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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?

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Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 20:39

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

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Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 20:38

There's a fundamental flaw in the vision of the curriculum that is preventing the school being attractive to teachers for one subject. I uncovered the fundamental flaw in the conversation. Now the MD needs to understand the fundamental flaw and take a new strategic direction.

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TheFallenMadonna · 15/09/2015 20:32

I'm just interested. I can't imagine a Head not being able to take responsibility for dealing with teacher performance. It's such a core function.

And I suppose I do wonder how much support teachers get in a system where their performance is evaluated by parents but not the senior management of the school.

moggiek · 15/09/2015 20:29

Oh, I'm loving this head teacher. A masterclass in how to manage a parent!

JeanneDeMontbaston · 15/09/2015 20:28

bobo, did it occur to you to ask the many posters who also live in this 'different country'?

I know France is very very far from the UK, but this is an internet site. Quite a lot of people manage to check in from The Foreign Parts.

BitOutOfPractice · 15/09/2015 20:24

Oh god. I might have to change "utter prig" to something stronger

Do you not have anything else to do with your time OP? Than meddle?

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 20:24

Of course the system is different - it's a different country. That's why it's pointless for posters to try to analyse the situation and why I asked for ideas to help with wording - not with analysing the issue.

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JeanneDeMontbaston · 15/09/2015 20:23

Grin I'm sure he does.

He sounds like a skilled manager of people.

TheFallenMadonna · 15/09/2015 20:21

But not in this case? There is some policy which made the Head recruit this non specialist?

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 20:19

Private schools recruit their own teachers in France!

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Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 20:18

It's not fobbing off. The head of school thinks I'll advocate for more resources/change of policy where he hasn't managed (I orchestrated a major curriculum change 5 years ago so have form).

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TheFallenMadonna · 15/09/2015 20:17

Does anyone try to make them better teachers?

BitOutOfPractice · 15/09/2015 20:16

I wouldn't be a teacher for a bloody gold clock with parents like this to contend with

OP you sound like what I think Enid Blyton would call an utter prig

TheFallenMadonna · 15/09/2015 20:16

Blimey. Does it work, as a system??

Booboostwo · 15/09/2015 20:11

French teachers are not recruited by the Head nor does he/she evaluate their performance. They are recruited by the regional inspector and if you have a dodgy teacher you need to complain as quickly as possible so that they can be moved to another school and become someone else's problem.

SilverBirchWithout · 15/09/2015 20:02

All very mysterious, sounds like no specific resolution.

longtimelurker101 · 15/09/2015 19:25

Come on OP! Give us some more info, did the head agree with you?

Kez100 · 15/09/2015 19:02

There was a post earlier today from someone about the French system and it did sound as if teachers are recruited independently from the head.

It sounds like our system is very different here. Thank goodness the people who recruit in the UK are also hands on with the leadership and support system of teachers.

Comingroundthemountain · 15/09/2015 18:47

Well I read the first ten!

TheFallenMadonna · 15/09/2015 18:37

Was the teacher appointed over the head of the Head by the MD or something? I'm sure things are different in different systems, but a Head sending a parent however articulate and influential (?) to the business side of the organisation, or the more distant uber Head (not sure of MD's role in this set up), to complain about poor teaching in her/his school would not seem very positive to me. But there you go. Another world!

JeanneDeMontbaston · 15/09/2015 18:07

Grin at 'we both learned a lot' and the fobbing off.

longtimelurker101 · 15/09/2015 18:04

Oh come on, you got to give us more details than that! What did he say? Make any suggestions?

IMO you've been fobbed off a little here, "speak to the M.D" who manages 5 schools and is probably extremely busy isn't a great response.

tiggytape · 15/09/2015 18:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tiggytape · 15/09/2015 18:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 17:57

Meeting went very - extremely - well Smile. I had asked for a short meeting with the deputy head but when I arrived I was told my meeting was to be with the head. So it was in French, not English. We talked for over an hour, we both learned a lot and the head asked me to take the matter up with the school's MD (this is a group of 5 schools). Which I shall.

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