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AIBU?

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AIBU to expect my child's Year 1 teacher to spell correctly?

109 replies

PerkyShark · 11/03/2025 08:04

DD is 5 and currently in Year 1. Every Monday, we get a new spelling list for a test on Friday, which I think is a great idea in theory. However, nearly every week there seems to be a glaring spelling mistake on the list.

A couple of weeks ago, "tarpoon" appeared instead of "harpoon." Last week, we had "Artic" instead of "Arctic." I brushed these off initially, but this week, THREE words are incorrect: "micture" (mixture), "nuture" (nature), and "murcury" (mercury).

I approached DD's class teacher politely to point this out, assuming she'd be mortified and promise to ensure it wouldn't happen again, but instead she shrugged it off, saying "human error is to be expected."

I'm also starting to worry, as these spelling lists are the only written examples I see regularly. It makes me question whether the teacher is consistently spelling things incorrectly during lessons or, even worse, not picking up on spelling mistakes my child might be making in her work.

AIBU to think that consistently misspelling words on weekly spelling lists undermines the purpose of the tests and possibly the children's learning? Or am I just being overly precious about something that doesn't really matter?

OP posts:
OliveHenry · 11/03/2025 08:55

I did a few weeks' voluntary work in a secondary school admin office a while ago.

I had to print off copies of a booklet for the English department. It contained a list of about 40 books, and on that list I found 19 errors (in author name, book title, general spelling errors). Appalling sloppiness :-(

morechocolateneededtoday · 11/03/2025 08:55

PerkyShark · 11/03/2025 08:50

This is a fair comment and an opinion I am starting to have. To compound the problem this teacher is actually the Head of the Pre-prep!

I would be raising this with the head and then governors if no action taken with the clear intention of withdrawing my child. Not a chance I’m paying for the privilege of my children being taught incorrect spellings!

Are other parents not fuming about this? Parents of others in my children’s class are generally laid back (thankfully!) but this is something they would not accept under any circumstances

PerkyShark · 11/03/2025 08:50

VickyEadieofThigh · 11/03/2025 08:45

Sounds like you're wasting your money, OP.

This is a fair comment and an opinion I am starting to have. To compound the problem this teacher is actually the Head of the Pre-prep!

OP posts:
Fifthtimelucky · 11/03/2025 08:49

This would be appalling in any circumstances but the fact that you are paying for it makes it even worse.

I would go to the head.

MoreDangerousThanAWomanScorned · 11/03/2025 08:48

PerkyShark · 11/03/2025 08:37

The list is handwritten in pre-cursive writing every week. It isn't typed so these are not typos or autocorrect errors. I think the fact some of you can't even believe this is true is telling me that I am not being unreasonable! Thank you.

Edited

Is the handwriting clear enough that it's definitely not that that's unclear rather than the intended spelling? I can see how a badly written 'mixture' could look like 'micture', for instance. Not that that's really any better!

BendingSpoons · 11/03/2025 08:47

She can't make multiple spelling errors on the spelling list! Potentially kids will actually know the correct spelling, relearn the wrong one and then get it marked correctly. It makes the whole thing worse than useless! I would be taking this further, given that the teacher isn't bothered.

marshmallowfinder · 11/03/2025 08:46

You are DEFINITELY NOT being unreasonable in the slightest. Spelling mistakes on a spelling list are an absolute disgrace.

Thatcannotberight · 11/03/2025 08:46

You are not being unreasonable, but this happens in so many schools. My son's TA in yr 4 wrote that she enjoyed " whatching" the sea. It was in her handwriting and printed out for the whole class. The teachers weren't much better. Newsletters often caused raised eyebrows. 😬🤣.

VickyEadieofThigh · 11/03/2025 08:45

PerkyShark · 11/03/2025 08:29

Yes, it is a pre-prep. The teacher did say that they stretch the class and some spellings are not in the year 1 list, but surely even then if she is setting them she should ensure they are spelt correctly.

Sounds like you're wasting your money, OP.

Seeline · 11/03/2025 08:43

I pointed out spelling mistakes on the sheets sent home to learn from. They were also hand written.
I was horrified when DC2 started getting spellings that they were given exactly the same sheets with the errors still there!
Some of my DCs primary school teachers didn't use correct grammar and frequently made spelling mistakes when writing in front of the class.

