High School Teacher
Discussion
I'm putting this in here as it's about a specific teacher and I don't believe it really fits SP&L but Mods please move if you feel somewhere else is appropriate.
My eldest hopes to do something in the medical profession when older and is doing triple science. They are totally cruising chemistry & physics and was Biology until the start of the new school year last September when they got a new teacher.
Predicted GCSE grade was B possibly even an A but now we're looking at a D at best and mocks came out as worse still. Homework is being done and all catch up classes possible attended but the real reason for the drop in grade is that none of the class are actually learning anything. The teacher is just not a capable teacher. All kids in the class are suffering the same fate.
Official written complaints have gone into the school by several parents but the Head and Governors are not taking this seriously and all complaints have been dismissed.
My child wishes to transfer to study A levels at a local Grammar school and a grade less than B in GCSE will mean they will not get considered for a place not to mention the overall impact its having on the whole classes education.
I want to escalate this to the next level but I'm unsure who that would be. I've looked at the Ofsted website but there does not appear to be a complaints section for specifically just a teacher rather than a whole school failing.
Anyone any idea where I should turn too as GCSE are just a few months away and time is running out.
My eldest hopes to do something in the medical profession when older and is doing triple science. They are totally cruising chemistry & physics and was Biology until the start of the new school year last September when they got a new teacher.
Predicted GCSE grade was B possibly even an A but now we're looking at a D at best and mocks came out as worse still. Homework is being done and all catch up classes possible attended but the real reason for the drop in grade is that none of the class are actually learning anything. The teacher is just not a capable teacher. All kids in the class are suffering the same fate.
Official written complaints have gone into the school by several parents but the Head and Governors are not taking this seriously and all complaints have been dismissed.
My child wishes to transfer to study A levels at a local Grammar school and a grade less than B in GCSE will mean they will not get considered for a place not to mention the overall impact its having on the whole classes education.
I want to escalate this to the next level but I'm unsure who that would be. I've looked at the Ofsted website but there does not appear to be a complaints section for specifically just a teacher rather than a whole school failing.
Anyone any idea where I should turn too as GCSE are just a few months away and time is running out.
Tough one.
Depends on the school and the teacher. Honest answer is the school aren't going to do much, I've never seen one removed for quality of teaching. Ever. Particularly at this point in the year. I'm intrguied at the substance of the complaint though, since it's Triple Biology it's not really that hard, it's memorising facts.
Your lad sounds switched on or at least you do, find out what board their taking, get hold of the spec, a copy of textbook and the appropriate revision guide and get cracking. If it's OCR Gateway I can help you out a bit.
If he's doing what you say he's doing, he shouldn't really be getting a D.
Depends on the school and the teacher. Honest answer is the school aren't going to do much, I've never seen one removed for quality of teaching. Ever. Particularly at this point in the year. I'm intrguied at the substance of the complaint though, since it's Triple Biology it's not really that hard, it's memorising facts.
Your lad sounds switched on or at least you do, find out what board their taking, get hold of the spec, a copy of textbook and the appropriate revision guide and get cracking. If it's OCR Gateway I can help you out a bit.
If he's doing what you say he's doing, he shouldn't really be getting a D.
During my sixth year at school, my higher english teacher was useless.
The text we done was Merchant of Venice and instead of us reading through the text she let us watch the film. The notes she gave us out in class had been copied and pasted from a website online , just an all round rubbish teacher.
Out of about 28 pupils I think less than 10 passed, nothing will ever be done though.
I can understand what the OP is going through, only thing I can recommend is supported study with other teachers after school and tutoring.
The text we done was Merchant of Venice and instead of us reading through the text she let us watch the film. The notes she gave us out in class had been copied and pasted from a website online , just an all round rubbish teacher.
Out of about 28 pupils I think less than 10 passed, nothing will ever be done though.
I can understand what the OP is going through, only thing I can recommend is supported study with other teachers after school and tutoring.
solo2 said:
I'm putting this in here as it's about a specific teacher and I don't believe it really fits SP&L but Mods please move if you feel somewhere else is appropriate.
My eldest hopes to do something in the medical profession when older and is doing triple science. They are totally cruising chemistry & physics and was Biology until the start of the new school year last September when they got a new teacher.
Predicted GCSE grade was B possibly even an A but now we're looking at a D at best and mocks came out as worse still. Homework is being done and all catch up classes possible attended but the real reason for the drop in grade is that none of the class are actually learning anything. The teacher is just not a capable teacher. All kids in the class are suffering the same fate.
Official written complaints have gone into the school by several parents but the Head and Governors are not taking this seriously and all complaints have been dismissed.
My child wishes to transfer to study A levels at a local Grammar school and a grade less than B in GCSE will mean they will not get considered for a place not to mention the overall impact its having on the whole classes education.
I want to escalate this to the next level but I'm unsure who that would be. I've looked at the Ofsted website but there does not appear to be a complaints section for specifically just a teacher rather than a whole school failing.
Anyone any idea where I should turn too as GCSE are just a few months away and time is running out.
Tutor. My eldest hopes to do something in the medical profession when older and is doing triple science. They are totally cruising chemistry & physics and was Biology until the start of the new school year last September when they got a new teacher.
Predicted GCSE grade was B possibly even an A but now we're looking at a D at best and mocks came out as worse still. Homework is being done and all catch up classes possible attended but the real reason for the drop in grade is that none of the class are actually learning anything. The teacher is just not a capable teacher. All kids in the class are suffering the same fate.
Official written complaints have gone into the school by several parents but the Head and Governors are not taking this seriously and all complaints have been dismissed.
