My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

The staffroom

Tutor group

21 replies

MatchsticksForMyEyes · 06/02/2016 21:13

I've been teaching 11 years and at this school since September.
Here pupils are allowed in form rooms at breaks and lunch. My form is Y10.
Since the beginning I have had trouble with them on and off. Some of the girls are typical teens with attitude and can be very disrespectful in the way they speak to me. Phone calls home made things worse.
The boys take things off my desk if I spend more than about ten minutes away from the room at lunch. Have found tissues on the floor, paperclips over the floor, displays wrecked etc. Head of Year says ban them and I have, but nothing changes as they do stuff when they first get in before registration.
I am trying not to take it personally as other tutors are having similar problems, but I do find it frustrating that I am effectively doing five lunchtime duties. This is supposed to be a nice school in a nice area, but my form in a far poorer area had much nicer kids than this.
Monday the HoY and I need to speak to a group of boys who ripped a piece of my display off and drew a penis on it. I really wish they were not allowed in the rooms at lunchtimes like my last school.

OP posts:
Report
IguanaTail · 06/02/2016 21:14

Can't you lock your door?

Report
IguanaTail · 06/02/2016 21:14

Or ask for a large padlock to be fitted

Report
MatchsticksForMyEyes · 06/02/2016 21:15

We aren't allowed to lock them out sadly. School policy.

OP posts:
Report
IguanaTail · 06/02/2016 21:32

Surely at the point at which they are destroying displays, being messy and stealing things from you, you have a right to ask for them to be locked out for at least a fixed period? Ask the headteacher.

Report
MatchsticksForMyEyes · 06/02/2016 21:37

Yeah I will. I feel for the kids who are in there not messing about though. These boys just act like little kids.

OP posts:
Report
MrsGuyOfGisbo · 07/02/2016 15:13

This is amazing. As a supply teacher I got to lots of schools, and the classrooms are always locked unless a teacher is working (alone) in there, or it is a lesson.

Report
MatchsticksForMyEyes · 07/02/2016 16:59

I know. I would love it if this were the case.

OP posts:
Report
willowsummers · 07/02/2016 17:04

I'm so glad I am no longer a form tutor. No advice, but plenty of sympathy. Every tutor group I've ever had has been a combination of the bash street kids and battle royale.

Shame you can't lock them out. I used to, and sit at my desk working, but it still felt at times as if I was having my lunch in the midst of a siege.

Report
timelytess · 07/02/2016 17:09

Make your room impersonal, lock your things away (preferably in an office) and leave the room at the start of break and lunch, returning as late as possible.

Report
ArmchairTraveller · 07/02/2016 17:12

I'd do that.
But before I did, I'd put up with another fortnight of it and take photos as evidence to back up my decisions. Not of children, just the damage and mess.
That way, when challenged as to why it's not a lovely, educational environment, I'd have proof as to the pointlessness of it.

Report
MrsGuyOfGisbo · 07/02/2016 19:40

Also, one of the ways I establish supremacy Grin over the class is to wait in the doorway so they can only enter when I have checked their shirts are tucked in, earphones out/whatever the school rules say for that specific school...
So them being there ahead of me would establish it as their territory - not conducive to the right kind of dynamic...

Report
MaureenMLove · 07/02/2016 19:54

So, it's school policy not to keep them out of the room, but it's perfectly OK for them to be in there unsupervised, whilst your getting your lunch?

What an odd policy! So, when do you get your time out? What happens if you have a full day?

Report
Soooosie · 07/02/2016 19:58

I would lock the door but first bullet point what's happening.

Report
MatchsticksForMyEyes · 08/02/2016 20:00

Had a full day today. Spent lunch (a cuppa soup) in there with them, marking.

OP posts:
Report
MaureenMLove · 08/02/2016 20:29

So you haven't had a break all day then? I know you're not entitled to non contact every day, but not even to get your lunch in peace? Again, I know this rarely happens in the real world of teaching. There's always someone or something to have to deal with, but this is enforced contact.

There's another thread going about a teacher who walked out of a yr 10 class in tears, because they were so vile. This has the potential to tip you over the edge too.Sad

Again, another reason why teaching staff need a break every 6 or so weeks!

Report
MazzleDazzle · 08/02/2016 20:35

What a disgrace! I can't believe that this is the school's policy. Thank goodness they don't have this at my school.

Could you try using a really yukky Glad plug in and playing unappealing music (loudly!)?

Report
MatchsticksForMyEyes · 08/02/2016 20:47

No,mon and wed I go right through aoart from a brief morning break when I get chance to make a hot drink.

OP posts:
Report
MrsGuyOfGisbo · 09/02/2016 09:26

unappealing music
Good idea! French/Indian zither/Philip Glass.....

Report
lozengeoflove · 13/02/2016 20:56

Feck the school policy! Lock the door and go to the staff room for a cuppa and your lunch.
This keeping your room unlocked at all times is awful, because effectively you are always on duty.

There is no way I'd be doing that.

Report
Foxsox · 15/02/2016 19:07

So you are being MADE to work your lunch?
Go to your Union rep this is not on (I'm not usually militant but in this case I feel it!)
The kids aren't allowed inside alone so it's a demand from SLT that you are there, surely?

If they say they are allowed inside at lunch ask what their stance is on you leaving to go to the loo in a lesson (not allowed!)
What is your HOY doing at lunch?
she/he needs to be In There and making waves. That's what they are paid to do, manage behaviour! (Alongside other stuff I know!!)
I'd go spare if this was happening in my year team! (I'm a HOY!)

Tbh it wouldn't have got this far they would be out already! They don't need to be inside at lunch!

If you get no help lock your room & go offsite!

Report
Angeladelight · 15/02/2016 19:15

I'm fairly certain my school had open form rooms on breaks as well BUT it was a privilege and we were temporarily banned if people were playing up and being disruptive. Could this not be suggested as a sort of deterrent for this behaviour?

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.