WWYD - conflict between pupil and student

[ChocolateandCheese]

Without giving too much away, my DD is in 1st year of A Levels and is doing very well. I also teach (and am head of department), at a separate school, two of the subjects she has chosen at A Level (same exam boards).

There is one teacher she has complained about in terms of teaching style (we have discussed different styles suit different students etc) and the fact that learning objectives and group work is only ever used when she is being observed. All this my DD and I have discussed and basically I've told DD to 'get over it' and she has to learn that not everyone will teach her the way she prefers.

So, in the run up to the exams, the exam board released additional material for one of the subjects. I was notified on email (as a registered teacher) and subsequently advised my students that the likelihood was the exam board would included this on the paper (why else would they release additional info?). I also prepared my students using the two different sets of specimen papers available (one on general release and one on teacher only release, if that makes sense). Now my DD's teacher was unaware of either of these? This particular topic did get asked in depth in paper 1, so i was glad I had revised this with both my students and my daughter (and her friends!)

My dilemma is that I would like to have a discussion with my DD teacher as to why these were missed? However as a Head of Department I would defend my teachers if such as complaint was to be submitted against one of my staff. I'm also concerned that as a teacher it is not really acceptable to complain about another teacher in a different school.

I have thought about sending my DH but he is away a ridiculous amount of time and arranging an appointment between now and the end of term would be difficult.

So I'm after advice please?

[TeenAndTween]

Can you raise it but not as a complaint, but in the spirit of cooperation one teacher to another?

As in, 'You didn't seem to cover the additional material with DD so I did it myself. I want to check that you did actually receive it but prioritised other topics as I wouldn't want you to be missed off a mailing list'

[TeenAndTween]

(sorry, just seen this is in Staffroom. I'm not a teacher, feel free to ignore me)

[ceebie]

You'll be raising this as a parent, first and foremost. Ok, so your average parent wouldn't have become aware of the issue, and it is due to your role as a teacher that this has come up. However, how you take it forward is as you would expect for any parent who has concerns about how their child is being taught.

[lougle]

I think this is quite a big issue for that school. Your DD and her friends had an advantage over all the other year 12s in her school because her mum happened to be a teacher in the subject that she was studying. That's absolutely unfair.

I am not suggesting that you were wrong to prep your DD and her friends because the reality is that in truth, all the other children had a disadvantage, not that your DD had an advantage, but the children that teacher teaches are being let down.

[CodyKing]

Parent first.

I would do as suggested - raise it as a question. Maybe a "did you see they added X y and z at the last minute?"

What are the parents of the friends you tutored feeling/doing? I assume they know?

[cdtaylornats]

Your not complaining as a teacher at another school you are complaining as a teacher at DDs school.

Do you think a worker at Aldi wouldn't complain if she got bad service at Lidl?

Your DDs teacher failed to provide the service they are being paid to provide. Don't think of this as a complaint, think of it as a learning opportunity for a junior colleague. If it makes you feel better you are mentoring them.

[whois]

Your DD and her friends had an advantage over all the other year 12s in her school because her mum happened to be a teacher in the subject that she was studying. That's absolutely unfair.

Huh? Plenty of people have private tuition. How is his any different. The issue is not of 'unfairness' but of wanting to raise the issue that the teacher wasn't on the ball re extra material.