Any teachers here? Do teachers stop working when the kids do?

[33feethighandrising]

I made an informal complain with my DS's school a few weeks ago. I got an asnwer from the deputy head minimising my complaint, that made it clear she didn't really understand what I was saying.

It's a complex issue and I haven't had the time to formulate a response till now, but it's now the end of term.

I'd like to:

a. get a response from the deputy (in September would be fine)
b. make it a formal complaint (so, it'll go to the head)
c. give them and the governors some information from experts to help them undertand where I'm coming from

I don't expect a response from them at this time of year, but if I send something today, will the read it before the new term?

I was thinking of replying, saying I will expect my response in September but here's some info to help you understand where I'm coming from.

Is that fair enough? Or should I just wait till September?

I'd love to hear from any teachers or people who work in schools, I'm not sure wast to do.

@Iusedtobethin

I’d be that parent too over safeguarding. I hope we all would

The op has said it isn’t safeguarding.

@33feethighandrising schools should have a code of conduct and online media use policy, so I would have a look at that before you start posting anything about the school on Facebook

My guess is that this is a complaint regarding something like the SRE curriculum. Or boys self identifying as girls being allowed to use the girls toilets of changing rooms,
If it is, contact Safe Schools Alliance for advice.

@33feethighandrising

I've spent a lot of time considering it and I think children are at risk of harm due to the school's lack of knowledge. I'm definitely going to continue the complaint.

Sorry @PurpleDaisies I’m not trying to be argumentative with you but I do think where safety and balance of harm is concerned it is worth raising your head up a bit so to speak.

The op has said it isn’t safeguarding

No, I said it's not about a safeguarding incident (people were suggesting acting urgently if it was to do with inappropriate sexual behaviour for example, and I wanted to reassure people it's not about that).

But it is about risk to the kids.

NSPCC says "Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. Safeguarding means: protecting children from abuse and maltreatment. preventing harm to children's health or development. ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care."

And by that definition, yes, it is about safeguarding.

@Iusedtobethin

I’d be that parent too over safeguarding. I hope we all would

Thanks Iusedtobethin

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@33feethighandrising schools should have a code of conduct and online media use policy, so I would have a look at that before you start posting anything about the school on Facebook[/quote]
Good advice, I will, thanks.

@Helenluvsrob

You clearly wish to take this further and that is fine but teachers are absolutely on their knees right know.

Please send a “ holding email “ stating you want to discuss it further but then the full info a few days before they go back.

Having a complex complaint that the right people aren’t around at the right time to get in and investigate / resolve would really ruin someone summer.

Personally I think you're over thinking this a bit OP and if I wanted to complain I would just bloody do it, but this sounds like a good compromise between the two camps

Teacher here. We are still working and I’ll do a few days during the summer (unpaid) doing tours and working on results day. We also start on the 31st August and students don’t start until the 7th. Senior management tend to work ‘shifts’ over the holidays so there will be someone about to deal with it.

You keep saying the school don't understand the problem. I'm really struggling to think of something that could so serious as to be a risk to all kids and result in possible court cases, yet other parents aren't aware of it, the school aren't aware of it, the school doesn't understand the problem even when you complain and send links... Is it possible the school are fobbing you off because they don't agree with you about the issue?

@Soontobe60

My guess is that this is a complaint regarding something like the SRE curriculum. Or boys self identifying as girls being allowed to use the girls toilets of changing rooms, If it is, contact Safe Schools Alliance for advice.

Yeah I'd put money on that too. I'd probably delete an email I received on the first day of my unpaid holiday to be fair.

@HollyGoLoudly1

You keep saying the school don't understand the problem. I'm really struggling to think of something that could so serious as to be a risk to all kids and result in possible court cases, yet other parents aren't aware of it, the school aren't aware of it, the school doesn't understand the problem even when you complain and send links... Is it possible the school are fobbing you off because they don't agree with you about the issue?

I think we all know but finding a way of saying it diplomatically is difficult.

If I was to hedge my bets,
I’d say if was a very personal issue to the OP relating to her DS with high SEN and that the issue is irrelevant to the vast majority of other parents and to those with children with SEN - they haven’t raised before and quite possibly don’t regard it as an issue whatsoever .

I imagine a very long, highly emotional and convoluted email that the school received and just thought…. Oh, a new parent, I can’t make head nor tail of the email and so one to pick up when I have more time

If it’s safeguarding you were not being unreasonable to sent it now, anything else could’ve waited until just before the start of term. Please work with the school to resolve whatever issues you have if possible as that’s in your child’s best interests.

Teachers paid on the leadership scale have slightly different terms and conditions to your standard teacher. Often there is an expectation, especially in a large school, that they will be working in the holidays. I would send your email to the deputy as I would imagine that they will be in work at some stage this summer, but I wouldn't expect a response for a few weeks.

Reading between the lines, this is probably a complaint around something said re transgender students/transitioning or possibly sex/gender being used incorrectly.

On the one hand, an important educational point that may have been mishandled due to the ever changing scenario with stonewall. On the other hand, something that will be so far down SLT priority list considering the year schools have had.

I'd have left it until September. You've sent the email now but risk becoming "that parent" over an issue that isn't hugely time sensitive.

Don't send now or in September. Send about 2 weeks before the end of the summer.

Sending now will leave it hanging over the head all summer.

Sending an September - schools are so busy then.

Halfway through - they have 2 weeks to deal with it when there is less work to do, or they can leave until September if they choose.

It’s to do with transgender students isn’t it? School will already have a policy and have taken advice about their approach, whether you agree with it or not.

Most teachers I know do their planning and catching up the last couple of weeks of the holidays. I'd expect the deputy to be checking emails fairly regularly but only answering the urgent ones.

I too was thinking transgender students, but more along the line they may have decided to allow transboys to change for and do PE with girls and to use girls toilets.

If that were the case it would appear to go against normal safeguarding & dignity (single sex toilets mandated for schools and schools don't do much mixed sex PE for a reason).

The reason for raising it this side of the holidays would be clear. It would give the SLT more time to read up on non-Stonewall sources and to reconsider their decisions and the Equality Impact on Girls rather than potentially doing a U-turn part way through the school year.

Sorry transgirls, not transboys. Obviously there are no safeguarding concerns with transboys changing with girls.

The op has one son

@33feethighandrising

I don't expect to get a reply before September.

But I wondered if it was worth letting the head know the formal complaint is incoming and pointing her to some resources in case she wants to inform herself.

But I was just wondering if this was totally unreasonable!

If you’re writing a complaint, you do just this.

You sound as if you are attempting to take a superior line in things you say “pointing to resources in case she wants to inform herself”. This sounds rude and condescending, but might not be the intention. Or it may be you’re trying to be helpful, in which case, is it a complaint? Is it a phone call or a request for a meeting?

You have every right to make a complaint according to policy and it would be dealt with according to the policy.

And yes, she’ll likely be working to take your notice “incoming” (why- just send it now or send it later?) but policy would likely refer to actual school days to protect the holidays of staff. School staff need this holiday more than ever.

According to her history

Actually the op has started a thread about transgender in her DS school and ringing the school about it

So yes, probably that

If I had a complaint that I wanted someone to investigate thoroughly and read up on, I wouldn't email about it at a point where the person was absolutely knackered, would not have access to others that they would need to consult, and for whom it wouldn't be a priority because it wasn't an subject that has imminent consequences (because the kids aren't there) It's just going to drop off their radar.

The time to get someone's attention on an issue is when they're fresh, their colleagues and advisors are at hand (and also fresh) and they're fully tuned into work on a normal working day.

It's basic psychology.