My child wishes to transfer to study A levels at a local Grammar school and a grade less than B in GCSE will mean they will not get considered for a place not to mention the overall impact its having on the whole classes education.
I want to escalate this to the next level but I'm unsure who that would be. I've looked at the Ofsted website but there does not appear to be a complaints section for specifically just a teacher rather than a whole school failing.
Anyone any idea where I should turn too as GCSE are just a few months away and time is running out.
That simple.
And then decide whether drugs / "love" has been an influencing factor.
It's easy to blame the teacher...
(Written by someone who left school at 16)
It's very difficult for schools to get rid of teachers, the unions are strong and it will cost the school thousands and take months by the time it's done.
If the teachers incline it's easy to get signed off for months at a time during which supply cover will likely be used.
It's also quite difficult to recruit so you could end up with supply which maybe no better.
If the teachers incline it's easy to get signed off for months at a time during which supply cover will likely be used.
It's also quite difficult to recruit so you could end up with supply which maybe no better.
Countdown said:
OP - just out of interest what does the school's OFSTED report say about school leadership and the quality of teaching?
All recent Ofstead reports have been 'Outstanding' and in general I agree with this. It's 'THE' school in the area to go to, and in every other subject my daughter is doing exceedingly well.She's very into her studies and really wants to get the best grades she can, but unless she is taught the exam content how can she learn. She's got all the revision guides going so I guess from what you all say I'll have to find tutoring for her.
I experienced a similar situation when I was at school - I got an awful teacher one year and got a D grade. The following year I got the same teacher for the same subject when I was planning to re-sit the subject... The solution was to get a private tutor - £15 an hour (at the time) and only one hour per week was required and this lasted for a few months. I went from getting a D to getting a B the following year while the majority of the rest of the class failed.
solo2 said:
All recent Ofstead reports have been 'Outstanding' and in general I agree with this. It's 'THE' school in the area to go to, and in every other subject my daughter is doing exceedingly well.
She's very into her studies and really wants to get the best grades she can, but unless she is taught the exam content how can she learn. She's got all the revision guides going so I guess from what you all say I'll have to find tutoring for her.
It's odd then that they have a rubbish teacher and don't seem prepared to do anything about it She's very into her studies and really wants to get the best grades she can, but unless she is taught the exam content how can she learn. She's got all the revision guides going so I guess from what you all say I'll have to find tutoring for her.
All schools have some teachers who seem to coast along and do the minimum required but (IME) good/outstanding schools tend to challenge and presure those that arent up to the mark.Good luck anyway.
When I did GCSEs almost 25 years ago (damn, that makes me sound old!!), you could get a copy of the curriculum. I had a similar issue with physics so went through that with no extra tuition and got an A (before A* was invented). If she's thinking about medicine, she needs to be able to cope with that.
Having said that, I no longer encourage anyone to study medicine if they intend to stay in the UK in the long term. She'd be better of doing veterinary medicine or dentistry, or even better, engineering.
Having said that, I no longer encourage anyone to study medicine if they intend to stay in the UK in the long term. She'd be better of doing veterinary medicine or dentistry, or even better, engineering.
MiniMan64 said:
Tough one.
Depends on the school and the teacher. Honest answer is the school aren't going to do much, I've never seen one removed for quality of teaching. Ever. Particularly at this point in the year. I'm intrguied at the substance of the complaint though, since it's Triple Biology it's not really that hard, it's memorising facts.
Your lad sounds switched on or at least you do, find out what board their taking, get hold of the spec, a copy of textbook and the appropriate revision guide and get cracking. If it's OCR Gateway I can help you out a bit.
If he's doing what you say he's doing, he shouldn't really be getting a D.
I have. Several in fact, and have been involved in the process directly. It is a difficult, time wasting process though, that often wears Head teachers down (and even out), the teacher can prevaricate and force the process into stops and starts with well timed illness/stress breaks and returns (often with support from sympathetic GPs who should know better and consider the others harmed, than their patient) and the Unions, well some reps have been utter barstars.Depends on the school and the teacher. Honest answer is the school aren't going to do much, I've never seen one removed for quality of teaching. Ever. Particularly at this point in the year. I'm intrguied at the substance of the complaint though, since it's Triple Biology it's not really that hard, it's memorising facts.
Your lad sounds switched on or at least you do, find out what board their taking, get hold of the spec, a copy of textbook and the appropriate revision guide and get cracking. If it's OCR Gateway I can help you out a bit.
If he's doing what you say he's doing, he shouldn't really be getting a D.
But, if you are convinced that it is the teacher at fault (inappropriate/slack planning, poor classroom management, weak delivery, inaccurate assessment etc.) and is not meeting Teacher Standards, and other parents feel the same, then it should be tackled. Why should the OP pay for a tutor (even if you might for speed) and what of this parents who can't afford to. The teacher is paid to do the job and the SLT and governors meant to ensure that happens. How many cohorts of student will this teacher be allowed to spoil the life chances of?
If they won't tackle the problem I suggest you and other parents on-board write either a joint letter or a bagful stating the same to the Chair of Governors, the HT and noting that copies are being sent to the LA's Director of Education (or whatever title that Authority uses), the Council's Chair of the education Cabinet, and to Ofsted. And at the same time contact Ofsted directly and raise a concern. Early and/or emergency Inspections can be triggered by parental concerns. You might say to the school that this is something you will request.
No guarantees, but the wider audience and threat of external action might just be the kick up the pants the HT et al need, assuming they are ducking the issue.
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