How do you complain about a swimming teacher?

[tigermoth]

Ok, I know you'll all say contact the swimming school to which she belongs, but it's not as simple as that.

My son (9) is happily having swimming lessons and both the swim school and his regular teacher are fine - no problems since he started a few terms ago.

However, one of the teachers, a tempory stand in was in a foul temper the second she saw me, when I collected my son recently. She just started shouting and ranting at me. However, I was 10 minutes late, and unlike my son's regular teacher, she did not realise I was just round the corner and contactable on my mobile, so she had some reason to be angry with me, so we'll call that quits.

However, more to the point, she was in a foul temper about my son (shouting at me he was rampaging around the changing rooms, causing the school caretaker to be furious him, telling me he was impossible, causing havoc on equipment and was not even half dressed etc etc). As she disappered my son came out fully dressed and ready to go home. He said the caretaker had not been angry with him.

A week or so later I saw the caretaker and asked him at length about the evening - he had witnessed the teacher shouting at me. He said my son had been fine in the changing room - no complaints from him - and he thought the teacher had been OTT.

I phoned up the head of the swim school and made it clear I had no issue at all with the school but felt this tempory teacher's attitude was really off - she made it crystal clear my son was a problem to her and she had lost control of her temper - rather worrying in a swimming teacher, someone who is looking after your son in the water.

To cut a long story short, I apologised about being late for her (but in my defence the time I arrived for my son was about the usual time I arrive for the regular teacher and she has not complained, so I wasn't to know this teacher would be angry). However I said I also wanted a note of apology from the teacher. I felt really shocked she had verballay lashed out at me the minute she saw me and was worried that her attitude would affect the way she had taught my son.

The head of the school aplogised on her behalf, but said she knew the teacher in question would never apologise to me, so I may as well forget it. She also refused to give me her name and said she was a friend of hers. The head then sent me a letter, with a 'sort of' apology from the head only, and referred to taking the advice of her governors in the matter.

I thanked her for the letter, repeated that I had nothing against the school or her, but wanted to take this teacher's outburst up with her govenors. She then told me the governors didn't exist! she had made them up!

She said there was absolutely no one who I could complain to. No swimming teachers professional organisation etc etc. And told me to drop it.

I might well do that - the incident is long past and my son is happy at the school. But I simply cannot believe that there is no one I can complain to. As it happens my gripe is minor in the grand scheme of things as this teacher will not be teaching my son again. But what if my gripe had been more serious? Who could I have complained to?

And I still feel really irritated that this teacher lost control with me, said some personal and untrue things about my son AND refuses to aplogise even though I have AND has the protection of the school. ARRRH....

As it happens, I have now found out the name of the teacher....

So do you think I should take it further (ie a note to a relevant organisation) and if so, what organisation would that be?

[codswallop]

I think you hould leave it and have lessons elswwherr. Vote with your feet.

[tigermoth]

Possibly, codswallop. I haven't ruled it out. But when I talked to my son about moving, he told me he is really happy there and doesn't want to change schools. And this particular teacher won't be teaching him again so there shouldn't be any more run ins.

But I suspect the school's head would quite like me to go if I don't shut up about her friend....

[Twink]

Tigermoth, I think you are right to complain, I assume your teacher would be associated with the ASA, their website is here if this is no use to you I will ask dd's teacher for her view

[SofiaAmes]

Wow, I'm amazed that this teacher blatantly lied about the governors and admitted it. I think I would probably take my child out of the school, not because of the incident, but because of the lying head. Suppose it had been a more serious incident involving the safety of your child. Do you trust this woman (and the people she employs) to make the right decisions regarding your child, especially if it ends up getting them in trouble. I'm sure your ds will enjoy a new school just as much.

[tigermoth]

aha, I have just found out via the ASA website that there's an organisation called the Institute of Swimming Teachers and Coaches (ISTC). Thanks for that link, Twink.

I think I'll phone up and talk this through with them. I don't have to name names initially.

But I'm not sure of how far this will get me. I did mention I'd contact the ASA when I spoke to the head of the school. She said 'don't bother, it will get you nowhere' That reaction alone makes me want to try, though.

SofiaAmes, I see what you are saying. If the head lies so blatently - and in writing - about the existance of non existant governors is she really to be trusted regarding anything else about her school?

I am beginnning to think that if I complain and name names my son will have to leave the swim school anyway. I will be forced to complain about the head's attitude to me, so this will reflect badly on the school as a whole.

