New recruit teacher is inadequate

Too true, it is usually the government that enforce these rules. Most teachers would say that as long as work is caught up on, and parents don't do daft things like take kids out with weeks to go before external exams it can be fine.

Most parents can be trusted, but there are also a fairly large minority that can't, I lost an AS student just after Easter for two weeks, he got a U, and his father wanted to know why.

It's interesting that when the topic at hand is holidays in term-time, every week matters and children should focus on high attendance, but when the topic at hand is the competence of teachers, writing off half a term in a particular subject is fine

Is it really teachers who say those things about holidays in term time?

Its interesting that, two weeks into term and no more than 6 lessons in an iu qualified parent can come on here lambasting a new member of staff calling them a moron, questioning their professional capability. Based, mostly, on the hearsay of a year 7 child.

Leaving it till half term gives you time to judge more accurately, if its way off the scale then the complaints can come.

Lets teacher bash some more, come on its fun.

I'd leave it until October half term

It's interesting that when the topic at hand is holidays in term-time, every week matters and children should focus on high attendance, but when the topic at hand is the competence of teachers, writing off half a term in a particular subject is fine.

Are you actually in France -real- ?

Parents are given the schemes of work? Really?

Schemes of work?I'd be very suprsied if parents had the scheme of work which includes resources, learning aims, test points and what will be on the test. Depending on the school it is often a good overview of each lesson, objectives, activities, outcomes. I'm suprised if you have one of these.

You may have the time line of what you learn when, but not the SOW, as its a professionally produced document for teachers, usually for themselves and the school. I certainly do not give parents access to min

You have schemes of work? That is fairly rare, I'm surprised you don't decide to teach it yourself.

No she has last year's scheme of work, it should change each year.

It sounds like the old teacher was one who taught exactly the same thing in each and every lesson for a number of years, which is actually not a good teacher but is what these parents were expecting.

OP can you just give us an example of the work and why you think it is so wrong?

And is it actually wrong? I have been teaching physiology for a while and I used to teach that the appendix has no use and is a remnant from evolution. But then someone has come along and now I teach it does have a role in digestion.

I'm not teaching the wrong thing, I'm teaching science's most up to date knowledge.

This doesn't sound like you bobo. Has your account been hacked?
You should know that you have to follow procedure - ask what the procedure is.

Please answer one question - are you in France?

Is this teacher trying to teach a foreign language (to him)?? If they have no HoD and can't recruit a specialist in the subject, then you're on to a loser in that subject already! What is this teacher's specialist subject? Does he actually get to teach that, too? It seems a bit harsh to be so critical of the teacher when he doesn't claim to be a specialist in that subject, rather than the school which asked him to teach it.

Statements such as 'he doesn't have the first inkling of the subject he's supposed to be teaching' really won't go down well. You couldn't possibly make that judgement on the strength of pupil hearsay and one homework. Exaggeration won't help your case.

Even if you've got some Norman Wisdom-style character teaching your Y7 dc, the strongest language I would use would be that you 'have concerns' about the teacher in question. List the facts, not impressions/gut feelings and give it a month or so. If the teacher doesn't improve, try another email/letter ramping that up to 'strong concerns'.

Personally, unless my child's safety was in question or it was a GCSE/A level year, I wouldn't even consider making any kind of complaint until at least half-term.

OK, you've got evidence that things aren't right and you know that this teacher, whilst experienced, is not used to teaching this particular subject, so how about coming at it from that perspective?

"We are aware that Mr X is new to the subject and have been very concerned about examples x,y,z of homework and it's marking. Can you tell us what measures are being put in place to support Mr X given that there is also no head of department at the moment, as we are worried about the impact on our children's learning."

At least initially, you will probably get a better response by trying to be positive and non-confrontational rather than going in all guns blazing spouting wanky 'jargon'.

Having had to complain about a teacher, my experience was:

• keep it calm
• keep it factual
• keep it relevant only to your own child

Dont make disparaging remarks about overall effectiveness. Dont criticise the teacher's competence. Just be specific to the concerns you have relating to your child.

You have schemes of work? That is fairly rare, I'm surprised you don't decide to teach it yourself.

I think you need to calm down a bit and just ask for a meeting to discuss your concerns.

You are coming across as quite aggressive tbh.

I can't give you the "jargon" for France, nor can I tell you how best to approach the school. In the UK, I would email the person responsible for Teaching and Learning (usually a senior leader) in the absence of a HOD, and ask them to investigate your concerns re subject knowledge.

You can demonstrate calmness, respect and kindness.

Or you can demonstrate name-calling, disrespect and bullying.

BoboChic French employment law

Can I just ask, where does the French employment law come into it? This might be crucial for people offering advice and assistance. It will be particularly pertinent in the context of employment law.

I would imagine, as with any employment dismissal case, a solid case of incompetence, over a sustained period of time will be required to demonstrate the individual is not suitable for the job. The only exception to this will be gross misconduct.

BoboChic Blow no. We have the schemes of work from previous years (lots of parents with older DC).

Bit confused by this point as I thought he was new to the school. Could you just clarify approx. how long he has been at the school please as this statement suggests a number of years?

I do need jargon because want I feel like asking is why this moron got the job!

I can't believe you wrote that. Nice.

OP says the subject is not this teacher's specialism. Which, together with no HOD, points to problems in recruitment.

If the recruitment problems stem not from a national ( or regional) shortage but a school issue, then though that sounds more fa mining, it's actually easier to fix.

I hope that this teacher can earn a living by the time you are done with him.

I don't think the behaviour of the parents sets a good example to your children to be honest.