British International School Kiev Pay Problem

British International School Kiev Dismisses Teacher

mDave Postlethwaite had several conversations with the owner of British International School Kiev and the new head, Phil Billings. He was seeking assurance he and his spouse would be paid for the summer months prior to leaving the school, and not in late August as had been announced. He received no such assurance and was concerned that once he returned to the States the money owed him would not be forthcoming.

" I then warned them that if our contracts were not honored I would feel it my duty to inform ISR and make a web site of my own. For this I was dismissed. The school's owner has said she will not release our daughter's GCSE results to us unless I am prepared to withdraw my statements of "examination irregularities".

..My wife and I originally started work for the school in January of this year (2009); however, within days it became clear we were not going to get what was promised at the interview. There were many issues. Here are just a few:
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Inadequate housing - We were promised a spacious modern, 3-bedroom flat and what we got was a two- bedroom slum. No one likes to feel they have been mislead. Our teenage daughter broke into tears when she saw the place--prostitutes and syringes were a common sight in the halls and the smells were horrendous. Click here for photos and more on my "accommodations" .

I was hired to teach English to KS2 and KS3 and my wife was hired as an early years EFL specialist. When we got there I was told I was head of ICT (not my subject) and my wife was told she was teaching Math to years 7, 8, and 9 (she only has a GCSE herself) and would not be paid full teaching rates (she is a qualified teacher).

The most serious misrepresentation at the interview was when we told them our own daughter was taking 8 GCSE's and informed them of what subjects she was taking, including boards. We were assured this would be no problem and she would be able to continue all subjects, and with the same boards. When we got there we found out that she could only do 5 of the 8 subjects and then with a different board. The school is obviously willing to compromise even the lives of students to satisfy their own ends.

..Realizing this school was not for us, we informed the owner we did not wish to stay but were persuaded that we might as well stay until June so Amy (our daughter) could do her exams. I was told that if we did stay they would pay us for the summer months. The then head (Duveen Pierce) told us to make sure we got a signed contract . We did get a contract.
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..During the next few months we heard many stories of staff not being paid and indeed witnessed the fact that a science teacher was made to wait 3 months for his salary. I myself was often paid late, and neither my wife nor myself were ever paid our full amount--we were usually short around 50 USD each month. This was blamed on our bank.
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..Towards the end of April we were approached by the then head who told us she was leaving the next day and warned us that Olga (the owner) was disputing our contract.
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..In a staff meeting in early May, staff were told that they would not receive their salary for the summer months--June, July and August--until the end of August because they needed to pay for new drains. During May I made several representations to the owner and the new head, Phil Billings, seeking reassurance that our contracts would be honored, I received no such assurance. I then warned them that if they were not to honor our contracts then I would feel it my duty to inform ISR and make a web site; for this I was dismissed and the rest, as they say, is history.
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The School's Approach to Examinations was something that really bothered us. Teachers are instructed to bend the rules on external examinations, (IGCSE and check point)--for example in an IT practical I was made to give students 45 minutes extra in a German exam. I was to turn a blind eye to a student using an electronic translator. My own daughter was offered the chance to return to her paper later on in the day (we of course refused). All of these irregularities have been reported to the OCR. The School's owner has said she will not release our daughter's GCSE results to us unless I am prepared to withdraw my statements of examination irregularities.

..As I said I was head of ICT, and was horrified to find all the software, including the servers, was operating with pirated software. There was a virus on the school network which raided teachers' bank accounts. I reported it to the school--they refused to do anything about it.
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..When I was dismissed my wife and children tried to stay on but were subject to threats. On one occasion my 15-year old daughter was in the flat by herself when a messenger from the school banged on the door for over an hour, shouting at her in Russian, needless to say she was terrified.