All I wanted was a short note of apology for losing her temper from this temp teacher - I admitted I was in the wrong, too, and offered to write a note also, but the head told me that even if I did, she didn't think this teacher would retract from her position.

I have no wish really to make a formal compliant to the ISTC about this school but feel they are pushing me in this direction.

KS, yes, I can see how this has parallels to your son's situation. I suppose I am lucky in that this problem is just confined to my son's half hour swim lesson - and only on the once occasion.

Any other views or suggestions welcome!

[eidsvold]

Pardon my ignorance but I thought every school had a Board of Governors. If I was on that board I would be most annoyed that this head was behaving like this and sanctioning behaviour of staff whether temporary or not. Perhaps you could find out who is the Head of Governors or how to contact the governors directly expressing your concerns regarding this whole matter.

As a teacher - the only other thing I can say is it it totally unprofessional and even worse that this temporary teacher seems above reproach because they are a friend of the head.

[tigermoth]

eidsvold, I'd like to think that this school has to have a board of governors, but since it's only a swimming school I don't know if this applies.

Since the head maintained there is no board of governors as her letter had stated (she was smiling as she told me that she had made it all up!!!)I would need to find out independently if any existed - has anyone any idea how I'd do this?

[princesspeahead]

eidsvold, independent schools/privately owned establishments don't need to have boards of govenors. I'd be surprised if a swimming school had one.
completely bizarre of the head to lie about it though - think you should definitely take it up with the ASA, also bizarre of the head to say "I'm sorry but I know the teacher won't say sorry as she is a friend of mine". Flaky. Do you really want them to be looking after your son in the swimming pool? I'd have doubts, I must say...

[eidsvold]

oh sorry I thought the swim school was attached to a school - iyswim...

[Rosalind]

Have you any literature at all from the school even a booking form or similar? 2 of the schools I have used were part of private amateur swim clubs which would have to be set up with a committee etc - you could try and find out who the members were and complain to them. If she runs the school through a limited company there may be other directors or shareholders and you can look that up on the companies house website.
If it is just her running it as a private concern then I would leave immediately - if she is cavalier about comments like having governors what is she like on health and safety, qualified teachers etc? What if a child got cramp or something and the teacher was of the ilk of the temporary one?
My son has for various reasons had 4 lots of swimming tuition and has coped fine with the changes and still enjoys it as much as ever. If you can find other lessons convenient to home go for it. Some of his teachers have not perhaps had a lot of sensitivity to the needs of young children but none ever behaved like you describe and it is totally unacceptable.
Re the comment about independent schools and governors most such schools are either charities with trustees and governors or else companies. They also usually belong to various umbrella organisations which I understand carry out inspections of members.

[suedonim]

Would the school have to be registered with your local council or police-checked by them, because they are working with children - ie like childminders have to be? If they are, perhaps the Education Dept would be interested. Hope that's not a silly idea!

[WideWebWitch]

Tigermoth, this really is pants isn't it? What about complaining to the pool where the swim school is run? Or do they own the pool too? Or threatening to write to the local paper about them (they have screamed at you and then added insult to injury by lying to you after all) unless you get a satisfactory answer. I seem to remember reading that sports teachers don't have to be police checked, which is outrageous if true, but I could be wrong there. Even if your son is happy, you're not and actually, he saw some of this and some of the criticism was unfairly aimed at him wasn't it?

If this doesn't get you anywhere, then yes, consider voting with your feet and telling the other parents there why you're going to cause maximum commercial impact. What are these people on? All the head had to do was apologise and not make inflamatory remarks and it would have blown over and everyone would have been happy. I must admit, these comments would get my back up too and make me determined not to give them any more money. Let us know what you decide won't you?

[tigermoth]

good ideas, everyone. Thank you.

I have spoken to my son today and explained I am not happy that the head of his swimming school lied to me about the existance of govenors. I said I need to trust the people who teach him, I also need to know they will tell me the truth about how he has behaved, and I need to feel he is safe with them, and how can I trust someone who had lied to me? He readily agreed. Huge relief! He has to miss the rest of this term's swimming lessons anyway because he has just had grommits fitted, but I explained that we would send him to a new swimming school next term.

But I still want to complain to someone - I will definitely contact the ISTC and talk it through with them. I will also contact the education department at the council. I don't think the swim school is part of a swimming club and I know it has no connection with the pool - the school use a selection of local pools.

