To email headteacher about this

[schoolgrinch]

DS is in year one, at a 2 form state primary. It is very well regarded, DS is doing brilliantly, and generally we are very happy.

However.

My child is in Class X. They have had two part time teachers (Teacher A Monday-Wednesday and Teacher B Wednesday-Friday) for year 1.

Teacher A announced her pregnancy early in 2024 and parents were told that she was planning to go on maternity leave after May half term. An alternative teacher in the school would take over her days at this point, for term 6. About a month ago we were told that Teacher A was now starting maternity leave 2 weeks before May half term, and a different member of staff would cover these 2 weeks.

So in one year, the class will have had 4 different teachers,

In comparison, the other Year 1 class, Class Y, have had 1 teacher the whole year.

Now- this isn't anything against part time working, pregnancy rights etc etc. I have benefitted from both of these provisions myself.

However- WIBU to email the headteacher to ensure that it has been considered in terms of planning teacher allocations for next year, that Class X have had quite considerable disruption this year, and would benefit from an opportunity for more consistent teaching next year?

1. YANBU, totally reasonable to email
2. YANBY, but the headteacher will clearly be aware of this and will already have considered it
3. YABU (please give reason)

Just updating that school classes have been announced for next year.

Of the 14 classes, 12 classes just have one teacher and 2 classes have 2 teachers job sharing. Guess what- DS's class will have 2 job share teachers again.

The class WhatsApp is full of livid parents, there's talk of a petition (this made even me laugh), but I know a lot of parents have emailed the head to enquire/complain. (Not me...yet?)

What do you and these other parents have against jobshare teachers? You all honestly sound stuck in another century. There can be benefits to having 2 teachers. And the same 2 teachers for set days for a full year will be just as consistent as having one.
This headteacher explains the benefits well:
https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/implementing-job-shares-successfully

My class next year have had two teachers this year due to one being unable to cope with their behaviour. My head really considered the fact that they need someone who will stay and who (not in a self congratulatory way) the parents will feel secure with when they find out.

The consolation for you is that a job share isn’t necessarily a bad thing and I have seen it executed very well in my own school, and particularly on a PGCE placement several years ago, where both teachers were extremely skilled and experienced so the class benefitted form both. It doesn’t necessarily mean inconsistency, and the teachers might have the skill sets particularly needed for your DS’ class. I just think it’s initially a bit of an own goal from the school really, because parents are bound to have a knee jerk reaction, but I’d urge you to see how it goes.

I guess the concern js that children generally do better with consistency, in all aspects of life, and why would school be any different?

It is consistent when done well though.

Thank you for your reply. That's a helpful perspective.

Genuinely - what is wrong with a job share? When they get to secondary they'll have a different teacher for each subject. It sounds good to me, the teachers will presumably be happier as they are part time for a reason and I imagine they'll each teach their strengths. Why put flexibility and part time working so low in your estimation??

It will be consistent...it will be the same teacher on the same day presumably?

@karottybagel not as consistent as one teacher 5 days a week though is it.
Where do you think the consistency is lost? 3 teachers? 4 teachers? A different teacher every day of the week?

I wouldn’t email them as it won’t make a jot of difference, however you’re not unreasonable to be a bit miffed by it. We had one year of similar changes and then the followed year (which was year 6 so an important one), we were given a teacher that had been out of role and working as a TA for a few years with the promise of an experienced year 6 teacher returning from Mat leave after Christmas. Another teacher in school then handed in their notice and the experience teacher took that class when she returned! It was a pretty crappy end to what had been a good school up to then.

2 teachers for half the week isn't inconsistent and if anything it might be more interesting for the kids than listening to the same teacher drone on

You’re very welcome! I actually just remembered that BOTH my PGCE placements were in classes with job shares.

One was with two very different, and both great, teachers. They were able to relate well to all the children but the class were hard and needed nurturing, plus humour, plus boundaries, plus the kitchen sink thrown at them… and together, the teachers provided all that! It was also helpful as each teacher came in fresh and had more stamina as they had less time with a hard class, so less burnout.

