do I complain about class teacher?

Updownandaround1 · 2024-12-11T20:51:47+00:00

Class teacher Is new, training in her first year, she was a TA from another school and started in September. This term 3 children have left, 2 huge parent complaints against said teacher and myself and other class TA want to move to another class because we can't stand her. The teacher, dresses in head to toe in very expensive designer gear...the clothes are against our staff handbook as lots of our children and families are PP. I would love to wear nice things but it's a primary school, and some of our kids do not even have a coat! She flirts heavily with the very young PE teacher, leading him on. It's becoming more and more embarrassing and very obvious to us other staff members she's leading him on for her own self gratification. One pupil she knows from another school, she has let him do nothing for weeks, takes him off for daily for chats, and talks to him like he's a mate. Yesterday he stuck a post it note on her forehead, and is now kicking off daily because he needs to do some work, and he cant handle female relationships, the child is under SS and I think she's crossing boundaries with a child who already has attachment issues and has now made a rod for her own back. Other class TA has had an awful health shock, incredibly serious and we are all very very worried and upset. Class teacher has made serveal jokes at her expense in class, in front of children and carries when she's not in, then has the audacity in the next breath to talk to the children about their behaviour. Class teacher goes off and cries often, and her long standing partner has left her. She snaps at us and then messages other TA to apologise. I have big concerns about this teacher and she's only been here for 2 terms. I want to raise it with headteacher of whom I have a brilliant relationship with, but I realise it's big big accusations I'm making.

Casperroonie · 21/12/2024 14:47

MolkosTeenageAngst · 11/12/2024 20:57

You need to separate your opinions of her and judgement of things like her clothes from professional misconduct or safeguarding issues. If you have a cause for concern related to her behaviour around students and think she isn’t safeguarding students then of course you should speak to the head, you’re failing your duty of care not to and should have done so as soon as you felt concerned. If you have safeguarding concerns you shouldn’t need Mumsnet to tell you to report them to the designated safeguarding lead, this should be basic training in any school!

If there are issues around professional misconduct then these should be reported as well, however it’s unlikely that things like wearing designer labels would be classed as misconduct even if you find them in poor taste, if you’re going to raise concerns make sure they are reasonable and not just personal attacks based on things you dislike or the head is less likely to take your seriously.

Yes things v sensible. Misconduct is one thing, personal dislike another.

Prettydisgustingactually · 21/12/2024 10:41

EnidSpyton · 11/12/2024 22:19

Surely your class teacher has a mentor and is regularly being observed if she is training. If there are issues with her teaching practice and pupil relationships, then this should - and surely would - have been picked up by them already and addressed. As this mentoring process is confidential between the trainee/ECT and their mentor, you wouldn't know anything about what conversations might be happening behind the scenes. If there are genuine issues with competency, as you're claiming, I would be surprised if your headteacher wasn't already aware.

Being a trainee teacher is tough and we all make mistakes. Especially if this teacher is going from a TA role to a class teacher role, that can be really challenging as there is an adjustment to be made in attitudes and behaviour to reflect the different relationships you build with the children, parents and other staff in those two roles. She is still finding her feet and needs support rather than judgement, and her two TAs taking any opportunity to have a bitch about her in the corner, which is what it sounds like is happening.

So what if she wears designer clothes and has a bit of a flirt with the PE teacher - that's got nothing to do with her competency as a teacher.

I feel sorry for this teacher - it sounds like all of you are ganging up on her and gossiping about her behind her back. I'd be very careful going to the head with anything - frankly, you sound jealous, petty and unprofessional. I am a very experienced secondary teacher and I don't see anything in what you say that would warrant a safeguarding concern.

@EnidSpyton

Exactly this!

Absolute rubbish about designer clothes going against dress policy. I don’t believe it says in your dress code ‘no designer clothes’ As for chatting to a child ‘like he’s a mate’ no this isn’t ok but she is learning and trying to appeal to him on a different level.
You all sound very mean and spiteful.

TheDowagerCountessofPembroke · 21/12/2024 08:55

TheDowagerCountessofPembroke · 21/12/2024 08:36

Are they? What is she wearing that is against the ‘rule book’?

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I’ve re read the op which says that it says the staff handbook says don’t wear designer clothes. I’ve never seen anything like that in a staff handbook myself. Usually it’s just make sure you are covered and no slogans or big logos. I’ve never need brands specified.

CaptainMyCaptain · 21/12/2024 08:45

TheDowagerCountessofPembroke · 18/12/2024 10:42

Pupil Premium. Families who are on a low wage or benefits are able to claim PP. this means they get free school meals, some extra support affording trips etc (depending on the school ) and the school gets money too.

