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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No senior teachers at school?

61 replies

button10 · 19/10/2016 10:04

I've just been into school to report something important. The acting head has gone on a trip and so has the deputy head, AIBU to think this isn't right?

I wonder how ofstead would react?

OP posts:
Balletgirlmum · 19/10/2016 12:14

If the issue is serious then even if a senior teacher is teaching they should find a way to cover the class to speak to you.

If it's not that serious then you will be asked to wait until someone is free.

TheRedCarWon · 19/10/2016 12:52

What is wrong with your child's class being taught by a supply teacher for a few days, or even long term as in a post above?

I am a supply teacher. I am using italics to highlight the part of my job title that should tell you that I am as highly trained, qualified, competent and experienced as any permanent teacher at the school. The difference is that I chose to give up my full time post when I had my first child.

Balletgirlmum · 19/10/2016 12:57

The best, most productive two weeks my ds had in the whole of his primary school was when a supply teacher taught the class which for a child with asd says something!

MrsMook · 19/10/2016 13:08

The head teacher of one of the schools I've worked in often attended school trips. It's good to be involved in the life of the school. It came in handy on the fieldwork where one of the students rang their mum to complain that they were bored and she turned up to collect the child. The parent wasn't expecting to find the head teacher there, and child and parent quickly had the school's expectations spelled out to them. Grin

Schools really struggle to pay for the staffing on school trips, so taking a headteacher reduces the supply costs by keeping an extra teacher in the classroom.

Original poster
button10 · 19/10/2016 13:49

Got to laugh at some of these narrow minded responses.

OP posts:
TheRedCarWon · 19/10/2016 13:58

Got to laugh at these people who think they know how a school ought to be run
Hmm

honeysucklejasmine · 19/10/2016 14:02

Oh, bore off. There's always someone you can talk to, you might just need to wait for break time unless it's a v urgent matter.

Of course, your definition of "urgent" may not be the same as the schools.

SpeakNoWords · 19/10/2016 14:10

Primary or secondary? Was it a child protection issue? If so, there should be a sequence of people to contact even if senior people are not present.

OddBoots · 19/10/2016 14:15

Was the 'something important' a complaint about supply teachers or some kind of safeguarding/child protection important thing?

In the latter case there should be someone there you could talk to.

StillRabbit · 19/10/2016 14:19

The Head and Deputy Head are both out of my school today. They are at a meeting at the local authority which is also being attended by the Heads and Deputy Heads of other local schools. All those schools will all have other members of staff who will be "next in command" but in reality there are rarely situations that genuinely need IMMEDIATE attention. I had a parent call into the office yesterday... she was adamant that she needed to speak to the head teacher, there was absolutely no way I could help her, it was a highly confidential matter so she couldn't speak to me about it, she would wait until the head had finished the meeting she was in etc etc. After half an hour she was able to see the head. After two minutes the head brought her to me "Mrs Rabbit could you help child's mum as obviously I have no way of knowing how much she needs to pay to cover school meals until the end of term". Often it is NOT a senior leader you need to speak to!

Balletgirlmum · 19/10/2016 14:26

Wow still that's such a waste of the heads time!

My urgent reason to see a senior member of staff involved DS, another child, naked photos taken in a changing room & the internet. But of a difference!

DanyellasDonkey · 19/10/2016 16:49

We often get parents turning up unannounced demanding to see class teachers about supposedly urgent matters. They are quite appalled when told they need to make an appointment after school as the TEACHER is TEACHING.

Where I am, there are virtually no supply teachers available so classes are often taught by the HT, DHT or Learning Support teachers.

MrsJayy · 19/10/2016 16:53

Well the op contribution to this thread is enlightening Confused

teacher54321 · 19/10/2016 17:01

If it's a safeguarding issue there will be a member of staff to deal with that-we have 5 across the key stages and they're not all on SLT. What kind of emergency is it?

