A colleague of my was given a dressing down for not wearing the correct 6th form uniform. Until he made it clear he was a teacher.
Do you guys not wear lanyards to indicate staff?
HELLO
I'm in my 30s and because I'm a baby faced person who never hit 5 foot, I'm still getting IDed for 16 products. Here my tips:
1. Wear **COLOURS** that are as far different from the school uniform as possible. Your uniform is black & white? Walk around in red, yellow, bright pink, neon green. Your uniform is burgundy? NEVER wear anything close to red or brown.
2. Wear **STYLES** that are as far different from the school uniform as possible. Don't wear the same cut of blazer or trousers.
3. Look at how you wear your hair. Is it the same style as many students? Make it different. Have a smart, fancy bun. Or I have a bold colour that's super long and can't get confused for a student style.
4. Look at how you walk. Head held high, shoulders back, walk with confidence. Don't try to shrink or let yourself shrink.
5. **Make people know you**. Lift your head, look your SLT and those offending staff in the eyes, and say good morning. Make sure that they remember you and you're not just a face that's blending into the crowd. Find an excuse to go and talk to people - could be "HEY! Good morning! I noticed Sarah is in your form. I'm really proud of the work she did for me yesterday, could you give her a big congrats from me? Thanks!"
6. Greet people by name and they have to learn your name too. Pass them in the corridor - "Hi, Mrs Jones!" - or if you're away from students use their names, "Hi Karen!" - they're immediately wondering who you are and trying to check out who you are. And it's easy for them to say "Hey, who's that teacher with the ginger bun and bright pink blazer?" and not "Who's that young teacher with brown hair and a black jacket?"
I have had the same issues so many times especially in my first few years of teaching. Being told angrily to leave the staff room in my first week of my first job was particularly memorable. As was the random parent in the foyer of the school of my head of department interview casually chatting and asking if I had just qualified, was I excited about going for my first teaching job?
Even now, I literally never wear black trousers or skirt. A ponytail or bun needs to look like belongs on Kate Middleton, not love island. I usually have a slightly frumpy element to my clothing, hair or makeup… sadly now I age I consider it ‘classy’ whereas students wouldn’t be seen dead in it. I am also known for striding around with urgency - now that’s really not a trait you see in students, they take forever to drift from A to B!
I'm 30 years old and I get this. I've been at my school for 3 years now but still on occasion get told off for 'being somewhere I'm not supposed to be', for example.
I also feel I don't get taken as seriously sometimes. I just look quite young, and have long blonde hair and have a slightly alternative dress sense.
For the person who just replied and deleted it to say I would be taken more seriously if I dressed less 'alternative' - to clarify: I still dress smartly and in work attire, but often wear black, or 'fifties/sixties style' trouser outfits. And also my school very much encourages people to express themselves.
That fifties/sixties trouser style is timeless and elegant! (If the image I have of it in my head is correct) it’s a style that’s almost full circle conventional again.
Even if the prints are ‘bright’, in winter a hit of colour is always appreciated.
I agree, I also have long blonde hair. I mostly wear midi dresses and skirts, but this is typical for my school - most female teachers do not tend to wear suits.
I grew a great big bushy beard.
I also found a big help was getting heavily involved in extra curricular stuff and staff events. Such as DofE or department meals. That way I got my face more well known as a member of staff.
Also the tips about changing your clothes to be distinctive are very good. I make a point of having fun ties (today's is Wallace and gromit) abs on Fridays I always wear a Bowtie.
Also, when this does happen. Make sure that you correct the staff member in question and if they brush it off again. Explain that it is not a compliment and it is undermining you. If they continue after that. Maybe raise it with your line manager and ask if they could have a word with that person's line manager about it, (or speak to hr) whatever is the more suitable option for your school.
Two approaches
1. Have some slightly aggressive comebacks pre-prepared
“Oh sorry, the grandparents day assembly is in the main hall I think, can I escort you there dear?”
“You might have got away with talking to a colleague like that during World War II but times have changed Gramps”
“That’s probably your failing eyesight, but don’t worry, I think you get free checkups now you’ve passed 70”
Option 2: Tell your line manager that it makes you uncomfortable. If they don’t take you seriously remind them that age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act and discrimination on the basis of age is illegal.
Yeah it happend to me all the time. I've always managed to see the funny side to it! But that incident you wrote about sounds really frustrating and I'm sorry that teacher wasn't humble enough to apologise.