Thoughtsonstuff · 11/03/2025 08:43

I think teachers should be able to spell.

I think the most important thing in a list for a spelling test is that it should have words with the correct letters and in the correct order. On the basis it is a spelling test.

I think a teacher should check what they are giving to their class to learn. Particularly the spelling of words in a spelling test.

Seems a pretty basic requirement to me.

Londonrach1 · 11/03/2025 08:41

That's not normal spellings for a year 1 child. Spellings are normally typed out.

2dogsandabudgie · 11/03/2025 08:40

This would really annoy me. I expect teachers to know how to spell and to make sure the list is checked beforehand. I would go and see the headteacher.

SkankingWombat · 11/03/2025 08:38

APATEKPHILLIPEWATCH · 11/03/2025 08:13

YANBU - we don’t get incorrect spellings but the shocking SPAG in the weekly newsletter make me seeth. They also say “We be doing”. “we be doing Maths this week.” WTF

Yes, we have a similar problem. DD's Yr4 teacher isn't a qualified teacher or TA, and they don't have a degree in an unrelated subject. From what they've said, it wouldn't surprise me if they hadn't done A-levels either. The stuff they post on the class App demonstrates a very poor grasp of SPAG. 'we was learning about...', 'Can you the list their names in French using the correct version of 'my' in French.' - typos galore, poor structure, regularly using a full stop at the end of a question, forgetting to capitalise the start of a sentence, crap grammar... English Language wasn't my strongest subject at school, so I can't help thinking if I'm noticing glaring problems and finding them jarring, it must be pretty bad. Goodness knows how the DCs are supposed to learn and improve when their teacher isn't competent.

APATEKPHILLIPEWATCH · 11/03/2025 08:38

Soontobe60 · 11/03/2025 08:15

Spellcheckers don’t speak or claim to be any nationality 😂😂

That posters clearly meant the spell checkers, as well you know

PerkyShark · 11/03/2025 08:37

The list is handwritten in pre-cursive writing every week. It isn't typed so these are not typos or autocorrect errors. I think the fact some of you can't even believe this is true is telling me that I am not being unreasonable! Thank you.

OP posts:
PerkyShark · 11/03/2025 08:29

ilovesooty · 11/03/2025 08:27

Is this a private school OP?

Yes, it is a pre-prep. The teacher did say that they stretch the class and some spellings are not in the year 1 list, but surely even then if she is setting them she should ensure they are spelt correctly.

OP posts:
PerkyShark · 11/03/2025 08:28

I assure you it is true! I am happy for MNHQ to contact me and I can share the spelling book and email from the school saying "human error is to be expected". Would be a very odd thing to lie about!

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 11/03/2025 08:27

Is this a private school OP?

TheShed7 · 11/03/2025 08:26

Of course MN can turn a simple thread about spelling into a pronoun debate (about an inanimate object).

JoyousEagle · 11/03/2025 08:17

@Soontobe60 I assume she means that you can set the language to be British English or American English. That poster is saying that even if set to British English, words are corrected to American spellings.

Littlemisscapable · 11/03/2025 08:17

Soontobe60 · 11/03/2025 08:11

These are not words that a child in Year 1 would be given as spellings, and I cannot believe that a list with such spelling errors would be sent home. This link shows the words that children would be expected to know in each year.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7ccc06ed915d63cc65ce61/English_Appendix_1_-_Spelling.pdf
If the list had been printed, then the errors would have been underlined.

This. These aren't suitable words and not words that year 1 would be learning..so obviously the teacher should be able to spell but what is with this list?

Soontobe60 · 11/03/2025 08:15

APATEKPHILLIPEWATCH · 11/03/2025 08:13

The spell checker obvs

Spellcheckers don’t speak or claim to be any nationality 😂😂

backintothemeadow · 11/03/2025 08:14

BallerinaRadio · 11/03/2025 08:10

Surely this can't be true I refuse to believe that are giving children incorrect words to spell and not being bothered about it

Some of the SPAG errors on letters and newsletters from primary school do make me wince a bit, although honestly I’ve never dared point it out. We are where / were last week.

APATEKPHILLIPEWATCH · 11/03/2025 08:13

Soontobe60 · 11/03/2025 08:12

Who are the ‘they’ you’re referring to?

The spell checker obvs