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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be utterly dumbfounded

121 replies

Swansandcustard · 18/04/2023 08:17

DD17 is currently almost 1 year into A Levels at 6th form. She’s doing Classics, Ancient History and Sociology, with a view to go into either Archeology or Anthropology etc.

Yesterday the Classics/Ancient Rome teacher informed them they had basically been headhunted by the local private school, who were offering a lot more money and would fund their masters.

This teacher is the only non-private one of these subjects in our county. It’s very hard to recruit to, they’ve said they might put an English teacher in as substitute. The class is moving onto the Aeneid in the Autumn and they’ve been told they might have to teach themselves it. The departing teacher is leaving her material on Teams ‘in case of the worst’.

So, potentially 2 of DD’s 3 A Levels are fucked. Classics is acknowledged to be one of the most difficult A Levels as it is.

It’s horrific that the state school system is so unwelcoming to teachers that this kind of thing can go on. As annoyed as I am, I don’t blame the teacher. Why wouldn’t they take the offer?!

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 18/04/2023 08:21

I assume the class sizes are small. I wonder if the teacher could negotiate them over to the private school for Classics lessons.

Another history teacher should, in theory be able to teach ancient history though. Though they’ll undoubtedly have to do some cramming unless they specialised in it at uni. Admittedly not many did when I was a history undergrad.

teaandcake123 · 18/04/2023 08:23

There are online providers who offer A’levels in both these subjects. I wonder if enrolling with these might be a way of continuing to study?

Coffeeandcards · 18/04/2023 08:25

That is thoroughly shit for the students.

Is tutoring an option? Either the departing teacher or someone online?

pantjog · 18/04/2023 08:29

Sorry to hear OP.
However, both my DDs studied Latin at a state school. There isn’t much state provision, but more than none. And lots of teachers at their old school are completely committed to the state sector and would never work in the private sector. Don’t panic yet!

Original poster
Swansandcustard · 18/04/2023 08:32

We don’t have the funds for private tuition. Is it worth speaking to the school to find out what their plans are, just in case DD is overplaying it?

OP posts:
SueblueNZ · 18/04/2023 08:33

Unfortunately that is always a risk when students select (because schools offer) tiny niche subjects that few teachers train in.

washinwashoutrepeat · 18/04/2023 08:34

Swansandcustard · 18/04/2023 08:32

We don’t have the funds for private tuition. Is it worth speaking to the school to find out what their plans are, just in case DD is overplaying it?

You should always speak to the school!

Original poster
Swansandcustard · 18/04/2023 08:34

@SueblueNZ but then surely we’re saying, if you’re state educated, you can’t consider these career paths?

I mean, tbh, that’s how it feels!

OP posts:
CrapBucket · 18/04/2023 08:36

Speak to the school and find out more. What part of the country are you in- I’m in the midlands and there’s a great state school that would teach this (unless it’s the same one and Mr P is leaving..)

cyclamenqueen · 18/04/2023 08:40

Speak to the independent, in similar circumstances the school I used to work at offered someone a bursary for a year . Obviously there are issues with syllabus , friendships etc but it’s worth a conversation.

Letsrunabath · 18/04/2023 08:48

Do you have Grammar school that she could transfer to?

bestbefore · 18/04/2023 08:49

Swansandcustard · 18/04/2023 08:34

@SueblueNZ but then surely we’re saying, if you’re state educated, you can’t consider these career paths?

I mean, tbh, that’s how it feels!

I agree it's awful for the kids but do speak to the school
I don't agree though that those careers are only open to those from private school, tho

bestbefore · 18/04/2023 08:50

Sorry pressed send too soon!
Those courses almost certainly don't have specific a level requirements. Very few subjects do

BitOutOfPractice · 18/04/2023 08:51

Neither of the grammars that my DC went to offered Classics or AH. And not everywhere has grammars anyway!

AtlasPine · 18/04/2023 08:56

I used to teach Latin at our state secondary to GCSE (we were a 11-16) and the students did well but there was no no state provision for them to continue into any classics A Level locally. It’s such a shame as for those students who get it, it’s such a wonderful area of study. Almost only available to independent school students now though.

TeeBee · 18/04/2023 08:56

Is it an option to pay a private tutor to give group lessons? Then the cost is lower per person.

thespottedunicorn · 18/04/2023 08:57

Oxbridge is desperate to attract candidates from state schools to study classics. The huge number from private schools studying classics affects their state school ratio disproportionately. I know a student who did an online GCSE in classical Greek and was offered a place at Oxford with the promise of a summer school to make up the Latin. He turned it down.
It may well be that the private school agrees to take on your daughter and others in her class, free of charge for these A Level subjects. In order to maintain charitable status, independent schools must give back to the wider community and I would have thought this would be an excellent way to do just this.

VickyEadieofThigh · 18/04/2023 09:03

By Classics A level do you mean Latin?

margegunderson · 18/04/2023 09:04

Classics is offered at both state sixth form colleges in my city. Is it really that niche? Also it's not impossible that your school could perhaps come to an arrangement with the new one to share classes for your DD's group, or similar.

TheIsleOfTheLost · 18/04/2023 09:06

There is a syllabus in place, so hopefully any teacher with relevant history will be able to teach it. It sounds lime your daughter is bright and driven if she is taking these subjects and has a career in mind. Not great, but don't give up all hope.

Bruschetta1 · 18/04/2023 09:09

Agreeing with those who say contact the private school and ask them to help. My kids are at big name secondary private boarding school and I am confident they would absolutely help in this situation, they already send their classics sixth formers to the local primary schools to teach the older kids as a fun intro to classics as an extra curriculum subject. Our school would probably even send a mini bus to scoop her class up.

Get in touch with them and see if your DD can be timetabled in, my kids school day is 8.50 am till 6 pm most days, Saturdays (half day for matches etc). Saturday mornings might be a perfect time?

latetothefisting · 18/04/2023 09:11

Why is she taking classics and ancient history, surely at a level they are very similar? (I did ancient history at degree level).

Is she taking another as level -most take 4? Even if she was planning on dropping that I'd keep it and drop classics as ancient history will be easier to teach herself/with support of whoever they put in place to cover the class. Ancient history and 2 other a levels plus as level classics will be more than enough to apply for the degree she wants to do -most state schools don't do either and candidates get in for ancient history with just normal history a level.

Otherwise if you're desperate the only option is to take out a loan to pay for 1 years fees at the private school.

I don't see the point in angsting over state/private-you'd be in exactly the same position if the teacher had retired, gone off sick or on maternity or just left teaching!

SuperSange · 18/04/2023 09:12

Our local college offers it. Where are you?

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