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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

do I complain about class teacher?

90 replies

Updownandaround1 · 11/12/2024 20:51

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.

OP posts:
MuddyPawsIndoors · 13/12/2024 12:19

User346897543 · 12/12/2024 15:02

A lot of this just sounds ridiculously bitchy

Yeah, the OP predictably posted and ran two days ago.

Yet people are still replying and taking it seriously.

pollymere · 13/12/2024 11:58

You do need to have a chat with the Head.

  1. Safeguarding issues regarding her relationship with a student.
  2. Inappropriate work attitude (Which is also part of the Teaching Standards which people often forget). Talking about a staff member inappropriately, inappropriate behaviour with the PE teacher and breaking school policy regarding appropriate dress are a starting point. This would mean she's not meeting Part B.

It could be that she's already on some form of probation or warnings for this. The Safeguarding thing is enough that serious concerns should be made about her passing ECT years and the Relevant Body needs to be brought in (I can't remember their proper title but it ends in Body!)

Littlemisssavvy · 13/12/2024 10:24

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

When you have genuine concerns around professional conduct and safeguarding, you should raise these stating facts and leave it to the Head Teacher to investigate and follow up.

Commenting on her clothes and personality style will come across as just bitching, understandably you may dislike her but that needs be separated from breaches of code of conduct and safeguarding concerns.

You should take time to prepare for your conversation with the HT so you are clear on your main concerns on her conduct and the supporting examples. Will make it easier to land the key points.

ACynicalDad · 12/12/2024 23:41

No point complaining about stuff head can see/knows e.g. clothes or kids leaving. There is a reasonable chance Ashton is already being taken.

cansu · 12/12/2024 23:37

Quite a bit of your post sounds like opinion and pure dislike. This makes any potential concern difficult to assess and seems less credible.

Yourcatisnotsorry · 12/12/2024 23:19

Yabu because you start with talking about irrelevant things like her wearing designer clothes. If you have actual concerns about her ability to do her job address that not what she wears, you just sound sour and jealous.

Viviennemary · 12/12/2024 23:17

She sounds totally unsuitable for the job. But some of what you have written sounds like sounds grapes. Eg she wears designer gear.

Meltdown247 · 12/12/2024 23:13

Updownandaround1 · 11/12/2024 20:51

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.

As a CoG I’d be shocked if the HT did not already know these issues and is working on them. Any NQT should be under supervision in terms of regular phase leader and DH /AH classroom visits and lesson reviews. If this is not happening then there are question marks over the SLT capabilities and the Govs should be informed.
it’s rare that things are that bad, so am therefore assuming the HT has a case to build and will welcome genuine evidence of your concerns.
as far as SG if you have concerns you know the drill. You need to ensure you are following protocols.

Owl55 · 12/12/2024 23:08

You sound extremely jealous of someone who was a TA like you but is now training to be a teacher, is this colouring your opinion . Why can’t she wear designer clothing?Just because the children presumably live in a deprived area why should that adversely affect them . Maybe you should speak to your head teacher in you are sure of your other accusations? It’s her first year of teaching and a massive learning curve for her, she must be being monitored by a senior teacher so speak to them if you are genuinely concerned .

Covidwoes · 12/12/2024 21:28

YABU about the clothes, unless it's hot pants and bikinis, but her behaviour with the vulnerable child doesn't sound good, nor does her relationship with the PE teacher. As an ECT, she should have a staff mentor. You need to approach this person first with your concerns and go from there.

echt · 12/12/2024 20:45

You work in the school, apparently in the classroom, yet don't know what to do about what seem to be some safeguarding issues. How does that work?
I could sort of get it had you posted in the Staffroom to get the views of those working in schools, but AIBU? Are you going to report the teacher depending on the voting?
Maybe it's the irrelevant stuff about her clothes that's messing with your head.Hmm

Ticktockk · 12/12/2024 20:44

Yep, you will have signed a whistleblowing policy as part of your safeguarding. I wouldn’t mention the designer clothes but certainly the unprofessional relationship with the boy, and the PE teacher.

