To think this teacher is chatting bollocks?

[beahunnywashyourtummy]

DNiece (sensible girl, not a bullshitter), came home today a bit upset because her Art teacher? Has threatened to move her down to a low set which would therefore lower her English and Maths set.

In short, the Art teacher said if she didn't improve or start paying more attention, she'd move her down to set 4. DNiece is currently a Set 1 pupil which is top set and set via your standard of Maths and English.

DNiece asked how she could do that since Art was an option subject overall and Maths and English were not. Apparently the Art teacher said she didn't care and she'd move her down if she felt she was poor enough Art wise.

Surely this can't be a thing?

She's always been brilliant at Maths/English and has great reports, genuine interest in
Those subjects and clearly does well marks wise. I just don't see how an Art teacher could move her for art and directly impact two core subjects.

Sounds like she’s being a PITA and the teacher is trying to get her to start paying more attention and stop messing about.

It isn’t usually up to the teacher who gets moved, that’s usually heads of departments. Now unless this teacher is head of art and English I doubt she can move her English class. Maybe your sister should talk to the school and clear things up.

Dniece needs to learn to be quiet in class! And not question the teacher imo. Is there a reason why she has chosen art but won’t be quiet in class??

Sounds like a threat because she isn't paying attention in class, albeit one that won't be followed through. If your niece is upset enough to change her behaviour then it's had the desired effect.

It may be that moving a child in one subject DOES affect other sets. Depends on the timetable. And the teacher could be the Head of Dept for that subject.
TBH I would be less concerned about whether the teacher was “chatting bollocks” than whether the child was buggering about in lessons.

The art teacher isn't head of any department, she's just an art teacher. I've had a good rummage through the school website

Why would being in a lower art set mean a lower English or maths set?

It doesn’t sound right. Unless the art teacher is the head!? I’m pretty sure no headteacher (or HOD Maths/English) would allow a student to be moved down 3 sets, jeopardising their grades in those subjects, on the whim of an art teacher.

I would, however, want to know why the art teacher is threatening something like that. I don’t think I’d say something like that to a kid who was genuinely struggling, but possibly to someone who I thought needed to buck their ideas up because they were pissing about?

My The timetables clash

Maybe she should start paying more attention and then it won't be a problem

Do you think art teacher has said something along the lines of 'if that behaviour continues, you will end up in lower set' meaning that if she is showing that attitude in other subjects her attainment will drop and niece has misconstrued what she's said?

I think its incredibly rude for her to have answered the teacher back in that way, even if teacher had said what she is alledging.

The art teacher isn't head of any department, she's just an art teacher. I've had a good rummage through the school website

Your dniece sounds as annoying as you OP

The teacher is being ridiculous and shouldn’t be using such threats and if this is school policy then I’d be looking at other schools.

Schools are all about top GCSE grades, improving on last results etc. if they have a student on track to ace the core subjects ( which is what a top setter would be on track to do) they would be shooting themselves in the foot results wise to put her or anyone else in a set that is academically not challenging.

My son was in top set for IT and history, lowest set for maths and middle set for English, science and his other subjects. His school placed him by his ability in each subject.

Why isn’t she paying attention. Art isn’t an ‘easy’ subject with just painting as lots of folk think. There is hours of prep before the exam and a massive project with research and having to write a brief. I was in school till 5 some nights before my exams. (They stayed open for pupils to study in the few months before we sat our exams. Maybe she should stop fucking around and get on with what she has to do.

In lots of schools changing one class will mean that they need to move all as the sets are all at different times to fit in every class so if she was dropped in art it may mean that she has to drop in other subjects. However that's all irrelevant why are you coming at it from that point and not finding out
Why on earth she thinks it's ok to not concentrate, work hard and take time from other peoples learning. Other children may be rubbish at English and love art and want time from the teacher that she is wasting dealing with this behaviour. You need to look at her behaviour not what the teacher has said.

the Art teacher said if she didn't improve or start paying more attention, she'd move her down to set 4.

Is set 4 Art taught at the same time as set 1 Art by a different teacher possibly? so she could be moved down in Art without being moved down for Maths and English? That would also explain why set 4 not 2 or 3. Maybe DN should just pay more attention though, then it won't be an issue.

54Wolfiefan has it.

Sensible DN needs her mum to have a chat or email the teacher just for clarification. The school won't want her to fail. They just need her to realise how important it is. She is probably very capable.

I have learned over the years to take everything my children tell me with a very large pinch of salt.

If she is annoying teachers after being back for less than a week, you really do have a problem. Please stop trying to look for legitimacy in this teacher's actions and see the underlying message that messing about in class is unacceptable.

Teachers really do speak to one another and back each other up. If she's making a pain of herself in art, don't be surprised if she acquires a reputation in the staffroom and treated accordingly. I suggest you instruct her to change her attitude and not to be so challenging.

Why on earth is your niece doing art if she doesn’t have the interest or aptitude for it? Here in Ireland, if you decide to take Art as a subject for Leaving Cert, you really have to be interested and willing to put in huge effort. Your “sensible” niece would want to get her act together and stop wasting the art teacher’s and other pupils’ time.

It might be a practical timetable thing - one group of kids in the same set follow the same timetable therefore if you change art class you have to change the others. She probably just needs to behave either way.

‘Chatting bollocks’ ‘just an art teacher’

Nice. If DN has your attitude there’s no wonder the teacher feels the need to address it.

Work on DN’s behaviour in art rather than asking for clarification that nothing will happen. You’re missing the point completely.

And yes, it might affect her other classes. In your opinion she might be a high flier but that doesn’t mean she’s sitting pretty in top set, attitude and behaviour do play a part.

Are you the legal guardian for your niece? If not, your job is to smile and nod, and leave the nitty-gritty of school discipline to her parent(s) and teachers, rather than mining the school website to score points and drip poison in her ear.

The last thing your niece needs is for you to encourage a disrespectful attitude in her.

Why is your niece interrogating her teachers over the details of punishments?

It doesn't really matter whether it is in the teacher's power to change sets - the only thing that matters is that your DN ups her game in Art. That way she'll get better results (win) and not have to drop sets (win).