Fuck that. One of the best parts of being a teacher is I can call all the random whose names I've never learned "sir/miss" without ever having to learn them
I’m doing my PGCE and look young. This has never happened. We have staff lanyards (different colour to students) and obviously don’t wear school uniform. I’d be having a stern conversation with that person
Had similar experiences when training but more was treated like I was overly confident being near 30 at the time and was referred to several times about what higher education expectations of me.
As a male in primary I’m still around a lot of sexualised comments that don’t stop when challenged, working supply was pretty shit for that.
Ultimately I would report it, wouldn’t be ok if you openly spoke about their dress sense or commented it’s not idea for them to dress or act a certain way.
I am 24, I dress smartly and wear a lanyard, and have only experienced this once. Your faculty are either being ageist or are ignorant since there’s no excuse for this. Very unprofessional. Might be worth asking your union for advice on next steps.
It's hard when they start 'going in' on the joke now they're all stating it too, if your HoD is in on it I'd be inclined to go higher up to a member of SLT or your union rep to seek advice on what to do from their perspectives. There's a line at this point where it's stopped being funny from you (if it ever was) and needs seriously address, at that stage I'd also raise the berating you received, her lack of remorse.
Personally I can hold a grudge and would not be speaking to these people even if I saw them in the corridor and they said hello etc, if they act hurt I would probably say 'I was expecting you to take the piss so ignored you' and leave it at that.
Although other advice on what you wear etc is good advice and something I have personally made a mistake of previously and been addressed twice as an NQT as a pupil it never went further than that really so wasn't a problem I do think you should be comfortable to wear whichever suit you would like to wear and similarities as far as it goes shouldn't be a point of others having issue. If you want to mix things up however (assuming you're a male teacher) I'd recommend mixing up what you wear as a blazer like a tweed one or a cardigan instead, things pupils aren't likely at all to be wearing. I've gone chinos and cardigan for over a year now and haven't looked back.
My last school, (primary) there was this ECT who was under 5’, the amount of times she got told off for not wearing school uniform was hilarious, especially considering she was working in ks2 and a vast majority of students were indeed taller than her. In the end she ended up coming to school wearing leather trousers and low cut tops. She claimed it was to distinguish but did get reprimanded for inappropriate workplace attire.
Don't you have lanyards? I've had it happen once when I first started here and I just shook my teacher lanyard at them (6th form have a different colour, younger years have the uniform)
This is my life. I am 31, not even close to 5ft, serious baby face. I can't even buy red bull without ID.... wetherspoons after 8pm? Getting ID'd.
Had it today. A senior member of staff said "take off that hat indoors." I looked around and saw no one wearing a hat except me. I looked up at the guy, tilted my head and raised an eyebrow. He broke eye contact and walked away awkwardly.
I've also had to say "I work here..." while looking the person up and down. I'm also slightly confrontational and dgaf.....
It's a piss of yes. My concern is always, if this is how you speak to me, how do you speak to the students?? Go above their heads to more senior SLT. My favourite phrase in this is "hostile work environment". If you have HR go to them. This is some assumptive bs.
Gotta love how short, young looking people get treated 🙄
Technically this is harassment against a protected category (age) so you could take this up as a formal complaint if you wanted to - to be harassment the victim just has to feel harassed, it doesn't matter about the intent. I don't actually recommend that, but maybe you should make it clear how much you dislike this to your colleagues as they will be aware of the possibility of harassment claims and should have the sense to stop.
The internal pain of my life. I’m 27 but look probably 20. I feel like people are constantly don’t take me seriously. I’m currently doing a PGCE and first week it always tough!
6’0”, ex-rugby player, beard, closer to 30 than 20.
It’s happened a few times. Although I’ve never been berated by a colleague, that sound really horrible.
All your colleagues must be blind then. Or had the sun in their eyes, that need heavily correcting with spectacles. And they weren’t wearing their spectacles.
This happened so much when I was teaching secondary. SLT tried to confiscate my phone in the corridor when I was on placement. A staff member on supply once escorted me out of the staffroom. Another member of SLT shouted at me in front of a year 8 class, demanding to know why I was stood up and where was was the teacher. I agree with avoiding uniform colours, avoiding popular culture fashion and hair styles, and generally asserting yourself as much as possible. I would also challenge any ageist comments tbh, politely if they immediately apologised but otherwise with a stern “I don’t appreciate that” sort of approach. I’m a chunk older than 25 now, but I still haven’t really aged any further than 20 so I still get mistaken for being a student. I do now work in a university setting though so it’s a totally different environment!
My question would be, why were you on your phone in the corridor?
Maybe you deserved to have your phone confiscated till the end of the day until you learn to follow school rules.
