To think that a teacher in a classroom is a must?

[WhatHo]

TLDR: We think the head of year is going to be pushed out and that they won't bother to replace them but will get the totally unqualified, 18 year old TA to educate them instead.

In a nutshell... This is Y6 at a primary and currently being prepared for secondary - some in the class are doing private entrance exams, some grammar, some state.

Teacher is in dispute with the school management and has semi checked out. We think they are probably going to be pushed out but no one really knows. If it's not them, it might be the Head or Dep Head. It's a toxic shitshow and we are all just gritting our teeth for end of year.

This dispute has affected a chunk of their time in Y5 and is rumbling into Y6. Last week a group of them needed to be prepared for entrance exams... and the teacher was off for one of the days. They literally had 2 x interview practices the day before the exam.

The teacher is both Head of Year and English teacher. Their lessons are covered by TA when the teacher is ill/away. The current TA is fresh out of school herself (did her A Levels in May). She is absolutely lovely and the children adore her but there are mixed needs and abilities in the class, including SEN, notably severe ADHD.

At the moment I would say that the English lessons are still being prepared by the Head of Year. What I am profoundly worried about is whether, if they are pushed out, they will basically use this TA to do all the English lessons. Just to make sure our gears are really ground, this is a private primary so we are paying for this farrago.

Can anyone tell me if us parents have any rights in this situation, if not a teacher at the very least an actual TRAINED TA?! I worry that because it's private they will tell us to pound sand.

Only maintained schools have any obligation to ensure children are taught by suitably qualified teachers, AFAIK. Academies and private schools can employ who they like. For example, I used to teach in a private school and some teachers had MAs and even a PhD but did not hold qualified teacher status and had not undergone a BEd or PGCE.

Private so can do what they like, as can academies.

For what it's worth, and I'm sure nit what you want to hear, but I know of lots of private schools doing this but never have I heard of a state school doing this. Gritting your teeth for the final yearis wasting an wntire year of really valuable learning time- I'd very much be on every tour for any nearish state primary in your position.
Good luck

I would not be happy about any of that, but even more so if I was paying for the privilege! If your dc wasn't in their final year, I would say change schools now. But probably not worth it given how little time they have left!

Can you contact the chair of governors directly to find out wth is going on with the staffing?

I think as a private school they can have anyone 'teach' but I wouldn't be happy about it.

As an aside, is it really up to the school to get your DC through their entrance exams? I've not had any dealings with entrance exams so absolutely could be wrong but, isn't it up to the parents to sort out rather than school spending time with practise interviews?

Not at private prep schools - it's part of the 'prep' to make sure they pass entrance exams for senior schools!

Bugger. This is exactly what I'm worried about.

My child is quite quiet and I worry they would struggle moving schools for 2 terms.

I think one of the other parents might be doing this.

damn.

@FredinBread Happened to my child in a state primary. TA 'taught' them for 3/4 of the school year. Was an utter utter shit show and caused long term problems for many in the class.

I totally get the worry OP but children are far more resilient than we give credit for...but I really would be one of the firet to go before all spaces nearby go.
Similar if you want to employ a tutor to help with interview prep etc. Ask around and put out feelers etc So you are first in line. Your child will be leaving soo anyway....so if the move doesn't go well at least they'd be onto other things come July I suppose.

Sorry to hear that a state Yr 6 did this with an untrained 18yo TA - madness! Some academy chains really are in it for the money hey!

@WhatHo even so, there's a massive difference between being taught by a 40 year old with an MA and and 18 yo with a few A levels. There shouldn't be any school in which that is acceptable.

Even worse - we're paying for this fun and games...

Even in a state school I'm pretty sure TA's can't be left teaching a class - an HLTA can, for a limited number of sessions, but that's a more highly trained TA with more experience who's going to be much more capable at doing this with planning provided by the teacher.

I don't think TA's can be left teaching a class on their own for anything but brief periods of time?

This has been going on regularly in state sector since 2006.
Private though, they can do what they want. To change it you could pull your child out so they don't get your money? Presumably there's some sort of financial notice period though?

Yes there is - a full term's notice.

I work in an independent - the school prides itself on only employing qualified teachers and is a point used in marketing.

There is nothing you can do other than appeal to the school's bank balance. They won't want children removed en masse and ultimately, I would imagine many would indeed remove their children if they were to be taught full time by an 18 year old TA. There is no way our parents would put up with it!

As parents, you shouldn't be aware of any internal shennanigans so that in itself makes me wonder what on earth is going on. Are you happy with the school otherwise?

As others have said, there's no requirement for qualified teachers in private schools. However parents do have more power than un academies. Quite often you see older/experienced unqualified staff called "teacher" and paid on the unqualified scale and no one's the wiser. Some of those staff do an excellent job.

I can't see a private school doing this with an 18yo for anything other than very short term, but if they do you have a choice.

I agree with PP. How in earth do you know any of this?

They unfortunately can do this. I'm going on maternity in December and my class will be taught by a TA and student teacher for the remainder of the academic year 😳

I know you are already paying, but given this year will be not just critical in getting a good senior school but also which set your child gets put into. I would pay for an experienced after school tutor just for English. I know you should not have to but if you don't .......

As it’s private you are customers. You need to speak to other parents. You have power together- if everyone removes their children they lose the income plus it would be a big scandal and damage school’s reputation - parents talk.
I’d ask for a meeting with school to see what plan is if class teacher leaves.
Personally I wouldn’t get too hung up on qualified. At dds private primary the reception teacher was qualified teacher in early years which I don’t think was sufficient to teach in state but children got off to excellent start. Yr 3 teacher went off sick gap filled by head for English and a hlta for maths and I think joined with older class for other subjects and my dc made excellent progress. School communicated plan, parents were reassured.

My ta was a private school teacher until she became my TA in a mainstream school. 😬 she's amazing but the parents were never made aware she wasn't actually a qualified teacher.

That’s appalling. I’d want a refund! Lots of parents asking might focus the head’s mind?

One of mine was taught by a TA for a lot of last year as their teacher seemed to have an aversion to work. I say ‘taught’ - as a PP says, it was a shitshow. Head didn’t really care, seemed more bothered there was an adult with a pulse in the class. Surely the basic expectation is that schools employ enough teachers to - you know - teach?!

In the state sector, my understanding is that only an HLTA can cover a class alone. If its just a regular TA, there should be two of them together ideally.

Having said that, I think we may have had a TA cover a Year 3 class for a whole term when the teacher left. He was paid as an unqualified teacher I believe.

They wouldn't get many bums on seats next September if they started using unqualified classroom assistants as teachers. What makes you think they'd do this? It sounds like a lot of gossipy parents are just guessing. Using her for short periods of unexpected cover, when she might actually do a decent job and know the kids better than a supply teacher (if they can get one) is very different to employing her to plan, teach, assess and mark. I expect, if they manage her out, they will also be recruiting.

Yeh private schools can do as they like. Private secondaries are the same- if some parents knew how many children are taught by unqualified teachers...