instructed investigations from external bodies to scrutinise my work and records. The headteacher began to be outside my classroom when I was teaching and came into the classroom to correct me during lessons. In Jan 10 following another incident I walked out of school in distress and went to see my doctor who has since signed me off as suffering from reactive depression as a result of the bullying and harrassment I have endured. The school sent me to occupational health who have agreed with this diagnosis and added recently that due to the investigation not being addressed that I have suffered a deterioration in my health. I lodged a grievance following local authority policy in early Feb 10. The Director of Education instructed that an investigation take place and appointed two staff members, one from Human Resources to carry this out. I was invited to provide a statement in March 10 and prepared a 57 page report of incidents that had taken place and evidence that I had to support these. I also provided a list of witnesses who had agreed to give statements. I was told that any witnesses who had left the school could not be interviewed but that internal witnesses could be promised confidentiality and anoymity and I was told to email the witnesses to inform them of this. I did this and emailed each witness individually to inform them of the investigation. The investigator from Human Resources then emailed every member of staff in school via another member of the senior leadership team calling me a liar and reminding staff on three occasions that they did not have to be a witness if they didnt want to. The email also indicated that witnesses would not be anonymous as promised. When I attemped to challenge the investigative team about this they said that they would no longer speak to me directly. My union were obviuosly involved and I have tried to push the investigation along through this route to little avail. In June 10 witnesses were finally informed that they would be interviewed, however, these appointments were arranged in the school day and in the school building and so the identity of witnesses became blatant as a number of them were teaching at the time of appointments and so had to request cover from the headteacher citing the reason that this was needed. I complained and asked my union to address this. At the point of writing I am unsure of how many witnesses have given statements but fear that many would have backed out due to their own fears of the repurcussions of doing so. The investigation, now 6 months down the line appears to be no further forward and I have no idea of when this will be completed. <br />However, on Friday 11th June 10 I was contacted by my union representative to say that he had being negotiating on my behalf with a senior officer from Human Resources and had obtained an offer for me to sign a compromise agreement. I am being offered £18000 tax free and my union rep has told me that this is the best I am possibly going to get. I have to give a decision on this by 16th June 10 at which point I will cease being employed by the school. My current role at the school is as an Assistant Headteacher and my annual salary is £53000. My health has suffered dramatically throughout this ordeal as has the excellent reputation that I previously had within the teaching profession. My union rep is very keen for me to accept this offer and has advised that I can then work as a supply teacher. I would really appreciate some expert advice on this please.</p>