I wasn’t, it was in my hands amongst my diary and some other folders. I don’t appreciate your comment to be honest - it’s especially unthoughtful given that this thread is about younger staff members not being taken seriously.
That’s no excuse…. School rules are there for a reason.
I shall have to call your parents and have them come in and collect your phone at the end of the day if you’re not careful.
I took a group of kids on a Uni visit on the old Aim Higher initiative. I was about 30. A uni student asked me what courses I might like to do. Today I got asked if I am thinning on top by a colleague. I'm mid 40s. Which is preferable?
Hmmmmmm. My colleague said I was thinning in my early 30s as some bitchy power play. He is such a tosser.
Now I have a thick mane of shoulder length hair in my late 30s. And he’s got a big bald spot on his head which I can tell he’s embarrassed about.
What an own goal. Cunt.
Oh yeah... I am 32 but I look really young so often I am not taken seriously by both students and colleagues. I was given "useful" advice, such as wear frocks and heels, stop wearing my hair in a braid and other similar bull***t. I also had people who knew i am a teacher, repeatedly question "how I got into the staffroom/ why am I in the staffroom without permission". It's not fun, I am sorry you're experiencing this and I feel your frustration!
I am middle aged now (I am lamb from the back, mutton from the front), so this is less of a problem but when I first started teaching, I blended in quite well with Sixth Form (to the point a new head teacher asked which lesson I was out of when I reported a serious incident where a student was injured).
I combatted the issue by always wearing bright colours. Brightly coloured cardigans and scarves help, plus making sure that if students have to wear dark coats, my coat is a different colour (e.g. cream or red). It also helps when navigating corridors because students are more likely to spot me (I am very short).
It's a shame your colleague didn't apologise but she may feel too embarrassed (not that it is an excuse).
A colleague of my was given a dressing down for not wearing the correct 6th form uniform. Until he made it clear he was a teacher. Do you guys not wear lanyards to indicate staff?
Yep we do wear lanyards!
Stop wearing the school uniform? Just kidding, but dressing very smartly makes the biggest difference. Paging /u/jasminehawke/
HELLO I'm in my 30s and because I'm a baby faced person who never hit 5 foot, I'm still getting IDed for 16 products. Here my tips: 1. Wear **COLOURS** that are as far different from the school uniform as possible. Your uniform is black & white? Walk around in red, yellow, bright pink, neon green. Your uniform is burgundy? NEVER wear anything close to red or brown. 2. Wear **STYLES** that are as far different from the school uniform as possible. Don't wear the same cut of blazer or trousers. 3. Look at how you wear your hair. Is it the same style as many students? Make it different. Have a smart, fancy bun. Or I have a bold colour that's super long and can't get confused for a student style. 4. Look at how you walk. Head held high, shoulders back, walk with confidence. Don't try to shrink or let yourself shrink. 5. **Make people know you**. Lift your head, look your SLT and those offending staff in the eyes, and say good morning. Make sure that they remember you and you're not just a face that's blending into the crowd. Find an excuse to go and talk to people - could be "HEY! Good morning! I noticed Sarah is in your form. I'm really proud of the work she did for me yesterday, could you give her a big congrats from me? Thanks!" 6. Greet people by name and they have to learn your name too. Pass them in the corridor - "Hi, Mrs Jones!" - or if you're away from students use their names, "Hi Karen!" - they're immediately wondering who you are and trying to check out who you are. And it's easy for them to say "Hey, who's that teacher with the ginger bun and bright pink blazer?" and not "Who's that young teacher with brown hair and a black jacket?"
This plus lanyard.
I have had the same issues so many times especially in my first few years of teaching. Being told angrily to leave the staff room in my first week of my first job was particularly memorable. As was the random parent in the foyer of the school of my head of department interview casually chatting and asking if I had just qualified, was I excited about going for my first teaching job? Even now, I literally never wear black trousers or skirt. A ponytail or bun needs to look like belongs on Kate Middleton, not love island. I usually have a slightly frumpy element to my clothing, hair or makeup… sadly now I age I consider it ‘classy’ whereas students wouldn’t be seen dead in it. I am also known for striding around with urgency - now that’s really not a trait you see in students, they take forever to drift from A to B!
Good advice!
Fantastic advice!
I’m pretty short and find myself camouflaged in the corridor scrum except when I wear very loud, colourful prints on my shirts.
I'm 30 years old and I get this. I've been at my school for 3 years now but still on occasion get told off for 'being somewhere I'm not supposed to be', for example. I also feel I don't get taken as seriously sometimes. I just look quite young, and have long blonde hair and have a slightly alternative dress sense.
