Can you know what a former employer wrote about you in a reference ?

Question

I'm French and not exactly familiar with the British references system yet. The only thing that I know is that my former French principal sent a good reference before I had an interview and had an offer of a conditional place in a School Centred Initial Teacher Training and that, after the interview as they received my "English" boss's reference (he's a French native speaker), they withdrew it stating "unsatisfactory references" in a letter. My boss never complained to me about my work and I thought his reference would only be a formality. Now I've sent a formal letter to him, his boss and his boss's boss asking for some answers about what was written by him. I have an appointment with that man's boss (a principal) tomorrow morning. Is there any way for me to know what that man wrote that made them change their mind other than legal action here ? If need be, that's what I'll do...

Answer 1

Speaking as an American, there is no way to find out what was written about you.  That is one of the safe guards put in place to ensure that someone can speak freely without fear of being sued or harassed.  I'm very surprised, in fact, that someone would tell you that you were denied due to a poor reference.  

Perhaps, there's been some sort of mistake.  Maybe, he had another person in mind when writing the reference...or perhaps, your reference was not received in time (and it had nothing to do with you).  DO NOT go into the meeting tomorrow with a bad attitude...that will not change anyone's poor opinion of you (if they indeed have one).