• Replies 22 replies
  • Subscribers 79 subscribers
  • Views 10999 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Teaching, Aspergers and capability proceedings

RidleyRumpus

Hi,

After a degree in Physics, a career in SW I started a new career teaching Physics in secondary school 14 years ago.

I have struggled for some time with complaints from parents and students for reasons that I struggle to fathom as the students results have at least been in line with other teachers (who receive few if any complaints)

I have suffered from anxiety and depression for some years.

I have often put my problems down to a complete inability to remember student (and even teachers names), even after I have taught them for years. I have raised this as an issue and I have been advised to use the old chestnuts which just do not work for me. I have found that I seem to annoy colleagues with apparent rudeness/abruptness which has gone against me. I was not happy that my head of department accused me of having Aspergers in from of my department in a meeting when I asked her to clarify something. In retrospect she may have been on to something even if her communication skills were flawed.

My ex wife also thought I was on the spectrum but I had put that down to her not being very nice....

However the school have now moved to put me through capability (essentialy a dismissal) on pretty flimsy evidence. This sent my anxiety through the roof and I have been signed off for some time. I applied for help with my local IAPT service and the worker there also suggested Aspergers as a contributor. 

After some pondering/research which showed me that the traits fitted my to a tee. I took the plunge and was tested and was diagnosed as having Aspergers.

Now should I tell the school?

If so then what difficulties do you think I could face in the classroom as an Aspie and what should/could I ask for as reasonable adjustments?

Parents

  • NAS18906 said:

    Ill health (e.g. anxiety and depression) can be grounds for termination.

    Depression is a protected characteristic in the equality act.

    Autism, in and of itself, can't be grounds for termination because of the equality act. They are obliged to help you, with "reasonable adjustments" , to overcome your autism so that you can perform the role. However, I don't know what reasonable adjustments could be made because of the importance of the inter personal communication that is central to a teaching role. But, you managed it for many years, do you think that you have changed your approach or do you think that culture and discipline in schools has perhaps changed? Perhaps your union or access to work could suggest some suitable adjustments?

    This is where is becomes tricky, I have asked this in the past and no one seems to be able to suggest reasonable adjustments, it is up to the person being disadvantaged.

Reply

  • NAS18906 said:

    Ill health (e.g. anxiety and depression) can be grounds for termination.

    Depression is a protected characteristic in the equality act.

    Autism, in and of itself, can't be grounds for termination because of the equality act. They are obliged to help you, with "reasonable adjustments" , to overcome your autism so that you can perform the role. However, I don't know what reasonable adjustments could be made because of the importance of the inter personal communication that is central to a teaching role. But, you managed it for many years, do you think that you have changed your approach or do you think that culture and discipline in schools has perhaps changed? Perhaps your union or access to work could suggest some suitable adjustments?

    This is where is becomes tricky, I have asked this in the past and no one seems to be able to suggest reasonable adjustments, it is up to the person being disadvantaged.

Children
No Data