to want to weep at ds2's school?

[RantyMcRantyOfRantyStreet]

Name changer- usual caveats apply, lavendurr, rhubarb and custy, moldies etc.

DS2 is in year six of a previously well thought of school (faith but not accessed that way- only school in village set up). It has dropped in popularity enormously and as such has massive financial problems due to the falling roll (is it roll or role?). Shortage of £109 thousand apparently.

Last year we were called into a meeting and told that the school were apologising as the class had been through 9 changes of teacher, 5 different ones swapped about due to sickness, maternity leave etc. Head acknowledged that the children had not made progress, and promised con sistency in year six.

Just had a letter home: 50% of year six to be taught by final year BA undergrad student teahcers.

I am not anti student teacher- MA student myself- but am aghast. Based on ds2 the chidlren are way behind (I did read with them, they all seemed to be) and will be entering a demanding comprehensive in September with an academic reputation. Surely, after year 5, this is not the year group to do this with?

I can understand your concerns - is it possible for them to arrange a qualified teacher for year 6, or is that out of the question?

Although, you may be pleasantly surprised - I know of a few newly qualified teachers, and also teachers in training, and they are all incredibly enthusiastic with great ideas and a real drive to help their pupils. I hope this will be the case for your DS!

I guess it could go either way tbh. I know many student teachers, and usually by this point they can teach but are practicing iyswim?, who are very enthusiastic and have great ideas.

I would think if the school are putting faith in these teachers to get the children through their SATS then they probably have great proven track record. (schools won't risk their printed results).

Could you ask the HT for garuntee that if the pupils don't make significant progress/ average progress that they will re think - may be at christmas so there's still time for them to catch up?

it's not a new qualified teacher though, it's several unqualified ones on a rota- provided by the univeristy who I know for a fact are short on palcements (back to my MA for how I know). So dear ds2, who is not the brightest spark at the best of times, will have a random range again

That sounds appalling tbh. How can they even do that? Isn't it taking a job away from an qualified teacher? I don't really know much about faith schools' set up, but surely they're under local authority control?

Is this legal? None of them will be qualified. I know they will be mentored but I wouldn't be happy. Can't the HT teach seeing as it's a desperate situation?

If it was one student then I could see the advantages of it, as students are often really motivated, do lots of exciting activities, and also have to write detailed lesson plans and evaluations, which most class teachers don't do. But, a rota of loads of different teachers sounds awful and I would definitely complain.

I would talk to the other parents, there are sure to be others that are concerned, and then go in to the school and complain.

If they don't move to a single qualified teacher, I would be looking to move him after Christmas.

I didn't think that was legal? I could have my own class etc while training because of the programme I was on, but I didn't think PGCE/BA students could?

Ahh I saw this on the news today

I don't know if it's the same thing (it sounds like it) but failing schools are being advised to bring in 'specialist' teachers who are actually under grads that specialise in certain subject like Science, Maths, Literacy etc.

They are there to help the teacher to teach the subject and improve results.

Are you sure that's not the case here?

The news said they're being offered bursaries of £20,000 to do this.

Oh sod the namechange

No, note says to teach 50% of curriculum

Here's a link...

www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8600063/Bright-students-to-get-20000-to-train-as-teachers.html

School has endowed status, Governors hire and fire

And we already had the redundancies last year

is it a scheme designed to save money or are you quite rural so difficult to recruit suitable staff??

I am sorry I have nothing to say on your current primary situation but am that it is already a given that your child will go in to a demanding secondary with an academic reputation!

My dd (for eg.) is doing well in an Ofsted "satisfactory" school and has had a mixed bag of teachers. We have no idea what secondary she will get in to except to know that it will not be one of the two "outstanding" ones nearby.

I think the dc secondary education is very important, of course, but your ds will surely do well so long as he can read properly? If its not a private school and he doesn't misbehave, then he won't be rejected from the secondary will he?

50% of curriculum time is normal for a final year teaching placement, they will be supervised by the class teacher, but yes they are often on their own with the teacher nearby (e.g. outside the room doing 1 to 1 work). How beneficial/disasterous will depend on the quality of the student, and how the class teacher uses the time to support individuals. If you have one who is good, and the class teacher is able to give more individual support then it could be a positive change. However you won't know how good they are until they actually start!

The school is taking a risk by accepting a student when they have a class that has been very disrupted, not sure we as a school would do it. However you don't know what discussions the school has had with the university about only taking somebody who is of a very high standard.

I would wait and see how it pans out (give it a couple of weeks) - you might be pleasantly surprised.

lol @ stranded's "a new teacher who has just learnt everything". You don't know nuffin, do ya

Talk to the school, ranty. Explain your concerns.

But if the supervising teacher is on 'standby' for the students she could just as easily be teaching! The situation sou

oops!

...The situation sounds as if there is no money for a qualified teacher, so the teacher who should be supervising will be teaching another class.

I wouldn't like it but the best teachers out DC have ever had have been on placements, newly qualified and look about 18. The worst have been in their 50's, tired out of date and sick of teaching.

Bibbity- catchment, I actually chose to send DS1 elsewhere for his Sn so it all balances out ion the end I promise, ds3 won't cope with it so fighting for a specialist place- all swings n roundabouts innit? Although if you are struggling for schools . I know that is ahrd with the boy's very different fights.

We're a small town but you can get to any of 3 cities within 40 minutes (Cardiff and Bristol being two of them) and have the teaching dept of a university within about 20 minute's walk- it's cash pure and simple. I get that, even if not happy with it, but the Head actively promised us that this class would be the ones not affected by any future changes as it as the only one affected last year. Some parents moved their children to private after that but not an option for us and only other accessible school full. Not wanting to move solely for this- plenty of other issues I assure you and whilst ds2 is out soon, ds4 is in nursery year.

Best teahcer ds1 ever had was a final year student, we wrote a letter to the Head about how great she was (former Head) and she got a job there so not anti student at all- but most of the time ds2 can't even tell me which teacher he has had that day, has given up noticing. Has certainly given up on everything else too with school- clubs, most friendships, bothering about homework...