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They are on PP because they are on Free School Meals it doesn't make them entitled to FSM. Looked after Children (i.e. 'in care') and Forces Families are also Pupil Premium. It is supposed to be used by the school in a way that supports these children and not the school generally. I know a school that sometimes uses it to pay for outside extra tuition.

Aduvetday · 21/12/2024 08:39

I think you’re at real risk of confusing a genuine complaint with your own personal unkindness and judgment. I suggest if you do make a complaint, you keep it professional as you sound jealous of her.

TheDowagerCountessofPembroke · 21/12/2024 08:36

SchoolMom1979 · 21/12/2024 06:33

The clothes she wears are part of the problem, though, they are against school rule book and the fact that she wears them shows her disrespect and disregard to rules! So I would include that, as well.

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Are they? What is she wearing that is against the ‘rule book’?

SchoolMom1979 · 21/12/2024 06:33

TheDowagerCountessofPembroke · 11/12/2024 20:58

Report her, but stick to facts that concern children or teaching, not the clothes she wears.

The clothes she wears are part of the problem, though, they are against school rule book and the fact that she wears them shows her disrespect and disregard to rules! So I would include that, as well.

Yerroblemom1923 · 18/12/2024 11:04

This says more about you than her. The kids/ patents won't know her clothes are "designer" even if what she wore was emblazoned with Armani etc they'll think it's a dupe/fake anyway and if they're struggling with poverty premium it sounds like they have bigger fish to fry than care about a teacher's outfit! She's young and new so will be closely monitored anyway and anything deemed unprofessional will be flagged up by her assessors, surely.

Maddy70 · 18/12/2024 10:51

Wearing nice clothes fine (abs your comments are not nice and make you sound very. Jealous) maintaining a relationship with a past pp student.. fine
The rest is what should. Be addressed and brought to the heads attention

TheDowagerCountessofPembroke · 18/12/2024 10:42

Yerroblemom1923 · 18/12/2024 10:36

What is PP? Like low income etc? What does it stand for?

Pupil Premium. Families who are on a low wage or benefits are able to claim PP. this means they get free school meals, some extra support affording trips etc (depending on the school ) and the school gets money too.

Yerroblemom1923 · 18/12/2024 10:36

What is PP? Like low income etc? What does it stand for?

SezFrankly · 18/12/2024 09:31

MolkosTeenageAngst · 11/12/2024 20:57

You need to separate your opinions of her and judgement of things like her clothes from professional misconduct or safeguarding issues. If you have a cause for concern related to her behaviour around students and think she isn’t safeguarding students then of course you should speak to the head, you’re failing your duty of care not to and should have done so as soon as you felt concerned. If you have safeguarding concerns you shouldn’t need Mumsnet to tell you to report them to the designated safeguarding lead, this should be basic training in any school!

If there are issues around professional misconduct then these should be reported as well, however it’s unlikely that things like wearing designer labels would be classed as misconduct even if you find them in poor taste, if you’re going to raise concerns make sure they are reasonable and not just personal attacks based on things you dislike or the head is less likely to take your seriously.

This. Stick to the facts and keep your opinions out of it. Do not use emotive language.

Justus6 · 18/12/2024 07:55

I think you have a duty to speak to the head. If there is nothing to worry about the great but if you don't and there is you'll not forgive yourself x

Julimia · 17/12/2024 18:30

Well said and superbly explained. Completely agree with you and of course there are two sides to every story

bangalanguk · 17/12/2024 18:13

There are some huge red flags here that are safeguarding issues. You need to refer to your whistleblowing policy which I imagine will say to refer the issues to your head teacher.

anniegun · 17/12/2024 13:27

You may have some valid complaints but a lot of this comes across as pure bitching. Being envious of her clothes is not a valid issue.

ExitPersuedByAMemory · 17/12/2024 13:23

MolkosTeenageAngst · 11/12/2024 20:57

You need to separate your opinions of her and judgement of things like her clothes from professional misconduct or safeguarding issues. If you have a cause for concern related to her behaviour around students and think she isn’t safeguarding students then of course you should speak to the head, you’re failing your duty of care not to and should have done so as soon as you felt concerned. If you have safeguarding concerns you shouldn’t need Mumsnet to tell you to report them to the designated safeguarding lead, this should be basic training in any school!

