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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to speak to the Head re this or not? Very cross..

21 replies

anklebitersmum · 02/05/2013 11:06

Canvassing opinion.

DC walked into a Y8 class yesterday, put bags at seat and prepared for lesson.
Teacher called DC up to front and told DC that they were moving down a set with immediate effect. Do not pass go, do not collect £200

Told to get bags and go to the classroom for the lower set as of now. DC complied but was unsuprisingly upset and confused, not least as at very recent Parents evening the same teacher was singing DC's praises.

I understand that students move up and down set but I am very cross at how this has been handled-ie in front of class and no parental notice

So. WIBU to ring and complain or not?

OP posts:

SuffolkNWhat · 02/05/2013 11:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DribbleWiper · 02/05/2013 11:09

Firstly, not appropriate to contact the head. Your first port of call should be the relevant head of faculty.

Poor handling, certainly. DC could have been told prior to the lesson. Had they had some sort of setting test?

MikeOxard · 02/05/2013 11:09

ywnbu, that seems very unnecessary and insensitive. Also, was she talking bollocks in the parents evening, or has your dc massively gone downhill since then - you need to discuss that imo.

SuffolkNWhat · 02/05/2013 11:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Caitycat · 02/05/2013 11:11

Yes definitely but I would ask to speak to the Head of Department first and go to the head if you're not happy with the response. I would be clear about what I want to happen, perhaps clear explanation of why the set movement is deemed necessary and why it is in such contrast with the parents' eve feedback and an apology for the way it was handled to both you and your dc.

Original poster

anklebitersmum · 02/05/2013 11:11

Sorry, didn't mean to drip

Spoke to teacher, resolved set issue. He's going back to old class and has to catch up the lesson he's now 'missed'. They admitted that it had happened as DC said.

Hence I'm so cross and tempted to ring.

OP posts:

lottieandmia · 02/05/2013 11:12

I think you should speak to the head - I would. Surely anyone more sensitive than a housebrick ought to have been able to see that your dc would feel humiliated by this??

Acandlelitshadow · 02/05/2013 11:15

Does that mean it's now resolved and he's staying where he was?

V. insensitive handling though. I would speak to the head of year in the first instance definitely not the HT.

Caitycat · 02/05/2013 11:15

Really? Why have they moved him back? Did they get the wrong child or do they just feel so embarrassed they've decided to keep him in the "wrong" set? I would still speak to the HoD rather than the head in the first instance, get an explanation, an apology and assurance they have changed their systems to prevent this happening again.

Flobbadobs · 02/05/2013 11:16

Sounds like a cock up badly handled, at least the teacher has admitted to being at fault.
I would speak to the HOY or similar and k for reassurance that it won't happen again.

DribbleWiper · 02/05/2013 11:17

It's an academic matter, Acandle, not pastoral - should be head of dept or head of faculty.

Original poster

anklebitersmum · 02/05/2013 11:21

Moved him back as I asked for proof that he was 'at the bottom of the class' as DC put it. That and we're gone soon anyway. P.Eve was less than 7 days ago

Not a 'must be top set Mum' just beyond cross at the in front of class handling.

OP posts:

Acandlelitshadow · 02/05/2013 11:24

He's upset, Dribble.

Just as appropriate to see HOY.

NeedsTherapy · 02/05/2013 11:24

That's how they used to do it a my school :( it was horrible a real confidence knock. I never told my parents tho as I was embarrassed at moving down and didn't have a relationship with them that meant I felt I could.

I would say phone and talk to the school. It's not nice and I can't believe they still do it.

NeedsTherapy · 02/05/2013 11:26

Oh sorry just saw the 2nd post

fubbsy · 02/05/2013 11:27

YANBU I would still have a conversation with the head of department about it.

Groovee · 02/05/2013 12:13

It's an academic matter, Acandle, not pastoral - should be head of dept or head of faculty

At my daughter's school we're asked to contact the Head of House with any matter first and then they contact the relevant staff.

NotALondoner · 02/05/2013 12:20

Weird. So why was he moved down for one lesson only? Is he back because they made a mistake or because you complained?

Very Weird.

Original poster

anklebitersmum · 02/05/2013 12:29

Because I complained and asked for proof I think NotALondoner and because imho they moved him as they know we're off and thought I'd just go 'meh'.

It really isn't the moving so much as the way it was done. You couldn't treat an adult in employment that way so why a young teen in front of their peers (who all asked post lesson what he'd done)

OP posts:

LaGuardia · 02/05/2013 13:41

Very similar thing nearly happened to us. DS in Y7. We got an email to say he would now see the SN teacher during registration once a week for 'reading coaching'. I nearly fell off my chair. He was an 'early reader' and has never had issues in this area, and, like you, his English teacher was singing his praises on parents' eve. After I asked for absolute proof of his reading issues, it was finally admitted they had got the wrong boy and he wasn't SN after all. So that's OK then

IloveJudgeJudy · 02/05/2013 13:46

Exactly the same thing happened to my DD. It was a really bad thing to happen to her due to various friendship issues, bullying etc that I have written about before.

Anyway, it was done by a teacher who had previously been teaching a lot of all boy classes (mixed secondary school, but single sex classes for some subjects was what they had been trying) and he didn't really see the problem. I did write in and got a written apology.

As it turned out, it was much better for DD in the long run and funnily enough, she will probably get a higher mark than many who are still in the higher set as the new teacher has given her so much confidence, but she had a few weeks of name-calling as she had gone down a set in such a public way.

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