Supply teachers are often IME fab experienced teachers who have escaped the madness and nightmarish expectations of full time teaching (very sensibly) and are full of energy and good ideas.

BowieFan · 19/10/2016 17:24

This is pretty normal to be honest.

I'm 3rd in line (oooh, that sounds all Royal) and there are times when the head and deputy head are away and if I'm teaching, I'm not available to talk to parents. It's not like the school stops running, most of the staff are able to sort things themselves and we have an estates manager and a school nurse for anything that involves those things.

Honestly, you'd think the school stops running or something! Never mind that we're all adults, with several years of experience who are capable of independent thought...

BowieFan · 19/10/2016 17:29

Also, more often than not, parents don't even realise that most of the SLT do the day to day running of the school anyway. Our head has no clue how much per week is the maximum you can put on the biometric cards, but I do.

Parents just assume the head knows everything which is usually untrue. 90% of the things we do in school don't even filter through the head as it would just take too long to get things done. Case in point, some parent demanding to see the head about why her son had been given a detention by me.

Head's answer: "Have you tried asking Mrs. BowieFan?"
Parent: "No, I assumed the head would know!"
Head: "Why would I know? There's 1400 children at this school and I'm worried that you expect me to know why each and every child has been given a detention. I recommend you speak to one of the SLT members, the pastoral supervisor or Mrs. Bowiefan herself when she is free. I'd also recommend you check your e-mail or son's bag, as Mrs Bowiefan will have notified you in advance about the detention."

Honestly, this thread doesn't surprise me at all.

potentialqualms · 19/10/2016 17:31

IMO all the best heads go on trips and make the effort to visit the residential. It's the ones who are always in their office and avoid any contact with children you need to worry about.

Did you tell anyone why you needed to speak to a senior leader? All parents think their query is vital and urgent. Office staff can't be interrupting teaching for all of them but if it's really necessary they would.

cansu · 19/10/2016 17:45

Speak to Ofsted, ring police and your MP immediately. Maybe the newspaper can do a story Head and Deputy on school trip. Seriously??

StillRabbit · 20/10/2016 17:49

My urgent reason to see a senior member of staff involved DS, another child, naked photos taken in a changing room & the internet. But of a difference!

Well if you had told me or one of my colleagues that we would gave immediately arranged for the next in command OR other safeguarding lead to come out of class to speak to you. This may take a few minutes to shuffle the necessary cover but safeguarding issues are treated as a priority IF we are made aware of what the issue is.

Trifleorbust · 20/10/2016 17:59

As a teacher, I have had more than one parent demand to see me THAT DAY, and been confused when I have said that doesn't work for me. Like any meeting, an appointment needs to be made for a mutually agreeable time. They don't like it, but tough, I have other commitments...like teaching.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 20/10/2016 18:08

Depends totally what the issue is. I am equally third in line with two others, but I also teach at least two, usually three lessons a day so not available every minute. If it was totally urgent, someone would cover me but that isn't always possible

Boundaries · 20/10/2016 18:18

If your child was involved in such a massive safeguarding issue, I'm surprised the thing you're upset about is two members of staff not being available. There will have been a member of the safeguarding team onsite.

Big old drip feed there, OP, after all the YABUs.

Assume you've contacted CEOPS?

hotdiggedy · 20/10/2016 18:19

Goodness, being taught by a supply teacher for 3 days. Absolutely shocking. Call the chair of governors and the SAS straight away.

Goodgriefisitginfizzoclock · 20/10/2016 18:26

I would not consider being responsible for students on a school trip 'a jolly' If the issue had been of a Safeguarding nature there would have been the Designated Senior Lead available I am sure.
Make an appointment and I am sure they will listen to your concerns.

Thisjustinno · 20/10/2016 18:36

They're on a school trip so are working - not living it up in the med. They may not be on-site but are working and contactable if there was an issue of huge importance.

And they'll be back on-site tomorrow....

I really don't think Ofstead would give a shit.

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