..While we were in Ukraine I felt I had to be careful what I said as I was afraid for my family. We are out now so I am able to speak freely. Read Mr. Billing's response

.Comment on this Article

..Readers' Responses

7/1 I am sure that BISK is not a school I would like to work for. However the inconsistencies between his story and the web site he put up (was he promised a 3 bedroom or 2?) as well as the spelling errors on the site (Education [sic] is a page) makes me think that th ere might be another perspective needed to really understand what is happening. This is more a rant more than anything and I feel that it is a little unfair of you to post it without any comments from BISK. (Note from ISR: Good point and an oversight on our part. We have sent the following: )

Dear Mr. Billing,

One of your teacher has posted an article on the International Schools Review web site. I am bringing this to your attention so that you may respond, if you so wish. We will post your response following his comments.

http://www.internationalschoolsreview.com/nonmembers/ukrain.htm

Ben @ International Schools Review

skip down to Mr. Billing's comments
skip down to comments from director of school's parent company

7/1 From Dave Postlethwaite In response to reader 7/1 I would just like to say thank you for pointing out the slight discrepancies, which have now been corrected. I would just like to say that the last few days in Ukraine were really a scary experience for the whole family, my eldest daughter was literally terrified having been threatened by representatives of the school, so please excuse my typing errors. As for your comment that you do not feel it is fair that International Schools Review posted my article without giving BISK a chance to respond, well.... all I can say is that the school has known for many weeks that this was going to happen and so have had ample opportunity to respond. I will agree with your first comment BISK is not a place you would like to work.

7/1 This sounds familiar to David's comments from his previous school in Al Khor

7/1 I would certainly like to know what OCR intends to do about investigating your allegations of irregularities in IGCSE and Checkpoint examinations. When did the school become an accredited centre - and when was its last inspection?

What you present is a real horror story. I am interested since it was not too long ago that I was considering a headship there, although I did not pursue the application.

However, I also think that ISR could do more to invite a response from the current Head and the owner for their perspectives. The financial issues too merit a response.

7/1 (From Dave Postlethwaite) In reply to the person who asks what OCR are doing about the allegations. They have told me that they will scrutinize the results, as to when they were accredited, sorry I don’t know the answer to that one. You say you were offered a headship there, well you probably had a lucky escape while we were there a new head was appointed and we were told he was the tenth in five years. Put it this way in the 6 month we were working at BISK there were two heads.

7/1 I would just like to speak out in support of this brave teacher who has had the courage to reveal what is happening at BISK. I myself have just finished teaching there and I can tell you everything he has said, and more, is happening in this place. I can not reveal my identity until September as on the last day we were all warned by the owner and the headmaster that if anyone spoke out in support of David then they could kiss goodbye to their holiday pay. However I anticipate that their will be at least seven new entries on the ISR web site in September, and none of them positive.

I would like to point out the following fact, the senior school has nine international teachers, only one of those teachers has been there more than a year, and only two are returning in September, can you think of any other school with a turn over rate so high.

The owner of the school has no respect for either the international staff or the students, David cared enough about the students and about education in general to try and correct some of the many wrongs, he has paid a very high price. So I would just like to give you a message David, we all admire and respect you for what you have done hang in there you crazy so and so.

7/2 can see that you were severely mislead by this school, perhaps most obviously concerning accommodations (the pics really help). However, and this is just my word of advise (teacher-to-teacher), no one can take you OR your web site too seriously when there are SO many mistakes and typos! Please, PLEASE clean it up so that we can more easily sympathize with your plight and perhaps recognize the dangers of this school which so screwed you and your family.

Otherwise, truly, you just look like some slob who is ranting and must've not been a very good teacher to begin with if you can't even take the time to edit your writing/web site any better in an effort to expose this school, helping fellow teachers avoid another bad match.

Your web site WILL profit from a little work and the truth can get out to the teaching community, thus illuminating the path AWAY from this unscrupulous school! Thanks to YOU!

Comments from Phil Billing - Current School Head

7/2 I am Phil Billing, the current Head of the British International School, Kiev and will reply briefly to the allegations made by David Postlethwaite.

