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Original poster

New recruit teacher is inadequate

459 replies

BoboChic · 15/09/2015 06:41

This, basically. DD in Y7 started secondary school 2 weeks ago. One - and only one - of her teachers is totally inadequate. He is a new recruit. Parents and pupils have noticed pretty quickly that he doesn't have the first inkling of the subject he is supposed to be teaching. One approach has already been made to the school to alert them. What are the best words to use to describe this situation? Inadequate? Lacking subject knowledge?

OP posts:
SheGotAllDaMoves · 15/09/2015 21:00

Who made the decision to adopt a different curriculum? And will it cost anything to switch?

TheFallenMadonna · 15/09/2015 21:00

And what is happening with the teacher?

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 20:57

The curriculum that we want exists and is an "official" French Education Nationale Curriculum. So not terrifically difficult to implement. It's the mindset that is hard to change (major issue).

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 15/09/2015 20:57

But the MD will be discussing strategy with you, a parent, and not the Head of the school which it affects. Who agrees with you re strategy, but thinks that you will get further with it with the MD than them. If that is the case, then of course you are right to adress the issue yourself, but the ineffectual Head would bother me very much, whatever the reason for it.

BoneyBackJefferson · 15/09/2015 20:54

BoboChic
"The teacher can't solve the problem"

But they can aid in smoothing the way to change, especially if you can use them to go with you to approach the Head.

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 20:54

The meeting with the MD will take place on Monday at the latest. We're moving fast.

OP posts:
JeanneDeMontbaston · 15/09/2015 20:54

Well, thank goodness this school has you.

Indeed, thank goodness for France that you're there. I do hope they understand how lucky they are, given your modest and practical attitude to solving crucial problems.

BitOutOfPractice · 15/09/2015 20:53

I bet the HT has had a bloody big glass of wine tonight

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 20:52

TheFallenMadonna - where budgets/strategy decisions are made is always the right place to go when you want changes made. Roles and responsibilities are very different across organisations, of which there are very many types, in education as elsewhere.

OP posts:
Bubblesinthesummer · 15/09/2015 20:52

The teacher can't solve the problem - he shouldn't have been recruited

You seriously sound as if you are on a witch hunt Hmm

What qualifies you to make that decision.

SheGotAllDaMoves · 15/09/2015 20:51

So basically you're stuck with this teacher until you can a. Get the MD to change their curriculum and b. Start a recruitment process with that new curriculum in place ?

TheFallenMadonna · 15/09/2015 20:51

Oh, I got distracted and that was a x post.

Shutthatdoor · 15/09/2015 20:50

I'm sure you understand the need to take issues to the lowest possible level person who might be able to deal with them

Agree.

You sidestepped the actual teacher for starters.

Not known a situation where you have to 'seek approval' to esculate a complaint Hmm

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 20:50

The teacher can't solve the problem - he shouldn't have been recruited. The lowest level that that can be dealt with is his manager (in this case the deputy head, the first person I went to).

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 15/09/2015 20:50

OK, so the French system you are in is different to that described by another poster, hence my confusion.

Sounds like your set up is similar to a Multi academy trust, where strategy and recruitment can be taken out of the hands of existing heads and controlled by the lead school or trust Head. I'm not sure about the suggestion by the Head that the big boss is more likely to listen to a parent than them. I struggle to see that as a good thing. For the school.

pickledsiblings · 15/09/2015 20:49

Are you able to say what the fundamental flaw is in the vision of the curriculum and could it help teacher recruitment in the UK Bobo?

SheGotAllDaMoves · 15/09/2015 20:47

I dunno bobo.

Would a flaw in the curriculum really prevent any recruitment to an otherwise decent school with a decent SLT?

Did the HOD leave over this flaw?

BoneyBackJefferson · 15/09/2015 20:47

"I'm sure you understand the need to take issues to the lowest possible level person who might be able to deal with them"

You jumped the teacher completely.

BoneyBackJefferson · 15/09/2015 20:46

Well managed that headteacher, we have gone from an "inadequate teacher" to "a fundamental flaw in the vision of the curriculum that is preventing the school being attractive to teachers for one subject"

Deflection at its best and he has found an external champion for the cause.

Funinthesun15 · 15/09/2015 20:46

What about, Jeanne. Like I said, I have no difficulty analysing the issue.

So why then come on here to ask for help about wording, for a situation in a different country and then come accross as a little rude when you don't agree with all the responses.

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 20:45

TheFallenMadonna - the Head very much listened to me. What would have been very wrong would for me to have gone straight to the MD (which I could have) without the Head's blessing. I'm sure you understand the need to take issues to the lowest possible level person who might be able to deal with them and get their approval to take them to their boss when they cannot resolve them?

OP posts:
Shutthatdoor · 15/09/2015 20:43

Now the MD needs to understand the fundamental flaw and take a new strategic direction.

If they want to. It surely isn't your decision.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 15/09/2015 20:42

Well, clearly you do, or you'd not have been unable to express the problem, and you'd probably have been able to explain it in a way that didn't have most of us wondering what the heck you were on about.

But, my reply was to yours at 20.24. You sound daft - as if you're the only poster on MN who might be living in France. This is a big site!

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 20:42

TheFallenMadonna - of course the head is responsible for teacher performance matters. But those matters are not independent of curriculum or recruitment, which are the underlying issues (and need to be referred up a level as they are subsidiary to strategy).

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 15/09/2015 20:41

What is the job of the Head? Is the MD more likely to listen to you than the Head? And what is happening to the teacher?

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