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Original poster

Clash of personalities with teacher

81 replies

circular · 26/05/2010 18:42

DD1 had an easy start in yr7, and was placed in top set for both English & Maths. In general, found everything too easy, and let her written work slip in English. Continually said that one of her two English teachers hated her, but took it with a pinch of salt - she can over exaggerate slightly.
But on meeting said teacher, I could see what DD meant. I was quite shocked that the teacher was consideriing moving DD down a set, even though she could see there was no lack of ability.
When I told DD, she said she would rather go down to set 2 than work with that teacher another year.
As it turned out, she stayed in set 1 for yr8, that teacher took set 2.
At the start of yr8, her new teacher questioned why she ended yr7 on a level 4, when she was clearly wayabove that. She was level 5 ks2, although resultant never sent through from prep school. Her target for eoy is 6c, which we think she would have reached or bettered.so it looks like at best there has been some personality issues that caused the yr7 problems, and at worst as DD says, the teacher simply hates her.

Now coming to the end of yr8, and their teacher has told them there will be about 4 or 5 of them movng down as there are too many brighter pupils in set 2.
Don't know yet if DD will be one of those moving down, but likely to question it if she is. Also don't yet know which set her last years teacher is taking. DD has said she will insist on moving down if said teacher is taking set 1

The worse case scenario would be foe her to moownsown to set 2 AND have that teacher. DD
is adamant that if this did happen, that teacher would do her best to spoil her GCSE chances by putting her down at the end of year 9.
There's also the issue that only the top sets get to do triple science, which she needs to do. And she would need at least a B in English to get into a decent uni. Which would not be possible if this teacher fixes it so she has to sit the lower paper.
All her other teachers say she is on track to get at
least A's.
Sorry this has been a bit of a rant, but we are genuinely worried of the damAge this one teacher could do.

OP posts:
Goblinchild · 26/05/2010 18:52

Personality clashes are never good, both my children had a few with teachers.
That said, your daughter has had a year with a teacher she gets on with to show what she is capable of and the levels she can achieve. If she hasn't done so, a large part of the responsibility is hers. Complaining will only get you so far, the school will have evidence in the form of homework and coursework, participation in lessons and the like. You will have a disgruntled child's word and data that is two years old.
So if you are going to argue, you need to consider how you will present your argument.

PixieOnaLeaf · 26/05/2010 18:51

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TheFallenMadonna · 26/05/2010 18:50

How is she doing this year, with a different teacher? Is she meeting her target now? It seems odd to just say that 4 or 5 are moving down, and then just leave them hanging.

janeite · 26/05/2010 18:48

Have you spoken to the Head of English?

I think you need to arrange a meeting, not to complain as such but to express your concern that your child's progress seems to have slowed and you're wondering what can be done to help etc.

BuzzingNoise · 26/05/2010 18:47

There will be a head of department who is responsible for double-checking reasons for pupils to move up and down. It won't all be down to one teacher to decide.

TheFallenMadonna · 26/05/2010 18:46

Why would she not do triple Science because her English results have slipped. Are they not set separately?