To refuse to teach this lesson

[cantthinkofausername26]

Secondary teacher of a practical subject. Maximum amount of students doing practical at one time has always been 16. Suddenly this term it has increased to 25! Boys school so big kids, year 10.
Head of department has decided this particular practical should be taught. I feel it is dangerous. Multiple hazards, too many kids, accident waiting to happen,
AIBU to say I'm not doing it. WHEN an accident happens I will be held accountable as class teacher.

Fire safety has nothing to do with it🙄

Your attitude is appalling. If your concern is genuinely for the children then as I said you need to educate yourself.

You are unbelievable.

What on earth is wrong with SEN or SEND, we still have a SEN department and a SENCO, what does it stand for Special Educational Needs (Co-ordinator), and do the children covered by that department not have special needs in terms of what we deliver and how we deliver it to them, require differentiation in teaching delivery - if they have a new acronym its not made it to the rural South West yet.

Incidentally, I'm dyslexic, so have a Special Educational Need, or would have, in my day we got sent to a lady for extra English & Maths to what the other teachers delightfully called the spanners and spoons class which was bloody offensive, we have moved on thankfully - personally I'd rather it had been SEN back then, which I don't see as in any was offensive.

Just refuse to do it. I worked in one school where I was expected to take 22 non swimmer children in year 4 to a pool and teach them how to swim each morning for 3 weeks. I had no swimming teaching experience or qualifications and massive health and safety concerns. I refused to do it and they got some other sucker to do it! Don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with.

Have you posted on Food Teachers centre for advice?

Also CLEAPS are the people to talk to about safety guidance in Food lessons, make sure you have spoken to them.

YANBU. If it’s not safe to do all together then it shouldn’t be done as such. We used to have a PE class of 60 split between two teachers. We used to do trampolining and badminton in our indoors lesson with the same ones doing the same activity every week. one time there were only about 20 of us in my class and the teacher gave us the option of what we did. Because the majority of kids who preferred trampolining were off we all had to play badminton because there weren’t enough of us to be able to safely spot each other on the trampoline. Just because the head of department says it must be a practical doesn’t mean it’s safe to be. I’d refuse to and if they insist make them sign something to say that they and not you will be held responsible for any accidents because of their insistence. They’ll soon back down

If this is a DT situation there’s a sympathetic group on FB. Design and Technology Teachers Forum.

I taught this and my HOD would fighht against monster groups. A bit easier as the Head was an ex DT teacher.

So get advice, risk assessments, there used to be a notional limit of 20? But widely ignored.

Sometimes its the size of group, sometimes the size of pupils vs size of room, sometimes an individual or two. Or a combination of all of these.

Splitting the class is an idea - a crap one. You can’t teach/leave half to get on and properly teach supervise those doing practical.

Ideally HOD/SLT need to come up with a safe workable solution.

Can this activity be demoed/controlled demo by pupils and others watching on? Or do they all have to do it themselves?

May be ask for union advice?

Can you escalate it to the HOD line manager - head of faculty or Assistant head? Outline your exact concerns and request a risk assessment be undertaken by the H&S person. Consider a grievance? Whistleblowing policy?

I know we expect y10s to be more sensible but not all are. It sounds like you know the group and I assume have concerns about a certain few? Also sure you've put in written form the possible danger issues etc.

Do you have or can ask for support in the lesson? It is a big jump form 15 to 25 with dangerous equipment. If your requests won't be met, you have your concerns in writing, also highlighted the few who could cause difficulties (behaviour, not understanding instructions etc)

Not your subject but I've had to squeeze 35 students into a room designed for 30 max, but because top set no problem Miss? If you can't manage them that's down to you...

Such is our wonderful education system

Frankly that's way too much! I can imagine if it's a new build as well it will be small, windows which open barely an inch? Keep putting your case and good luck! Xx

My child was seriously burnt in a Practical lesson in Y7. They saw their chicken was swimming in hot fat and decided to pour off the fat into a bowl. The teacher hadn't noticed because there were way too many students cooking. The fat ended up all over their bare legs and feet (with shoes and socks). The teacher was so over-run all they could do was send my child to the nurse rather than doing any practical immediate first aid.

You are right to be concerned. I think I'd probably be talking to Senior Leadership for Learning or my Union Rep for advice.