Issues with a teacher at an academy

[RachC84]

Hi all,

apologies if this is not the right place to post but I am unsure where to go for advice.

I wont go too far into details but I have had numerous issues with one of my son’s teachers for the last 2 years (its also not just my son that has had issues with him - many of the parents have already raised complaints about him but school aren’t listening)

At the end of September, a group of boys were playing football and it hit a window and smashed it. This teacher then told the boys to say my son had done it - he wasn’t there so it was nothing to do with him. The boys have told/shown proof of the teacher saying this to the school, but they are ignoring my requests to investigate this. This clearly shows there is an issue and in my opinion a teacher shouldn’t be behaving like this.

I have followed the schools complaints procedure but they are just not responding at all, it states I should have an initial acknowledgement and then response within 10 days but I haven’t even had an acknowledgment and it’s been over 40 working days. I keep chasing and calling but they don’t come back or call back.

Is there anywhere I can go or do/say to get this taken seriously?

There will be an escalation procedure in the complaints policy.

So if school do not respond to your complaint there will be someone else you can complain to.

Check the policy.

This teacher then told the boys to say my son had done it - he wasn’t there so it was nothing to do with him. The boys have told/shown proof of the teacher saying this to the school, but they are ignoring my requests to investigate this.

what proof

and my instinct is - you’ve been fed bull shit by these boys

You son’s friends told the school he did it (whether or not he did - who knows).

And no teacher told them to say it was him.

The boys are saying that because they don’t want to be blame for being a grass

one of the boys was filming on Snapchat and had it all saved, I’ve seen it and the school took a copy of it so thanks but it definitely isn’t bull - they also aren’t my sons friends, they are nothing to do with him and in a different year so thanks for your irrelevant input

but this is exactly what I was expecting in the replies from the miserable cretins online - not everyone’s kids lie to them you know and teachers can be wrong

Write to the chair of governors. Give dates of your complaint and what steps you took to resolve the issue in line with the complaints policy. Check you have followed it. If everything you have done follows the policy, state to the governors that the policy has not been followed and you require a response. Governors are responsible for monitoring policies. Therefore they should be informed if the policy is being ignored.

we shall see (well, i doubt we will actually as you won’t update outcome 🤷‍♀️)

there are some bloody awful teachers about and some great ones, just like any other profession. If you’ve had no response, forward the original formal complaint to the head, deputy head and chair of governors. Explain you’ve had no feedback despite being 30 days over the 10 day response limit and your 6 follow up emails have been blanked.

As above, follow the school complaints policy to completion. As this is an academy the Local Authority won't be involved but once you gone through the complaints procedure, head teacher, governors/ trustees, you can involve OFSTED

https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-school/state-schools

they have failed to follow their complaints procedure so you could just contact the DofE

Did you say it was a formal complaint in the email and set out what you wanted the outcome to be (e.g. an apology, a disciplinary procedure)?

This gives guidance to academies about complaints but useful so that you know what you can expect.
See 11. ESFA after you have exhausted the complaints procedure. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/setting-up-an-academies-complaints-procedure/best-practice-guidance-for-academies-complaints-procedures

Gosh how lucky that they had Snapchat ready for the filming of the breaking of the window and it ran long Enough to record the teacher coming out, catching them and his telling them to falsely accuse your son!

Indeed. Plus the teacher was totally unaware he was filmed?

What window was broken?

Had to Google but a snap chat video is only 60 secs, pretty impressive for everything to happen in a minute!

Honestly op. Suppose this was true and it did happen like you said it did. Have you thought about the likely outcome which is that given the school are pretty much ignoring you , they'll pretend to
'Speak to the teacher ' privately call you a loon and you've permanently damaged the the relationship with your sons school which absolutely does have an impact regardless of what the school will say?

Given all of that plus your feelings towards the school. Would you consider moving him?

This just so typical of parents nowadays.Do not want to hold their kids to account for anything.It is always someone else's fault!

Op, write to the chair of governors.

Hold your finger on the button you will be astonished!!!

Can't believe the responses. There will be a complaints policy on the school website gore reference.

Typically you would try to resolve the issue first with the teacher . Next step would be a member of the senior leadership team so usually the head of year, then head of school. Lastly if there is one the executive head. Do everything by email and follow up all verbal conversations with an email stating what has been discussed. I would include the head of governors in the emails too.

Make an appointment with the head. If you can’t let them know you are going to post the video on social media and name the school if an appointment isn’t immediately available. Don’t actually post it, but maybe see your local MP if you keep getting ignored.