The other was just a lovely class with two absolutely outstanding teachers who I learned a lot from. All the children I worked with benefited a lot from their teachers, I feel.

I would much rather my child had a good job share than one class teacher who was just fine.

Wishing you and your DS a happy academic year 😊

Forgot to add, the other year 6 class had consistent teachers in year 5 and then the other experienced teacher in year 6. It felt very unfair. I assume the other class had more challenging children, but didn’t help my DD.

You make it sound like they have had 4 adhoc teachers. They have had two consistent part time teachers for most of the year. One qualified teacher covering a two week period (many classes around the country do not even have a qualified teacher). Then a qualified teacher covering for the remainder of the summer term with the other consistent part time teacher. I’d say this has been well managed and you would have nothing to gain from sending an email.

But if they have the same two teachers for a year, that is consistency? I don't know what you are worried about. 2 is fewer than average worldwide! But of course, they might not last the year, many teachers leave - but that could equally happen with one teacher

Remember no class gets one teacher 5 days a week they will have at least one PPA session covered by a HLTA/TA if done well a job share can certainly avoid this. My 2 friends are in 2 and 3 days a week and they do PPA at home so their classes get teachers all the time

also job shares are often experienced teachers who have children who don’t want to work full time - both my friends have 20+ years experience but simply don’t want to commit full time - same with their job share

and the time Dd had a job share was the best yesr - the teachers balanced out each other and were relaxed from a good work life balance

I haven't said the situation has been poorly managed. Things happen, and the school have taken appropriate action for what has happened this year.

What I am saying, is, that the children have had a lot of change and it would be nice if they could at least aim for the most stable set up for next year.

I job shared for two years. We were both very experienced teachers, but we each had different subject strengths and enthusiasms. So we were able to create a timetable that meant the children had the best of both of us!

We also managed the transition really carefully. We had a huge hardbacked A4 notebook as our daily diary. So every incident, every issue or problem with a child, every bit of unfinished work and every sanction, was known about and picked up by the other teacher. There was no means of a pupil trying to play us off against each other ( they soon realised it wasn't going to work!)

So yes, I understand your discomfort, but it really can work very well.

what makes you say that one teacher is more stable than two? I would say the opposite- having two teachers is a lot more stable

Also it is often the case that a class has one teacher but actually that teacher does 4 days and another does one!

A bit late to the party, and you have already conceded but for anyone else thinking of this, then it would be exceptionally unreasonable. If an individual wants to ensure your child has continuity of education from the same teacher, then they’d need to home school and teach them themselves.

YABU - do you really think they haven’t already considered all options??? Don’t make yourself “that” parent that’s talked about in the staff room.

I'm not, several other parents have emailed.

When dd3 was in a class (year 6) and the teacher was ill and needed an operation I did feel annoyed that the head didn’t organise for consistent cover. Dd had 6 teachers that year. Parents complained so they organised for the other year 6 teacher to split his time across his class and the other so messed up both classes. (I have twins so a dc in each). I mostly felt for the poor teacher trying to keep 60dc on track with minimal support from a mix of supply teachers. That said, dtds were happy and did far better than expected in the sats so I was glad I stayed quiet. Sometimes we think things are big issues when actually they’re not.

I’d reframe your thinking, for multiple reasons not least this is outside your control. Mob rule of parents is generally not how schools operate. You don’t have the context of the Head.

Define ‘consistency’? Justifying a job share has a high threshold so consistency will be something these teachers are v well aware of.

1. It’s knackering being a teacher. Someone potentially fresher from PT working is advantageous
2. Different personalities and teaching style is advantage
3. Some independent schools have subject teachers and children rotate as they would in secondary, also advantageous
4. More broadly, keeping good teachers by allowing job shares is advantageous

You don’t know the detail of the cohort of children in your class vs others, and specialisms of why teachers may have been chosen.

But crack on as the Head likely hasn’t considered any of that and is just trying to piss you off and purposefully get low attainment scores.

The less people want to go. All the good teachers leave and they struggle with funding and its a spiral.

Don’t think they’ll have considered it at all tbh.