Do all London schools have a high staff turnover?

[trifling]

We have been at ours - reception, average to failing inner city school - since January, and already the class has got through 3 teachers, not helped because they are part-time. Is it unreasonable to expect children to have the same teacher for the whole year? Just don't see how they are going to settle down.

Nope, our school doesn't, inner city, good Ofsted

Teachers leave, go on ml, retire but many have been there yonks

Since teachers have to give half a terms notice before leaving and we haven't had 3 half terms since January I would be very concerned

They do? Everywhere? Interesting. Some of ours have left after only half a term! I think they may be on short term contracts. To be fair some of the ones we've had are still in the school in different classes.

It's even more unusual for heads to move existing staff around the school so frequently.

That sounds very unusual, I would be going to the head and asking what is going on. It sounds more failing than average from that description.

Sounds to me like they are supply teachers. Is there a member of the permanent staff out on ML, with various supply teachers covering?

I worked in an inner city London primary with very low staff turnover - I was there for nearly 10 years, as were the majority of my colleagues. Two years after I left almost the entire teaching staff had changed, everyone moved on at the same-ish time. This often happens. Another year down the line and they were settled again. So the school could just be in a transition stage.

Or it could be that something is really not right and staff are legging it.

I'd go in and ask.

A large percentage of the permanent staff have left in the last year, yes. I have asked before , and got a v bland answer about 'pursuing excellence'. Not sure what else I can do really, neither local authority, head, or governors are prepared to say anything more. Just have to hope it settles down I suppose. Good to know it's not normal.

From what you've said, I'd guess your school is either failing, or has a new head, who is on a mission? Either way you're at a school in transition for some reason. Best you can hope for is that it settles and new, full time staff who are going to stay arrive in September.

It's happening a fair amount where we live. A friend of mine's son had three teachers in Yr1 last year, and half of the staff left during the year. Now though it's all settled and apparently the school's hugely better. It did take a year of confusion and disruption though, so very hard on the kids imo. Hopefully you've just been unlucky this year and it will all settle from September.