Annony331 · 12/12/2024 20:33

I would be querying your safeguarding training and professionalism.

independentfriend · 12/12/2024 20:26

It's nearly the end of term. You're all tired.

Recognisably expensive clothes are obviously a problem in your context, as are clothes that are cheaper but reasonably accurate copies. On a teacher's salary she's unlikely to be able to replace much of her work clothing quickly, so this is something to watch over the rest of the year.

I am surprised at the comments saying flirting isn't a problem as from your description I was thinking she was doing it in front of the children when it would be a problem. Do take the point re it looking like a personal vendetta though, so worth raising other issues in preference. But keep an ear on the older children's gossip - have they noticed the flirting?

Trade union rep for advice on protecting your own position.

Being 1:1 with a child is nearly always a bad idea - can you do small group work in the same space as she's working 1:1 with that child?

CaptainMyCaptain · 12/12/2024 19:55

TheDowagerCountessofPembroke · 11/12/2024 20:58

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

Or that she is flirting with the PE teacher she's leading him on for her own self gratification which, unless she's doing it in front of the children sounds very judgemental.

There's a whole mixture of things in the OP some of which are relevant and some are not. Your school has a dress code forbidding designer clothes? It sounds like you don't like her much - maybe because she used to be a TA. What is your role in the school?

If you do think you have grounds to complain to the Head, and maybe you have, you need to sort out what's important here.

BlueSilverCats · 12/12/2024 19:55

ViaRia01 · 12/12/2024 19:54

What does PP mean?

Pupil premium

ViaRia01 · 12/12/2024 19:54

What does PP mean?

RainbowColouredRainbows · 12/12/2024 19:50

Imagine if the daily mail picks this up and someone from your school recognises it. I'd ask for this thread pulling because the only person who would lose their job over it would be you.

LittleBitAlexisLaLaLaLaLa · 12/12/2024 19:47

You appear to have concerns over safeguarding so assuming this is real, I am flummoxed as to why you need to ask on mumsnet if you should bother to report those to someone within the school. I truly hope all the staff at my child’s school know better than this.

BCBird · 12/12/2024 19:46

You must raise your concerns keep things factual. No idea why what she wears is determined by the fact their are PP kids.

Shinyandnew1 · 12/12/2024 19:46

Unfortunately a lot of heads have got absolutely zilch budget so will accept totally dreadful practice because they just cannot afford any alternative. Heads were devastated 5 years ago to be forced to replace all experience staff who leave with NQTs, now they are being replaced with TAs.

MaddestGranny · 12/12/2024 19:30

I trained to be a teacher in 1970s.
Teacher training, then, was v thorough (well, mine was).
Not to say that some v "green" or even "inappropriate" folks got through & needed to be weeded out later.

But we trained, in College, minimum 3years (I did a 4th B.Ed), with yearly sets of teaching practice, before we were allowed to be let loose.

That's not how it's done now.

"We're Sick of Experts!", and "Let People Train on The Job!" has led to numbers of unsuitable, unvetted people being allowed access to the classroom - and to your children - with little quality-barriers from experts in the field, aka teacher-educators who've been largely sidelined.

dearest Updownandaround,
from very personal experience, I would guess that your headteacher will be very glad indeed to hear from you.

The more that parents report their genuine experience and concerns to the headteacher, the more empowered will the school's Management Team, including the Governing body, be to take action to remove, as quickly as possible, people who should not be in front of a classroom.

Good luck with it.

MrsKeats · 12/12/2024 19:16

How can you possibly know all this?
What she wears is none of your business.

FrippEnos · 12/12/2024 19:13

This term 3 children have left, 2 huge parent complaints against said teacher

You shouldn't know any of this, it is a major data breach

and myself and other class TA want to move to another class because we can't stand her.
Link with
I want to raise it with headteacher of whom I have a brilliant relationship with

I wonder if you have had your own way to long and are miffed that someone isn't doing things your way.

However.
Safeguarding concerns should be reported.
As should professional misconduct.

YellowAsteroid · 12/12/2024 19:12

YABU for the designer clothes comment. Overall, you sound quite envious.

What are your qualifications for judging her in the way you do? Just because you don’t like a colleague doesn’t mean she’s a bad teacher.