What to do about what a teacher has told me - advice needed!

[Tommetipsy]

Hello,

My DD is in reception year of a small infants school. Good friend of my sister's is an NQT in this school (year 1).

Last weekend I was at my sister's birthday dinner and I ended up chatting to this girl for quite a while. She told me that moral is really low amongst the staff and they feel the Head is a very poor leader.

She said he changes his mind so much it is hard to know what they should be doing. An example she gave is he asked her to put up a display in the hall which she did and two days later he yelled at her for doing this and made her take it down.

He's also started shouting at the kids who don't eat all the food on their plates at lunchtime including those with SN.

She also says he works from home at least 1- 2 days per week and has told the staff that he won't be in on the last day of term for the school assembly so the Assistant Head will need to give out the attendance prizes etc. Again he is working from home that day.

She's basically said can I raise these points with the School Governors but not mention her name as she is worried she'll lose her job.

I'm feeling pretty uncomfortable with all this info to be honest and not sure what the right approach is. I'd really appreciate some advice.

Thanks

[SapphireMoon]

I don't see how you can bring this up.
As an NQT will she have a certain teacher offering her support/ mentoring? Maybe that is a first step?

[Merefin]

You really can't get involved. She is completely out of order to be talking to you about this. The kindest thing you can do is forget the conversation and if she tries again tell her she must use the right channels herself to bring it up.

If things are as she says then it won't go unnoticed by the governors/ other school leadership team anyway.

WRT SEN pupils being spoken to harshly then she must raise this ASAP with the SENCo or DHT.

[poopsydaisy]

I would take it with a slight pinch of salt if I were you....if she is genuinely concerned about these things, having a chat to a mum from school (albeit a sister of her best friend) is completely out of order.

I'd be more concerned about her complete lack of confidentiality as a teacher (i.e. chatting to you at a dinner party about apparently pretty major issues at her school). Along with her inability to raise the issues with the appropriate channels herself. Why on earth should you raise these for her with the governors - what on earth would they think if you went to them and said you knew the stuff she told you - how on earth could you know that sort of information unless an insider has told you? It wouldn't take long to work out the source of the 'gossip'. I'm afraid it sounds like this NQT has alot to learn....sorry if thats harsh, but she's been totally unfair on you really.

[tess73]

she is totally unprofessional.
you can't say/do anything
all you can comment on is anything YOU have seen/experienced.
The school is full of other teachers, it is not up to you.

[DeWe]

I would be very concerned about this teacher. She must know it's totally unprofessional. If she wanted to go the right way about it she should be raising it with the governors herself. Asking you to do it is silly. You haven't witnessed anything, so can't really raise it-it's nought more than gossip, and it'll probably be obvious who gave it too, so she'll be in much more hot water for talking to you.

And the head working from home-there may be a good reason why he does this-agreed with the governors, may be he's on a course close to home etc.

Wouldn't want my dc having a teacher with this poor judgement. Wonder if she's been having poor feedback and is in danger of failing the NQT year and is preparing to contest it?

[PastSellByDate]

Tommetipsy:

My advice (as others have advised) is don't rush to do anything whatsoever. The teacher has put quite a heavy burden on you - but suspect it's because they feel they cannot safely raise their head above the parapet.

I think it is concerning that the HT is showing flairs of temper - but without knowing the whole situation it's unclear whether he's under a lot of stress or indeed the school is sliding into special measures and he's soon to be forcibly moved on.

My advice is they press you on this is to suggest they approach a friendly ear on the Board of governors.

[mrz]

The NQT is very silly to discuss this with you and could find herself failing her NQT year as a result of unprofessional behaviour,

[AngelaDaviesHair]

Worse, she is being rather cowardly and trying to get you to take on her professional responsibility. Beware. If shit hit fan would she corroborate what you'd said? Doubt it.

[TheGonnagle]

Do.Not.Get.Involved.
Deeply unprofessional, deeply inappropriate, will end badly.
Please step away.

[clam]

What they said ^^

If it becomes known that she has spoken so unprofessionally, she could be out on her ear.