For the person who just replied and deleted it to say I would be taken more seriously if I dressed less 'alternative' - to clarify: I still dress smartly and in work attire, but often wear black, or 'fifties/sixties style' trouser outfits. And also my school very much encourages people to express themselves.
That fifties/sixties trouser style is timeless and elegant! (If the image I have of it in my head is correct) it’s a style that’s almost full circle conventional again. Even if the prints are ‘bright’, in winter a hit of colour is always appreciated.
I agree, I also have long blonde hair. I mostly wear midi dresses and skirts, but this is typical for my school - most female teachers do not tend to wear suits.
If you have an alternative dress sense, sadly you might not be taken as seriously as those who dress more "conventionally".
I grew a great big bushy beard. I also found a big help was getting heavily involved in extra curricular stuff and staff events. Such as DofE or department meals. That way I got my face more well known as a member of staff. Also the tips about changing your clothes to be distinctive are very good. I make a point of having fun ties (today's is Wallace and gromit) abs on Fridays I always wear a Bowtie. Also, when this does happen. Make sure that you correct the staff member in question and if they brush it off again. Explain that it is not a compliment and it is undermining you. If they continue after that. Maybe raise it with your line manager and ask if they could have a word with that person's line manager about it, (or speak to hr) whatever is the more suitable option for your school.
"a great big bushy beard" - all about the greater good!
The greater good.
Plot twist: OP is a woman
Two approaches 1. Have some slightly aggressive comebacks pre-prepared “Oh sorry, the grandparents day assembly is in the main hall I think, can I escort you there dear?” “You might have got away with talking to a colleague like that during World War II but times have changed Gramps” “That’s probably your failing eyesight, but don’t worry, I think you get free checkups now you’ve passed 70” Option 2: Tell your line manager that it makes you uncomfortable. If they don’t take you seriously remind them that age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act and discrimination on the basis of age is illegal.
Yeah it happend to me all the time. I've always managed to see the funny side to it! But that incident you wrote about sounds really frustrating and I'm sorry that teacher wasn't humble enough to apologise.
Learn all teachers’ first names and say ‘how r u ___’ every time you see someone.
Fuck that. One of the best parts of being a teacher is I can call all the random whose names I've never learned "sir/miss" without ever having to learn them
That’s what I had to do as a student. To me it’s way nicer to not have to “sir/miss” anyone as a teacher. But you do you
We are the same person ❤️
I’m doing my PGCE and look young. This has never happened. We have staff lanyards (different colour to students) and obviously don’t wear school uniform. I’d be having a stern conversation with that person
Had similar experiences when training but more was treated like I was overly confident being near 30 at the time and was referred to several times about what higher education expectations of me. As a male in primary I’m still around a lot of sexualised comments that don’t stop when challenged, working supply was pretty shit for that. Ultimately I would report it, wouldn’t be ok if you openly spoke about their dress sense or commented it’s not idea for them to dress or act a certain way.
I am 24, I dress smartly and wear a lanyard, and have only experienced this once. Your faculty are either being ageist or are ignorant since there’s no excuse for this. Very unprofessional. Might be worth asking your union for advice on next steps.
It's hard when they start 'going in' on the joke now they're all stating it too, if your HoD is in on it I'd be inclined to go higher up to a member of SLT or your union rep to seek advice on what to do from their perspectives. There's a line at this point where it's stopped being funny from you (if it ever was) and needs seriously address, at that stage I'd also raise the berating you received, her lack of remorse. Personally I can hold a grudge and would not be speaking to these people even if I saw them in the corridor and they said hello etc, if they act hurt I would probably say 'I was expecting you to take the piss so ignored you' and leave it at that. Although other advice on what you wear etc is good advice and something I have personally made a mistake of previously and been addressed twice as an NQT as a pupil it never went further than that really so wasn't a problem I do think you should be comfortable to wear whichever suit you would like to wear and similarities as far as it goes shouldn't be a point of others having issue. If you want to mix things up however (assuming you're a male teacher) I'd recommend mixing up what you wear as a blazer like a tweed one or a cardigan instead, things pupils aren't likely at all to be wearing. I've gone chinos and cardigan for over a year now and haven't looked back.
My last school, (primary) there was this ECT who was under 5’, the amount of times she got told off for not wearing school uniform was hilarious, especially considering she was working in ks2 and a vast majority of students were indeed taller than her. In the end she ended up coming to school wearing leather trousers and low cut tops. She claimed it was to distinguish but did get reprimanded for inappropriate workplace attire.