David was in formal dispute with the British International School, Kiev, following his suspension from duties on June 3rd until his dismissal on June 9th.

While teaching at the British International School, David had taken control of almost all the domain names for the school and was threatening that if he did not get what he wanted he would start up a web site in which his views about the school would be made public. While negotiations were still going on, he did in fact begin his dirty campaign on the internet.

David’s testimony is at best unreliable and in part, directly misleading. International staff leaving the school this summer will be paid according to contract.

The British International School, Kiev was visited by the regional CIE inspector on Monday 8th June 2009. The school welcomes such visits, recognizing their importance in supporting the integrity and credibility of the school and the organization of which it is a registered member.

Allegations that the school has threatened David, his family or other staff are unfounded. I have no doubt, though, that David and his family have been distressed as a result of the choices he has made.

David claims to have the support of colleagues at the school. This is evidently not the case. International staff began to distance themselves from David and his actions even before his dismissal, telling me they regarded his conduct as unreasonable and unprofessional. Since David’s departure, they have voiced their support for the school and written a letter to the Director in which they disassociate themselves from him. None of us have taken any pleasure whatsoever in seeing David slide into his current state of animosity.

All schools experience difficulties at some point or other, whether they are systemic or organizational, financial or relational. It is part of the process of growing. And this has been a year in which the senior section of the British International School has had more than its fair share of challenges. It is at such times that loyal staff pull together to share wisdom and resources, and exercise the generosity of spirit and commitment to task that mark teaching as a unique profession. I am pleased to say that we do have such teachers here and we are looking forward to shaping the future together.

Please note that I do not intend to post here again. Those who have genuine interest in the British International School, Kiev, in the welfare of its children and staff, and in its plans to develop are welcome to contact me at phil.billing@britishschool.kiev.ua Visit the official web site at www.bisk.kiev.ua

7/2 From Dave Postlethwaite I feel I should respond to the directors posting, He states that whilst discussions were on going I started my campaign, call me old fashioned but when they dismissed me I took that to be the end of discussion, in fact I never recall discussions starting.

He states that my testimony is unreliable well all you have to do is read other responses to this article of entries on the ISR web site to decide for yourself.

He states that the school was visited by a CIE inspector on the 9th June, were they looking at important issues such as examination behaviour or were they just visiting their customer?

He states that threats against my family are unfounded; my 15 year old daughter is still having nightmares because of the action of the thugs that the school sent round to our home while she was in by her self.

He claims that the staff has distanced themselves from me, again all I would say is read some of the responses here, certainly they are being threatened to keep their distance. And again ask yourself why are only two staying.

I have nothing to gain from publishing the facts; I only wish to save people from the same living hell that our family had to endure.

Comments from Jonathan Edwards, Director, ABE Group UK, Parent company of
British International School Kiev

7/2 I am writing to support the statement made by my colleague from Ukraine, Mr Phil Billing. I am totally appalled by the string of lies produced by David, an ex-member of our staff, who was suspended from his duties for actions that constitute a serious breach of the contract under both Ukrainian and UK employment laws and then , after a thorough investigation , dismissed.

Just to give a few examples, David claims his daughter was offered a choice of IGCSE subjects. In fact, when he was interviewed, he was told that our main concern was the educational options for his daughter, as they are limited at BISK. David responded that Amy had a bad year with her previous school and would not mind repeating a year with IGCSE options available at BISK.

When David was suspended from his duties the school tried on several occasions to deliver a letter inviting him for a disciplinary hearing. The people who were knocking on his door and who he is referring to as “ thugs threatening his family” were, in fact, representatives from the “ Impulse” courier services trying to deliver the registered post . And the list goes on.

David was never appointed as a Head of ICT and while being interviewed he was considered for an ICT teacher position. It is really silly, David ,to say you were interviewed for a different position as we do have all the email correspondence with you.