If there are issues around professional misconduct then these should be reported as well, however it’s unlikely that things like wearing designer labels would be classed as misconduct even if you find them in poor taste, if you’re going to raise concerns make sure they are reasonable and not just personal attacks based on things you dislike or the head is less likely to take your seriously.

My thoughts exactly. The behaviour sounds unprofessional and irresponsible.

mugglewump · 17/12/2024 13:21

If this teacher is an EC1 or on Teach Direct (assume you mean one of these when you say teacher on training), there will already be plenty of monitoring and observations taking place. If she is breaking teaching standards, it will be noted. If she is breaking the staff dress code, she will be spoken to by SLT. If the other TA feels she is being victimised or bullied by this teacher, it is her job to raise it. If parents have concerns about the wellbeing and education of their children in this class, it is up to them to flag it with SLT.

Children leaving the school probably has nothing to do with this teacher. Sticking a post-it note on a teacher's forehead is not a safeguarding issue. Flirting with the PE teacher is just banter, probably. Claiming that you can't stand a colleague on social media, even with an anonymous name, is probably closer to breaking guidelines than anything you have written about.

You said it clearly in your second paragraph; you really don't like her. This is what this is about. And perhaps the only criticism that could be made is that she has not worked at building a relationship with other adults she works with. That said, if you were hostile from the start, that is not easy. If she is younger than you, and has been at the same level as you before (TA), she may find that a difficult relationship to manage. Plus, your first years of teaching are incredibly stressful and it sounds lie she has been through a personal break-up. Give the girl a break.

Julimia · 17/12/2024 13:14

This entire post is totally unprofessional. Speak with headteacher in first place not with everybody else. Disgusting.

GreatGardenstuff · 17/12/2024 12:53

I think the fact that you don’t know how to address this professionally without resorting to bitching about her on mumsnet is massively concerning.

You need to have a good look at yourself and your motivation for talking to the head about her. A newly qualified teacher needs a supportive team around her, not one that’s slags her off on the internet, no matter what the challenges.

CannotWaitForSummervibes · 17/12/2024 11:59

You need to seperate the facts and your judgement /personal opinion. It might help to write down everything in a bullet point style and then ask yourself which is a fact and which is a judgement. Rewrite the list of facts, if possible include where and when (if you can’t answer this it’s not a fact you can back up). Go to the headteacher with this list ONLY and say you have concerns. you are definitely right for reporting it, but make sure you stick to the facts.
There are A LOT of things in your post which should fall in the personal opinion category.

JLou08 · 17/12/2024 11:55

Odd that the first things you mention are her designer clothes and flirting with another teacher. Are you jealous? Is she going off crying because she is being bullied by the other staff, including yourself?

1HappyTraveller · 17/12/2024 11:50

You have mentioned that the teacher is crossing boundaries with a child. You are highlighting a potential safeguarding concern. You have a responsibility to report it to the head teacher. You should have done this already! (That’s before you’ve added the rest of this teacher’s issues into the mix!)

Please go and speak to the head immediately.

Isxmasoveryet · 17/12/2024 11:35

Would you have same reservations if a male teacher was doing all this i sincerely doubt you would think twice

PorridgeEater · 13/12/2024 15:47

ItsBehindYouSequinsAndStilettos · 11/12/2024 21:22

2 huge parent complaints against said teacher How do you even know this? Nature of complaint? Who dealt with?
The clothes are against our staff handbook you have a policy that says no designer clothing!?!
She flirts heavily with the very young PE teacher this is subjective and bitchy
One pupil she knows from another school, she has let him do nothing for weeks
This is the legitimate concern, stick to this
takes him off for daily for chats, and talks to him like he's a mate. alternate view - trying to be inclusive, develop positive relationship to build on
Yesterday he stuck a post it note on her forehead why?
is now kicking off daily because he needs to do some work with her or during interventions with you?
he cant handle female relationships what do you mean by this?
she's crossing boundaries with a child who already has attachment issues and has now made a rod for her own back. the latter is her problem to fix, you can't be friends with a student
Class teacher has made jokes at her expense in class about her health? GDPR
has the audacity in the next breath to talk to the children about their behaviour as in, you think, double-standards as she is being unkind?
Class teacher goes off and cries often why?
her long standing partner has left her how do you know this?
She snaps at us Have you got a log?
and then messages other TA to apologise hopefully they have kept the texts

There is such a lot to unpack here
Essentially, you need to speak to the head professionally when raising the issue of your colleague being unprofessional.
You and the other TA need to back each with your shared concerns
These really ought to be around the safeguarding issue rather than personal cattiness about clothing or her relationships with other members of staff

This is good advice.