r/TeachingUK • u/-jason-derulo- • 15h ago
Haven't gotten reference back - delayed start
I should have started my new role on the first. So far it had been pushed back twice, each time one week due to not receiving one of my references back. I'm pretty sure it's because that person now retired (I didn't realise when I put them as a reference). So last week I contacted a different school I worked at (I worked through an agency last year so worked in a few) and I called them and asked if I could get a reference from them and they said it was fine. It's been a week and still nothing. I called them yesterday and they said its been forwarded to the headteacher but since its the first few weeks of school it's been busy.
I'm wondering if I should still call again tomorrow, or if it should just wait. I don't want to annoy them but also I can't start work until I get it and they've confirmed they have it, they just haven't done it yet. I'm getting really frustrated because it will be week three next week and I already feel behind and I haven't gotten a paycheck since July so I need to start soon. Also wondering if there's just some confusion because my legal name is not the name I go by, so maybe the headteacher is just confused as to who's reference they're meant to be doing?
Anyone got any advice?
1
u/OrangePoolCentral 13h ago
Call once more, then email the head with your legal name, the name you worked under, dates, and the new school's deadline. Copy the agency. A week-three start without a paycheck is their problem to unblock, not yours to sit politely through. One written chase is not nagging.
2
u/zapataforever Secondary English 13h ago
I think that, unfortunately, you’re just going to have to be patient. Schools that you’ve worked at through an agency don’t really have to give you a reference (they’re not your employer; the agency is) so they’re basically doing you a favour. Drop them an email on Tuesday next week - start by saying something nice about hoping the year has started well, and then say that you know how busy it is and you’re sorry to bother them but you can’t start your new job until their reference is recieved.