Don't you have lanyards? I've had it happen once when I first started here and I just shook my teacher lanyard at them (6th form have a different colour, younger years have the uniform)
Sorry and everything but the "(I teach secondary)" did make me lol... ☺️
This is my life. I am 31, not even close to 5ft, serious baby face. I can't even buy red bull without ID.... wetherspoons after 8pm? Getting ID'd. Had it today. A senior member of staff said "take off that hat indoors." I looked around and saw no one wearing a hat except me. I looked up at the guy, tilted my head and raised an eyebrow. He broke eye contact and walked away awkwardly. I've also had to say "I work here..." while looking the person up and down. I'm also slightly confrontational and dgaf..... It's a piss of yes. My concern is always, if this is how you speak to me, how do you speak to the students?? Go above their heads to more senior SLT. My favourite phrase in this is "hostile work environment". If you have HR go to them. This is some assumptive bs. Gotta love how short, young looking people get treated 🙄
Technically this is harassment against a protected category (age) so you could take this up as a formal complaint if you wanted to - to be harassment the victim just has to feel harassed, it doesn't matter about the intent. I don't actually recommend that, but maybe you should make it clear how much you dislike this to your colleagues as they will be aware of the possibility of harassment claims and should have the sense to stop.
I am regularly asked if I am AWOL from a local care home. Enjoy your youthful good lucks!
The internal pain of my life. I’m 27 but look probably 20. I feel like people are constantly don’t take me seriously. I’m currently doing a PGCE and first week it always tough!
Can you grow a beard? Edit: just checked username, maybe not!
6’0”, ex-rugby player, beard, closer to 30 than 20. It’s happened a few times. Although I’ve never been berated by a colleague, that sound really horrible.
All your colleagues must be blind then. Or had the sun in their eyes, that need heavily correcting with spectacles. And they weren’t wearing their spectacles.
I find wearing pink fixes it pretty well.
Surely this is *always* the case on a Wednesday though?
Growing a beard helped me
This happened so much when I was teaching secondary. SLT tried to confiscate my phone in the corridor when I was on placement. A staff member on supply once escorted me out of the staffroom. Another member of SLT shouted at me in front of a year 8 class, demanding to know why I was stood up and where was was the teacher. I agree with avoiding uniform colours, avoiding popular culture fashion and hair styles, and generally asserting yourself as much as possible. I would also challenge any ageist comments tbh, politely if they immediately apologised but otherwise with a stern “I don’t appreciate that” sort of approach. I’m a chunk older than 25 now, but I still haven’t really aged any further than 20 so I still get mistaken for being a student. I do now work in a university setting though so it’s a totally different environment!
My question would be, why were you on your phone in the corridor? Maybe you deserved to have your phone confiscated till the end of the day until you learn to follow school rules.
I wasn’t, it was in my hands amongst my diary and some other folders. I don’t appreciate your comment to be honest - it’s especially unthoughtful given that this thread is about younger staff members not being taken seriously.
That’s no excuse…. School rules are there for a reason. I shall have to call your parents and have them come in and collect your phone at the end of the day if you’re not careful.
I took a group of kids on a Uni visit on the old Aim Higher initiative. I was about 30. A uni student asked me what courses I might like to do. Today I got asked if I am thinning on top by a colleague. I'm mid 40s. Which is preferable?
Hmmmmmm. My colleague said I was thinning in my early 30s as some bitchy power play. He is such a tosser. Now I have a thick mane of shoulder length hair in my late 30s. And he’s got a big bald spot on his head which I can tell he’s embarrassed about. What an own goal. Cunt.
Oh yeah... I am 32 but I look really young so often I am not taken seriously by both students and colleagues. I was given "useful" advice, such as wear frocks and heels, stop wearing my hair in a braid and other similar bull***t. I also had people who knew i am a teacher, repeatedly question "how I got into the staffroom/ why am I in the staffroom without permission". It's not fun, I am sorry you're experiencing this and I feel your frustration!
I had this and feel your pain. Once you start to look a but old and haggard people stop, but it's a bit depressing!
Surely your staff lanyard would solve this
I am middle aged now (I am lamb from the back, mutton from the front), so this is less of a problem but when I first started teaching, I blended in quite well with Sixth Form (to the point a new head teacher asked which lesson I was out of when I reported a serious incident where a student was injured). I combatted the issue by always wearing bright colours. Brightly coloured cardigans and scarves help, plus making sure that if students have to wear dark coats, my coat is a different colour (e.g. cream or red). It also helps when navigating corridors because students are more likely to spot me (I am very short). It's a shame your colleague didn't apologise but she may feel too embarrassed (not that it is an excuse).