Can a teacher have their own child in their class?

[Hattie07]

Hi All, does anyone have any advice or knowledge when it comes to schools allowing their staff to have their own child in their class?
Thank you xx

I think the opposite of favouritism tends to happen! I wasn’t taught by my mum but she taught at the primary school I went to. I didn’t get to be anything that could be deemed favouritism by parents with an axe to grind so the reality is the teachers child gets the least, even if they would have had these opportunities if they were a ‘normal’ child.

In secondary, my dad taught me in his subject for 4 years because he was the only teacher. And that was the first time I ever won a prize in school cause it was down to the score you got over the year, so it couldn’t be argued as favouritism. But even then, it went to be remarked by someone else just so that nobody could say we cheated to get me the win. He wouldn’t have…I’m just good at it. I inherited his way of thinking and it’s now my career.

So, yeah, in my personal experience, teachers kids are the bottom of the totem pole and we don’t get special treatment.

How is this your business?

This is mental. You can’t appeal other children’s class allocations OP

This is fairly common, will be absolutely fine, and there are no grounds to appeal this (or any similar) management decisions made by the Headteacher.

This is an awful decision for the child and the teacher. I'd be more worried about the headteachers judgement as a whole than just this (assuming you are starting reception).

Wow in recent years? I've never, ever heard of this in 15 years of teaching. Seems absolutely insane to me, why not just do another year group?!

You've never heard of a teacher teaching their child?

It tends to be avoided if possible, but it isn’t always possible. You also don’t know the reason for this decision. For example, if they are a key year group ,or a tricky one and the other option for a teacher is pregnant for example, and she would have to leave at Christmas/half way through the year and they need more stability than that. Or any other possible reasons and permutations, especially if it’s a one form entry. Generally, heads will look at alternatives before making such a choice.

Yes but as a teacher I would hate it. But sometimes logistics can't help it

That’s astonishing. Really it is. Fifteen years, all of those visits to other schools, training with other teachers and so on and you’ve never heard of it!

Yeh I agree with others, there's no appeal process and I don't see why there would need to be. It’s up to the head and there could be all kinds of reasons – the teacher could have requested a move to a different year group for CPD reasons, they might be felt to be best for that year group bc of their specialism, there could be DC in that class who would benefit from their expertise in a specific area...

You and other parents don't need to worry about it unless there is some specific concern around your DC.

It's very common in international schools and private IB schools. I personally teach my oldest DC at my international IB school, but it's a specialist subject so only one hour per week. I have colleagues who teach their own children.

Most schools will try to avoid it where possible, but it depends on the size of the school and their staffing requirements.

I don't understand why this would be an issue, unless perhaps in the senior years of secondary school, when grades and assessment are more high stakes, and there could be favouritism. In primary school I don't think it makes a difference at all.

I did it and so did most of my friends who were teachers. Not all the time and not every year but at some point our children were taught by us.

The only thing that's your business is the quality of education your own child is having and how well they are progressing. How do you imagine having the teacher's child in the class is going to adversely affect that?

What’s your actual problem? I suspect most teachers aren’t that keen on doing it but there is obviously a reason this has happened. There are a couple of teacher parents with children in one of my daughters’s year groups at the moment. It has had zero impact on her whatsoever.

My MIL taught my DH in primary years ago. It worked. I can’t see how this affects your child.

Yes it happens. Parents can't dictate who is in the class or who teaches where so approaching the school about this is unlikely to get you anywhere. If you have a specific concern you should address that with the school instead.

You don’t get anywhere with your objection, it will be at the school’s discretion. What are your concerns?

You can't preemptively appeal something that hasn't happened... and it would be very wrong of you to do so. Most teachers are able to be abundantly professional regardless of who it is that they are teaching.

Yes it's perfectly normal and at times unavoidable.

You can't petition against it or launch an appeal. You can raise any concerns you have about the teacher's actions from September if you feel they are unfair.

I don't understand why this would be an issue,

We had this in primary and it created a massive problem as children were aware of blatant favouritism and got demotivated.

I was in my mum's class in primary school. It was fine. There certainly wasn't any favouritism, is anything the reverse. Mum was so keen to ensure that I wasn't favoured that I wasn't picked for anything. Also, because mum knew my voice , I was the one she could hear in a crowd so I got told off more. The only person who potentially suffered was me and I was fine with it.

Can you give an example of the blatant favouritism? @Ubertomusic ?

It’s none of your business. Most of the teachers I know well have taught their own child at some point. I can only think of one who hasn’t.

Mine once asked me a difficult science question in relation to the homework I had set them at the breakfast table at 7 am. I replied if you are asking me as your mum - I’m relaxing with my coffee and then rushing around getting my children to different schools so I will suggest after school (homework due in at 11 am) if you are asking me as your teacher for help I’m normally in work by 8 am try my teaching room right now I’m with my family. She laughed and said fair enough and knocked on my door at 8 am at work 😂

I took myself out of certain things eg I supposed to be a year 12 tutor when she was in year 12 so I asked to go back to Year 7 instead. I took myself out of some school trips so she could go and relax a bit more etc

I was very up front with the headteacher as to my boundaries. She had a party at the end of year 13 after exams at our house, she was 18. I left a friends mum in contact as her emergency contact if there was an issue. I pre warned the Head and the Head of the Governors. I stayed away overnight with my other children and my husband returned with one of her friends mum at the agreed 2 am to ensure every one went home and there was no drugs or smoking allowed. To be honest her friends were great and it was all my civilised and nice 👍

She was nominated by us (all her science teachers) for top student in our subject (and she was) and it was decided that it wasn’t fair for her to get it or indeed any of them so she got nothing. That stung a bit for me - she didn’t know and I’ve never told her. If she hadn’t of been my daughter she would have got it! So in our case not favouritism but a disadvantage I’d say.

Are you concerned she won't be impartial?