Maths teacher leaving before end of year

[Absentadditive]

Hello, a friend has sent me here to see if someone might be able to help.

My child is sitting Advanced Higher maths this year but their teacher is leaving at the end of this month. The school only has one other maths teacher qualified to teach at this level but they have not taught the course for many years and also I have been informed is not available for the full timetable of classes.

My child will most likely be asked for their advanced higher maths as a condition for some of their university offers. Is there anything I can do here? Mitigating factors sent into universities etc. It feels like a bit of a bomb being dropped on my child's future. Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thank you

Yes it was sent off in December just before we found out teacher was leaving. I am not sure if it can be added now?

I think that needs to be established as a priority. Does the school have a person who is in charge of UCAS? I'd also echo phoning admissions.

Google the access project for a tutor

If it can't be added to the UCAS form at this point, then probably the school should be directly contacting the individual universities concerned.

Ask for a meeting with the school to discuss solutions, and think about a tactful way to say that you don't have confidence in the proposed teacher. If there is nobody available locally (and they should look at whether there's anyone who might be engaged just for this class*) then another option to look at is whether there is someone who would be willing to teach the class remotely. I wonder whether any of the OU's Scottish tutors might be willing to do that - they're used to teaching over the internet, and might have availability at suitable times.

*One of my A-level Further Maths teachers left abruptly, and they managed to persuade a teacher who had left to start a family to come in just for our lessons (minus the one when her mum wasn't available to babysit!).

Thank you, I had a look but we don't meet the criteria for help from them (quite rightly). We are not from a disadvantaged background I just don't have the money for a tutor at the moment.

Thanks, this is useful I will add this to the list for speaking to the school.

They don't have a dedicated UCAS resource but she was allocated someone to look at her personal statement before it was submitted but I wouldn't say they were skilled in any way or had much information and advice to share at all.

Yes , that is often the case in a lot of schools. I'd be tempted to go straight to admissions at this point.

If there's 15 in the class you should be able to club together with at least some of the other parents and arrange to split the costs of a tutor to teach all of those who want to opt in. Your child won't be the only one who needs this.

In what way is it unprofessional to leave a job giving the correct amount of time, which in this case is much longer than most/any other profession?
Or are you advocating that teachers should never be allowed to leave, Which is frankly fucked up.

No idea about Scotland but in England that can happen. My nephew has one of his A level subjects at a different school and the kids from that school come to his school for a different subject.

However he is also having to teach himself Further Maths as the school said they couldn’t facilitate it….though I guess he knew that from the start. They’ve agreed to enter him for the A level, he meets the head of maths once a month to chat but he’s in charge of his own learning…..nobody teaches him.

Glad you checked. The other is maths for girls through founders for schools. I know you have a son but there might be something he can use. Or email dr frost at tiffin and explain your predicament.

It is a daughter I have so I will check this too thank you

I would ask. My children's school would try and arrange that with another school in the cluster.

There's only weeks left. They might just have the AH students sit in the top higher class and support them that way.

To be fair he may have given notice in Summer and agreed to stay on until February half term rather than leave at Christmas to give them more time. We simply don't know and therefore can't assume it is the teacher being unprofessional. In England they have to give a full term's notice so again if notice was given at October half term he may have met his contractual obligation.

@OnlineMathsTuition Moat teachers I’ve come across teaching A levels or similar leave at the end of the summer term. Most recruiting schools know that’s the case and accept that ans they wouldn’t want an a similar situation. Obviously industry doesn’t have the same sensitivities. It seems to demonstrate little empathy between the teacher and pupils which is a shame.

A bit garbled! Schools recruiting accept a teacher stays until the end of the summer term so they are there for their pupils.

There is still 9-10 weeks of classes to go based on when they 'finished' the higher course last year (finished is in inverted commas as the teacher did not get through the whole course before exam leave started)
The higher teachers struggle to teach the higher content so I don't think they will be able to support AH pupils.

I suspect it wasn't the pupils that were the issue in this scenario...

OnlineMathsTuition

It is good to know that you hold teachers to a higher standard than any other profession.
I hope that you treat them as such in all your dealings with them.
Teachers already have to give a terms notice, no you want them to stay until the end of of the year regardless of whatever is going on.

Absentadditive

I hope that you get something sorted, would it be worth looking online for courses?