Heartbroken about DS's teacher

[Bluetie]

DS is a great kid. He's smart, funny, musical and sporty. He is also incredibly polite and has a caring nature. He is always winning awards at school, and is liked by all. DS attends a lovely small school with only 2 year-groups.

His previous teachers were OK but in year 3, he's had the most wonderful teacher, Mr T. Mr T is DS's first male teacher and they also share a hobby. Mr T has really helped DS develop his confidence, pushing him more in academics. DS has had a great year.

DS is now moving to year 4. Mr T is also moving to year 4. But they won't be together. All the classes have been mixed to mix abilities, sexes and SEN.

One morning this week, I went to ask Mr T if this class allocation was final. The head came to join our conversation, and he said he will only move DS for an exceptional reason. The head added that the new teacher has made the best progress in her year group across the whole school. I really want DS to stay with Mr T.

Can anyone think of something?

Ok, maybe some of my replies are harshly worded, but I am absolutely incredulous that OP thinks her perfect Angel should get to choose which teacher he has, and being moved to a class with a different teacher is in some way a punishment?! She needs to get a grip.

Your child will benefit hugely from resilience that is nurtured when parents do not stage interventions on their behalf whenever something challenging happens.

You’re being ridiculous

Absolutely. This is so true.

"Heartbroken"?! I genuinely thought that this thread was going to say that the teacher had died!

If they did it for your DS they would have other parents requesting similar.

It is hard when they move year groups, especially when you’ve had such a positive experience with a teacher, but this is something you both have to get used to. Wait until you reach secondary school!

I assumed the teacher had died, given the title. Glad they haven’t, but heart broken a little strong!

My thoughts (and words) too!

@WaitingForMojo but ‘heartbroken’. Think OP needs some resilience

Me too!

All the classes have been mixed to mix abilities , sexes and SEN

This is how classes have always been done (well in my experience anyway). Folk often ask me why I left teaching and I mostly answer “the parents” jokingly, although I’m not joking when I think of some of outrageous demands made on teaching staff and schools.

I often wonder how some people get through life tbh.

My son had a teacher he adored in primary school, was devastated when he had to move years and have a different teacher. Then he adored this new teacher and a year later didn’t want to leave her. He has loved lots of his teachers and hated getting new ones but that’s life and he got over it and yours will too. Try teaching him some resilience, life isn’t fair and that’s just tough tits.

To put things in perspective... DS's year 1 teacher could not spell. Mr T is the best teacher we've had so far.

What do you mean by this?

Perhaps, just perhaps, the wonderful Mr T doesn't want your darling child ( or indeed many others) in his current class again and, after a year of six hours a day with them, quite fancies a break!

What about the other (possibly) 59 children in that year group? Imagine if they all complained? Also you’ve not even given the other teacher a chance, they might be amazing in many different ways!

Mr T is the best teacher we've had so far.

but he is also unlikely to be the best teacher in the country. Maybe Miss X next year will be better…

I don't have any reason to bring to the head to ask for DS to keep the same teacher. So DS is being punished for being good.

I agree we don't get to pick and choose as it's unrealistic

He’s the best teacher so far….

The job would be so much easier and more pleasant if parents trusted teachers to use their professional judgement make decisions like this! I remember moving kids into different maths groups when I was teaching mainstream, and getting a barrage of parents coming in to ask me why! I mean, they shouldn’t even have known or cared what maths group their kid was in, but that seems to be a trend with parents getting unnecessarily involved.

I've never known kids in primary to have the same teacher, every year is a different teacher as they move up

Just tell the school that whilst not classically exceptional in their understanding, you have watched your child flourish and grow into a much happier and confident individual and would hope they would consider allowing him that rare opportunity to grow and flourish further with the continuity of this teacher. It’s not everyday students and teacher develop such a well working relationship, it’s pretty special. Appeal to their hearts, not their rules. Also, if the school has a motto that aligns with this, then there’s always that to add in too

He’s not being punished 😂
being in a class not taught by the same teacher he has had this year is not in any way shape or form a punishment 😂

Ahh OP we have a Mr T too! And he’s been outstanding. I’m thankful for the year my DD has (being assessed for Autism) and he’s been great! She’s come on so much in her confidence.

However, it’s school policy to mix up classes and teachers each year and I don’t question that. It’s good for kids to get to know new people, to be pushed out of their comfort zone. After all nothing stays the same.