I may or may not tell the head that I have complained - I am not sure as yet whether I will leave the school silently or leave with a flourish. That depends on how the ISTC and council react. I'll let you know what happens.

www, it's really worrying if you are correct in thinking that sports coaches don't have to be police checked. I wonder just how accountable private sports schools are?

[janh]

tigermoth, I'm glad you have decided to move, by the time I read this thread everyone had said what I thought already (particularly about the head lying glibly and then apparently thinking it was funny to admit it) so I didn't bother but I was fairly horrified by the whole situation. Good luck with both the move and the complaint.

However, FWIW, my DH coaches a youth football team (U15 last season, now to be U16) and he had to take a coaching course, and a how-to-treat-young-people-course (I'm sure it has a proper name!) (child safety possibly) but he did not have to complete a CRB form - in fact I had thought he was OK because he was already clear (our whole family - over 18 - had to complete CRBs for the Chernobyl child's visit) but no, it is not a requirement for sports coaches, as www said. And he is quite sanguine about it, on the grounds that it would just be too complicated and would put people off. WHAT????? And this after all the trouble there has been about teachers and scout leaders and who knows who else. Shall we all write to our MPs?

[WideWebWitch]

Oh, so I was right about that then Janh? I seem to remember reading about it in The Observer, it may have been the Sports Monthly section, but it was a while ago so I couldn't be sure. It is outrageous isn't it? These people have access to children alone and often in changing rooms too. Something should be done indeed.

[bossykate]

tigermoth, glad to hear you have found a resolution to this that you and ds can both live with. good luck with finding a better school and with your complaint. best wishes.

[CAM]

Absolutely agree that the attitude of the head of the swimming school is appalling - being "economical with the truth" in this way is a completely unacceptable way to go about dealing with her customers. There has definitely been a breach of trust here and I'm pleased that you are going to take your son elsewhere.

[badjelly]

Janh & WWW, you're quite right that swimming teachers/coaches don't have to undertake a specific 'how to treat young people' course but in the last few years (I think about 5) child protection has become a mandatory part of both the Assistant Teachers and Teachers course (my mum teaches these courses and it really mucked her timetables up!) However, if she qualified before this time she won't have had any of this training at the time. The Assistant Teachers qualification last forever, Teachers are supposed to have updates every few years so she should really have had something along the way.

Tigermoth, the ISTC are generally very helpful but it depends on whether you want to complain about the school or the specific teacher, if it's the latter you probably won't get anywhere without a name but they may be able to suggest something else.

Not much use sorry!

[janh]

badjelly, my DH did have to do the Child Protection course (that's what it's called!) - his training was run by the FA - but he didn't have to have the police check and that's what we're fretting about. All schoolteachers have to have those now, in fact I think anybody who works in school with children does, even the dinner ladies and volunteers, so why on earth should sports instructors be exempt?

The Child Protection course is all about watching out for inappropriate behaviour in others but that's not going to stop someone who plans to act inappropriately him/herself, is it? Very odd altogether.

[badjelly]

Janh - I know it's bizzare that some people need police checks and others don't.

My dh runs a sports centre and some of his staff need one and others don't, most of the time the ones that don't need one actually have more contact with the kids than the others! I think he gives them all one just to on the safe side though (yeah the CRB love him!)

When my mum does the child protection part of the course she teaches both how to look out for inappropriate behaviour and how to look out for yourself - eg if you teach from the water wear a t-shirt so if the pupil grabs you're chest it lessens the chances of you being accussed of getting a jolly from it.

Sad world int it?

[Slinky]

I'm actually quite shocked that not everyone is required to have a CRB check.

I've had mine done obviously for my job in the nursery, but today I got stopped by the school secretary as they wanted to complete one for me for my "parent helper" activies.

I have being assuming that ANYONE who has contact with children was legally required to have a check carried out and I am rather concerned to read it's not the case!

[JulieF]

I am part of an organisation that provides out of school activities for children and we CRB check all our staff. One tip for anyone who is worried is to ask their sports/school etc for a copy of their child protection policy.

If they don't have one, or it doesn't have clear guidelines about how to about reporting abuse/suspicions for both staff and parents then steer clear.

[Lindy]

I am not convinced that police checks are worth the paper they are printed on ..... I mean if you have a 'record' for molesting children you are hardly likely to volunteer to have a police check done are you? We have a Youth Club in our village and the subject of police checks came up (they are very expensive to get done apparently) and in the end it was decided not to have them done, but to rely on each other's vigilence and common sense like having a mix of male/female leaders - this was made clear to the parents of course.

I believe that many child murderers and molesters do not have a 'record' anyway.