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?

😂my child had a Mr T in primary. I bumped into her the other day and when I told DC he said ‘who was she then? Which year did I have her?’’

It is nothing in the bigger picture of things.

This is the kind of entitled attitude teachers have to deal with all the time. Schools determine classes based on a range of factors including balance of abilities, sen, behavioral needs boys and girls balance, friendship groups. They may take into account if a student/teacher or parent/teacher has been particularly difficult. But they absolutely cannot take into account the preferred teacher of any child as they would then need to take into account the preferred teacher of every child.

I'm sure Mr T pities the fool

Your being “that” parent

This crossed my mind too.

I suspect op's real issue is that, by remixing, there will be some children who will be in the class two years running and her ds is not one of them. Whether this was a conscious decision or by random. Equally there may be some who have not had Mr T either year.

Not at all. Different teachers bring different strengths as is natural in life. Your son will benefit from having a teacher with different skills while a similar child might not.

My son had the same teacher in R, Yr 1,Yr3 and Yr4. She adored him and played favourites. His Yr 3 teacher picked up on gaps around his handwriting. She had a very keen eye on correct letter formation. This was brushed off along with our concerns by his teacher in Yr 3/4 as she could read his writing (too familiar with it I suspect) and was more focussed on his “brilliant” content.

Into Yr 5/6 with a different teacher and us and his teachers had a hell of a time trying to get his work legible enough to get SATS scores.

What if Mr T leaves are you going to follow him to a new school, going through school is about change.

I'm not sure who the child is here because you are behaving like one saying it's not fair.

No one is being punished so stop that line.

Dear lord OP you need to calm down a bit and as you dont seem to have a need for your ds to stay in that class over personal preference move on. Class allocation is a school decision its not something you can control. My ds is going into yr3 in a yr3/4 class - half his class is the year above him, half the class are kids are y3 like him but weren't in his class this year AND he has a new teacher it's not something I've concerned myself with as the school are best placed to make class decisions as there's so many variables im unaware of.

I expect Mr T had a say in the mixing. Perhaps he chose not to have your DS in his class next year?

Not the point of the thread at all, but is a small with two classes per year group considered small?

Please gods let this be MNHQ starting threads for traffic, not an actual person. Unless— OP, do you also have a delinquent teen not-working at McD's?

Maybe there are struggling kids in the other class who didn't have Mr T last year that would hugely benefit from his excellent teaching? Why should your child have Mr T two years in a row and another child not have him at all?

My child didn’t get the teacher they wanted this past year. The tears that were shed were wild.

They ended up with the best teacher for them, and thrived.

Change can be a great thing

Your child is thriving in primary school. That's something to celebrate

I'm sure next year's teacher will be fine

I can't believe what I'm reading. 🤯

Unfortunately the school or Mr T don't see a need to make an exception for your child.

My youngest with ASD had fantastic teachers in primary, barr 1, but his yr 5 was the one who really understood his needs, his strengths and helped him come on leaps and bounds. He started speaking up in class and would join in discussions for the first time. He was independently working from his own initiative, could be imaginative in his writing, given class responsibilities and joined sports teams, things he previously struggled with and we worried about. In year 6 she was the one who requested he stayed with her because she was confident in how much she could help him (and she did, he's so happy and well adjusted at school now and one of the top performers in his year at secondary)

If the staff felt there was a need there, it would happen. Unfortunately liking a teacher isn't an exceptional reason.

🤣

This is a bit much OP. Embrace the new teacher and be positive about the change to your DS.

Be glad your ds has no exceptional circumstances.

Thought I was about to read that your son's teacher had had a dreadful accident so relieved to find out that it's just this.

Exactly!! You are so entitled OP!!

It's you that is going to miss "Mr.T" .

Nowhere in your OP does it say your son is concerned in any form about this.

Your son can get his male bonding with his dad. Maybe encourage his dad to take up the hobby so he's not missing out?

Try to think positively, you'll still see Mr, T at the school and your son may have an even better new teacher

It will teach him resiliance and independence. At least see how it goes in September, and give him until Christmas to settle in

Your DS isn’t being punished. It’s entirely normal to have a different teacher every year in primary school. My DD wasn’t very happy when she heard who her year 4 teacher was going to be, but we didn’t make a big deal of it and she’s actually really enjoyed being in his class. Your DS will be fine.

What an absurd thread 🫠

I thought the teacher had died!

Short of adopting the teacher, taking him into your home and passing him off as another son when your ds goes to secondary there is nothing more you can do to keep them together.

I’m sure your son and Mr teacher will both get over their separation.