Seven maths teachers in less than 2 yrs - does it matter??

[Solo2]

I need to keep this in perspective but am seething tonight. DTs (aged 10) have returned to school today, (fee paying prep school) ready for their second demotion into the very bottom maths set now. Previously, they were in the second from the top of 4 sets. DT2 has been upset and tearful all holiday about this lates demotion and was really feeling humiliated and ashamed when he went into school today. I've spent a lot of time reassuring him.

I had discussions with the school last term and was assured that this latest demotion is a really good thing as they'll be in a group of "only 14 pupils plus a TA" and the main teacher is "one they know and like".

OK, so today, I've found out that actually the group has 16 pupils, not 14 - but this is still much better than the 26 in their previous groups. I also found out that they will have a supply teacher for the foreseeable future as the main teacher - and the one with whom I had discussions last term about settling them into this demotion - is doing something else.

For DT1, this will now be his seventh maths teacher in the last year and a bit. This has been due to staff leaving and then the change of maths sets and then further staff turnover and a teacher retiring. I am sure this hasn't helped in my twins' decline in maths. I was assured by the school that they could now be in this little group with a lovely teacher plus TA and regain confidence, go over old ground and stabilise before they actually leave the school for the seniors next September.

Instead, there was no helpful welcome into the group and the teacher is a supply teacher, who didn't know it was their first time in this group. They told me they did stuff with her that they've done 2 yrs ago twice and their homework seems incredibly babyish compared with what they were getting previously. However, I'm trying to believe that doing easier stuff is going to help them with confidence - although surely not help them catch up with the rest of their cohort?

Anyway, to return to my point, does it matter if a child has lots of different teachers across a short space of time? My gut feeling is that it matters hugely, as a lot of what helped me as a school child was the good personal relationship with a teacher and the continuity - so that at least for a year, they knew me well and I knew them.

Am I overreacting today about the latest unexpected change of teacher? The main teacher is supposedly returning at some point but they only have 2 terms left here and this will mean they'll have a very short amount of time with the supply and the main one, given they've had yet another teacher for the first term (and as I mentioned, DT1 had 4 different teachers prior to that as well).

PS - Particularly interested if there are any teachers out there - do you find that when children have several different teachers for one subject across a short space of time that it hinders or could even help?

Trying to look at it positively, perhaps it means that when a child doesn't get on with one teacher, then at least they don't have to have them for long??? Or will it simply further exacerbate struggles with a subject?

Why don't you get them a tutor?

Bonsoir, they get so much HW that fitting in a tutor seems one thing too much but I may do this in the summer holidays.

Also, as I'm struggling to pay the school fees anyway (solo mum solely reliant on self-employed income to fund two sets of fees totalling £27,000 a year), adding tutor fees to this is a bit of a challenge. I guess we're heading that way however....

I know, it's both expensive and time-consuming to have children tutored. But, IME, if you get a good tutor it is amazingly productive - the tutor just focuses on the things your children haven't grasped at school. It can save homework time, too.

I had 5 French teachers in 3 years, I gave up French at the first opportunity.

A school that gives 10 year olds so much HW there is no time for a tutor, costs£13500 a year and still doesn't provide continuity of teaching in a core subject deserves two less pupils.
I'm sorry, but take your DTs somewhere else.

Startail, my twins will be leaving anyway to go into the senior part of the school in September and I'm hoping things will better there. From what you say, it sounds like high staff turnover isn't helpful to children at all.

Is it unusual for fee paying schools to have such a rapid staff turnoever and for a child there to have 7 different maths teachers in less than 2 yrs - or is this more or less how it goes? Would this be the norm in a state school?

Now found out that in a few weeks time, they'll still have the supply teacher but for one of the 8 periods a week, the original teacher who was supposed to be teaching them. Won't this confuse them even more to have 2 teachers at the same time?

So far, my DTs are saying that this bottom maths set is repeating work they did 2 yrs ago. They are certainly happy enough as they're not being at all challenged. But the whole idea - so I was told - was to bring them up to the average for their year group/cohort.

Is there an argument for increasing confidence first and then ability will improve later - or am I clutching at straws?

If you want an honest answer solo, look for another school Do not put them into the senior section of this school.

There is always a reason for high staff turnover and it isnt a very common occurance in independent schools. What makes you think thr senior school is not experiencing the same problems? Teachers leave for reasons. No it is not good to have so many teachers.

The best thing you can do is let your DC's carry on in the comfort zone of being backclassed by two years and get a private tutor to bring them up to speed for a new senior school. Money spent now will be money saved later.

A truly honest answer.
Having 2 teachers can be a bonus - I have done this a lot and it can work very well as long as both teachers communicate well. Can be bad if they end up duplicating. One teacher I shared with was always teaching the bits we had agreed I would which would put me in the classroom with no lesson planned as they told me when I started that they had already done this with sir (when I checked their books they were right!)
If one of teachers is a supply teacher and probably not a specialist maths teacher this is probably better to be honest as one lesson a week will be proper specialist teaching and the rest will be work set to be done.

7 teachers in 2 years is far from ideal. Isn't necessarily a bad thing and could be ok, but too much time spent learning new teachers routines. Not convincved they are in the correct set if it is too easy. Maths is repetitive so you do equations every year for example. The first lesson of the topic will be recap from last year and then move onto new work. I find that bottom sets usually do the same work every year with very little progression as they struggle to maintain knowledge. I mean bottom sets in comprehensive by the way not selective school. I am talking about those who get level 3 in year 6.

If it is all too easy then the set is wrong for them.

You cant tell before they have done at least 3 topics though as it could be a fluke.

I would be looking at different schools if i was you. Look at state secondary as well to give you a comparison.

I was a bit of a bright spark at school, no longer am though, and I loved and I mean just loved Maths. Did well at O levels and chose Maths for A level.

Started A levels and all was fine. Our school seemed to hit by teacher strikes in 1986/87 and we were constantly being 'taught' or rather babysat by lots of stand in teachers. Some were brought in to do this and others were teachers who weren't striking that day would stand in. Even if Maths wasn't their area.

Anyway, I personally found this difficult. The actual teacher was brilliant but she left soon afterwards and I believe she gave up teaching. The stand in system continued for a good while afterwards and this had a really negative effect on me.

Other kids in my class did fine and carried on and got their A level but I didn't and I should have done. I often think now (in my 40's) that I'd like to do my A level maths again but since having kids my brain's is just all mushy.

Not sure if this helps, but I guess it's down to how the individual is affected by this. Like I said some of my friends didn't seem phased by this and still did well even though I didn't.

Good Luck and I hope you manage to get this resolved one way or another.

Take care