While working at the school I was ashamed, as a fellow Brit, to find out that in a school paper David was referring to one of the teachers as Hitler; this teacher is highly successful and well regarded by his students and parents. This caused a wave of indignation from the parents and our partner, as Ukraine lost millions of lives on the battlefields and in concentration camps. David did apologise after that. But, unfortunately, as we all know we do have certain “teachers” who come to a foreign country having no respect for its culture and history.

David, your vendetta is really sickening and I appeal to your common sense to stop what you are doing. I am grateful to International School Review that they have invited Phil Billing (by the way, David, his last name is spelt “ Billing” ) to provide an alternative view. I understand that my message may not be published, but I feel it is only fair that I contribute anyway.

Yours sincerely.
Jonathan Edwards, MBA
Director, ABE Group UK
Parent company of the British International School in Kiev

7/2 I would like to answer the outrageous statement made by Phil Billings; in his response he claims that the international staff has distanced themselves from David. Get your facts correct Sir, everyone of us were made to sign a letter stating that we would not support David, our signatures as you well know were not voluntary but our signatures were required in order to have our salary. You have been very clever in releasing this onslaught against him after we have all left for the summer holidays, but I for one will be trying to contact all the staff to see what we can do to offer support to David. I hope Sir that you can sleep in your bed after what you did to this fine family.

7/2 From Dave Postlethwaite In Response to Jonathan Edwards. Jonathan do you seriously expect people to believe that as responsible parents we would bring our daughter to a school that only were able to offer her 5 IGCSE's when she had previously been studying 8? Do you also remember what happened with the French IGCSE, how she was promised she could complete it but you failed to mention that the French lessons were only delivered in the Ukraine language.

I was glad to see that you now admit that you sent thugs to the house and those thugs terrified my daughter, the fact that they were only agents and not employed directly by you is not the point, you sent them, and they terrified a 15 year old girl with their behaviour and with your full knowledge and aproval.

You mention the 'Newspaper' produced in a lesson, the teacher concerned gave his full consent, the whole paper was written humorously with many gags about me. I notice you fail to mention the torrent of anti-British racist comments that were regularly displayed on the school notice boards.

I notice how you make no reference to the examination irregularities or to the lack of resources, do you remember Jonathan standing in the computer room and making that crack about how bad the computers were, or has that conveniently slipped your memory?

I have produced the website and this article so that honest hard working teachers will not be deceived into working at your school if I can prevent just one family from having to suffer the sheer hell that we had to suffer for six months then it will be job well done. I take great exception to you calling this a vendetta; it is the imparting of information.

10/21 I am a teacher at British International School and I have never had any problems there at all. All staff have been very helpful and accomodating to me, particularly the Ukrainian staff.

It is a shame this individual (MR. Postlethwaite) has had a bad experience, but sometimes in life you can have bad experiences that are not indicative of the whole corporation. You have to stick with it Dave mate! Don't duck out at the first opportunity, at the first bad experience and it might have improved!!! Living in a foreign country is not for everyone. I like it and as for the school i have had no problems. And neither have many others.

For example, many staff there are very happy, get paid on time and have good accomodation. You have to be ready to live in a foreign country and not expect it to be exactly like the UK and maybe MR Postlethwaite did not do that. Surely you have to at least give the job time. He was there...what...3 months...maybe slightly more...is that enough time to say you gave the job a fair go?

What needs to be asked is what type of individual constructs a website against his employers, one that slanders his employers, just because he is not happy in his job? After a few months? One that does not look to garner positive opinions or is in any way fair.

Could he do THAT in the UK? Is that the action of a hardworking, dedicated and honest teacher with a responsibility to teach and care for children?

Probably not. In the UK, he would be taken to court, at the very least sacked as Mr Postlethwaite was. His present employers need to be reminded of this...I wonder if he has told them? He seems like the Murphy's...bitter. Mark Colebrook.