To go over the teachers head?

[Bananaapplegrape]

Right bit of a backstory (sorry!) DD is 11, year 6 of primary school, never been in trouble, always had brilliant school report, in top sets blah blah.. She's targeted for a 5A in maths and a 5B for literacy in the sats...

Today she came out of school hysterical (to the point where she was brought out by a TA who had found her crying in the toilets), they had a 'long write' today.. It had been marked and DD got a 5c.. Her teacher ripped the work out of her book and she is to redo it tomorrow (during break!!!!)

I went to talk to the teacher, fully expecting her to explain that DD has completely misunderstood but no.. Teacher stated that DD has potential to do better, so she has too.. I asked had DD been messing around? Nope.. Chatting? Nope.. Behaviour was absolutley fine.. But she KNOWS she could have done it better.

I completely and utterly disagree with this and told teacher so DD loves school and always works hard.. She is not reacting well to the stupid amounts of pressure that these fucking sats are placing on her (despite me telling her repeatedly that it's the school being tested not her) and today has just completed fucked up her confidence...

I've tried talking to the teacher and she is Adament its a legitimate learning approach bollocks so would IBU to go to the head?

I should add - If DD was messing around them I would have absolutley no objection to the loss of break (though still wouldn't be overly impressed by the book ripping) but to do that to a child who is already achieving over average? It just feels really wrong that she's being punished for not over achieving...

Tinks... She's not. At all.

She was hysterical about her work being deemed not good enough and being ripped out of her book in front of the whole class (3 other children also top set had the same)

Right so things are different. Your child has mental health issues.

These threads seem to change so drastically.

WTF? I've never said my DD has mental health issues???!!! I said this is impacting on her mental health/emotional wellbeing!

Yep in front of the whole class

I'm not quite sure you're on the same page here Tinks.

I wouldn't be surprised it was the teacher that made her grades dropped. If you are nervous, you can't concentrate.

To be hysterical and have to be led out of the school by a TA does sound very drastic. The teacher is obviously in the wrong here. But your child seems to have a very bad reaction to things. Where does that come from?

"To be hysterical and have to be led out of the school by a TA does sound very drastic. The teacher is obviously in the wrong here. But your child seems to have a very bad reaction to things. Where does that come from?"

From tiredness, the build-up of stress, in the lead-up to the SATS, Tinks, and then having her teacher do something so drastic and unkind, I would imagine.

She was gutted! She's never once been in trouble at school, and she was humiliated by the page tearing and the missing a break time (which is usually reserved for the 'naughty kids') plus I imagine guessing she's bloody worried she won't be able to get the stupid grade expected...

DD has never got emotional in school, but she's 11.. Hormones are rife, she's working ridiculously hard.. And her teacher does that? I would have bloody cried too!!

I just dont understand why you would ask whether you should go and see the head? Of course any mother would if things happened the way you say. I still maintain that your childs reaction was a bit ott too though.

I would ensure dc was unwell during all the SATS tests and tell the teacher that in advance. The tests are for the school not individual pupils.

I'd definitely have a word to the Head, and if you get no joy then a formal complaint will be in order. In no-one's world is this acceptable practice - and FWIW if this had happened to either of my DDs in SATs year, they would also have been very, very upset. That kind of cruel public humiliation will have been a massive shock - especially as these will have been the hardworking, high achieving kids who aren't used to getting into trouble.

Maybe not go in all guns blazing, but bring a small one and some fuse in case you end up needing it.

Tinks you seem to be misunderstanding the Op. The child worked to the best of her ability. The child achieved a grade that she has been assessed as working at, but which is lower than her 'target' grade. The teacher ripped the child's work out of her book and told her she needs to work through break tomorrow to improve it. The child is (justifiably) distraught. The OP has spoken to the teacher who agreed that the child's version of events is correct, and stated that she felt her actions were justifiable.

OP, I think you should go and speak to the HT as soon as you can. I would have gone straight to the HT's office after speaking to the teacher, tbh. The teacher is not going to change unless someone speaks to her, and the way she has managed this is totally unacceptable. The HT needs to know, and to step in sharpish. It's only February, FFS...the SATs aren't till May- she'll be utterly crazy by then!

Janethegirl, that would be daft since the child would sit the tests on return to school instead.

In reply to 'Billa'. Unless you are your child's class teacher you have no idea of the amount of ' stress' they are under to achieve certain levels.I know of two teachers who have taken their own lives over supposedly 'poor grades' . It's fact not fiction that teachers are stressed. As I said, I see it every day.

Do you remember that nspcc ad where the dad ripped up sons homework? It was an example of abusive behaviour towards a child. I don't actually see the difference between ripping out and ripping up here and it's not a teaching approach I've heard of (having 19 years experience of primary school). Definitely go to the head, I would insist you are seen before dd is allowed back in class but I am a bit mother lion

Well I guess its because I probably cant get my head round why any teacher in any school would do that and a parent would ask what to do? of course you go and tell the head. I dont understand why it would be a question on here unless there was something else going on.

Wow. Ripping the pages out was seriously out of order and abusive. It is very aggressive. No matter how stressed the teacher is - and one who isn't coping shouldn't be in front of a class.
Staying in at break is also questionable.
There's a difference between 'I expect more from you' - I got told that more than once as a dc who was bright and occasionally coasted because I knew that. I was made to redo the work as homework. All that is standard. Ripping out the work is not.
You tried to talk to the teacher so no YANBU to take it further.

I disagree with Tinks.

I know of many a child - all without any form of MH issues - who would be absolutely gutted to have their work torn out of their book, especially in front of their peers, and told they had to do their whole piece of work again - and for NO GOOD REASON.

I was a teacher, now a HLTA and work in school. This is most definitely not good practise and would be seriously frowned upon and tbh our leadership would be speaking seriously to this teacher for behaving in such a manner. It would not be deemed acceptable in any way.Even if the child had been messing about and playing up it wouldn't have been deemed acceptable to tear the work out.

Why do you think the teacher has torn the work out? To hide the evidence of a lower piece of assessed work, to pretend it doesn't exist, that's why. They are thinking only of themselves and they are only ding it to make sure their own mark books look good and show high enough progress. It is NOT to help the child at all.

I would make a fuss.

Feenie, not true as one of my dc did not attend school for one of the SATS.