I’m looking for some advice from education experts out there. Our brilliant Yr 5 teacher has left and been replaced by a secondary school teacher with no primary school experience. It’s been 3.5 weeks since he arrived and he has done 2 English lessons in total (which consisted of the children just writing a story about a picture not actually being taught anything). Neither work has been marked or discussed. He seems to teach 1 subject a day, usually maths but sometimes art. My dd is so bored and unimpressed and says he doesn’t teach them anything. He also lets them play minecraft regularly during the class and do whatever they want. For maths if they say they can do the topic he is covering, he just gives them a maths textbook and tells them to work through it. Behaviour in the class seems to be out of control. TA has confirmed all the above to me privately. We are meeting with the Head shortly when I want to demand that he teaches the full curriculum including English and extends the most able. But how can I get proof and assurances this is going to happen?
What specific things can I ask for? I’m thinking a copy of the timetable, the plan in each subject for the rest of the term, information about what book they are studying in English (they’re aren’t studying anything according to my dd). Anythng else? Can I ask who is mentoring this teacher and reviewing their lessons plans etc? Bear in mind the Head is extremely difficult and won’t want to share anything with us or answer any of our questions. She uses GDPR and policies as an excuse to avoid answering parents’ questions.
We have looked around another school - private and where we could see our daughter thriving - but she has such wonderful friends at this school and only has a short time left until secondary (and 11+). Also fees would be a strain for us. Yr 6 teacher seems ok. Therefore if the achool can support this yr 5 teacher and ensure the class are taught the curriculum, and behaviour is managed then we’d stay. I just don’t know how we can get these reassurances as the head genuinely doesn’t seem to care or be open to admitting there is a problem. I have also complained to the governors but I’m not sure that they want to listen either. Any help hugely appreciated as this feels an impossible situation. We’ve had big problems with this school and Head before, which is why we know from past experience not just to wait it out because no systems are in place to monitor teachers.