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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

PE teacher at dds school.

88 replies

Chickencuddle · 24/02/2025 18:09

DD is in first year of high school. Last winter she had pneumonia quite badly and is still recovering. We are still having doctors visits and she's still on an inhaler (no previous asthma) She gets out of breath quicker than she used to and hasn't been able to do much in the way of physical exercise other than walking so has lost some of her fitness.
I wrote about it on her medical form and at start of year sent a note in explaining to PE staff.
Since then she has had a throat infection and chest infection and each time she has these they tend to hit her hard. So she had a few weeks with notes for PE
The PE teacher has been really unsupportive over it and a bit mean imo. She rolled her eyes first time it happened.second time she made her walk outside while others who were off PE that day got to stay inside. She also wouldn't allow her to go to the toilet during the hour and a half class and dd came home in tears saying teacher had been mean and she'd been bursting for the toilet and not allowed to go.
I phoned in and spoke to head of year who spoke to dd and said if any teacher says she can't go to tell them she has authority from head of year. That was OK.
Since then she has been off PE once with same thing just recovering from chest thing and PE teacher shouted at her and said if she's off one more time she will get a behaviour point.
Today I sent her in with a note saying that dd was going to try her best in PE but still struggling with her chest and could they allow her breaks when needed.
She said teacher rolled her eyes and muttered "same old." Then was nudging other teachers and she felt like they were talking about her.

I'm annoyed tbh. This is a child of 11 who had a terrible time last year with this. It took months to be even well enough to go for a walk and she's still struggling. She doesn't enjoy this. She hates it. And they are just making her feel worse. She has been off PE this year probably 4 times in total. But was off school once sick too. So missed 5 lessons.
Aibu?

OP posts:
DemelzaandRoss · 24/02/2025 18:36

Please arrange a meeting between the PE teacher & Year Head. The treatment of your DC is totally unacceptable.
I don’t know why PE teachers have the capacity to be bullies. I used to work in a school & there was always at least one.
In the meantime inform the Year Head your DC won’t be doing PE until the meeting.
If you are able to provide a Dr’s letter too, it would be helpful.
Good luck.

mindutopia · 24/02/2025 18:32

I would be right in there like a shot demanding a face to face meeting.

Spondoolie · 24/02/2025 18:31

Why have you let this go on this long? It’s outrageous. Get a meeting with head of year and PE teacher

amylou8 · 24/02/2025 18:29

I'd definitely be taking this further. Your poor DD.
I was never a sporty kid and was bullied by a PE teacher. Fortunately my mum didn't take any nonsense and it was put to a stop pretty quickly.

CharityShopMensGlasses · 24/02/2025 18:25

Yep request a meeting with HOY and for PE teacher to join the end of the meeting. This is an 11 year old child. Completely unacceptable

Gettoachiro · 24/02/2025 18:21

I'd be going absolutely nuclear with the PE teacher.

allmycats · 24/02/2025 18:18

As above, meeting with head of year and or school head and pe teacher. I am a fully qualified athletics coach and would never let anyone with a chest infection train. It would appear that the pe teacher needs some further training related to how respiratory illnesses are managed within an exercise situation.

MissUltraViolet · 24/02/2025 18:16

No this isn’t ok.

I’d be calling the school and asking for a meeting with her head of year/tutor and the PE teacher.

I had a PE teacher like this, she assumed if you had a note for either an injury or being on your period so couldn’t shower, you were lying/lazy and she’d go out of her way to ‘get you back’ next lesson. She made me hate PE with a passion.

WearyAuldWumman · 24/02/2025 18:14

Would you be able to get a doctor's letter? I know that it's a hassle, but it might put the mean teacher in her place...For HoY, not the PE teacher. You need to deal with the organ grinder, not the monkey.

(I'm a retired secondary HoD...and I've had dealings with PE teachers, both as a teacher and as a pupil...I'm nearly 65 and still haven't forgiven one particular bully from my schooldays.)

Squeakpopcorn · 24/02/2025 18:14

Look on the school website for the school’s complaint procedure and follow it.

Thirteenblackcat · 24/02/2025 18:14

You are not being unreasonable at all. I wonder if it’s the same school as my daughter, PE teacher is awful.

She is a bully.

littlemissprosseco · 24/02/2025 18:12

I would ask for a meeting with the head of year and the PE member involved

Zippidydoodah · 24/02/2025 18:11

No, you’re not being unreasonable. Your poor daughter. I would ask for a meeting with her tutor.