Anyone not keen on their head teacher?

[Kellamity]

Do you still like the school? I'm not overly keen on our head. She has been in post for a little while but hasn't overly impressed me. I find her defensive, unapproachable and generally unavailable. She has no presence and I think lacks authority which I have only ever seen her try to achieve by screaming/screeching.

I am not the only other person to feel like this but I am unable to discuss how I feel with other parents as I have recently become a governor.

Not many parents are keen on the HT at on of my DC's school. He's generally regarded as a knob end, who has little to do with the parents or children and keeps strict hours of 8-4pm (I know this as I drop of at 8 at collect at 4 and see him coming and going almost every day) However, I think he knows how to take the school in the right direction. He will never be as good as the previous HT or the acting HT we had last year, but I think he could make the school "outstanding" in OFSTEDs eyes, if not mine.

I think our children go to the same school...

Does anyone know anything about the Cleves School expansion plans?

We chose to live in Oatlands, Weybridge, assuming we could use Oatlands Infants School from 4-7 years old, and then Cleves from 7-11 years old, both Outstanding Ofsteds.

But now Cleves is proposing to expand to a massive 5 classes a year, from 4-11, over 1000 pupils in total??? Leaving children at lovely, lovely Oatlands Infants School with nowhere to go at 7.

I don't think my 4 year old would cope with a school of that size? But you would have to go to Cleves Infants, to be sure of a place at 7+.

I don't know anyone who is supporting the proposals, but there must be supporters (and reasons for their support) or presumably no-one would have proposed it in the first place.

Does anyone out there know anything more about this???? We have just submitted our "response letter" to Cleves Governors, protesting the plans, but the whole thing still just seems so strange, and so "not thought through properly".

I would post in "local" but there isn't one covering our area.

Sorry everyone on this post - that was meant to start a new conversation, not add to this one. I will try to work out how to delete it, and repost as a new conversation.

Aarrgg..

Just a thought but if this ht is newish that way she is coming across may be all nerves. I have a been a ht for quite a while but remember that it's very nerve racking to start with, hence the possibilities for being defensive etc. also it takes a while to get to grips with working governors in a productive way... She may feel she needs to comeup with loads of ideas etc and present them assertively: some bits of NPQH encourage this. Talking about it with other parents might inadvertently start a witch hunt... Have you tried talking to the ht yourself ? Empathising about the toughness of the job etc how it's lonely... Etc. you might be surprised when she confides in you about the tough times she having, then you can give helpful and supportive pointers. Win win. Sorry for rubbish typing iPad playing up.

I wouldn't dream of discussing how I feel about her with other parents or governors as I think it would be inappropriate and unprofessional. It's only my opinion, there hasn't been an incident.

I wonder if some of it could be nerves. I understand she has very big shoes to fill and also as the school is already classed as an outstanding school by ofsted she must feel a lot of pressure to achieve this again. If the school doesn't achieve it no doubt lots of fingers will be pointing to her and she must know this.

Hmmm you've got me thinking there..........

Sorry kellamity, misread your op., thought you were going to talk to others about it. How about a chat with the chair of govs... Along the lines of who is looking after the ht's well being and work life balance (which is a responsibility of the govs)? Then you could volunteer to talk to the ht, see how she is doing, anything you can do to help etc... Then make appt to see ht, take cakes, have chat, and off you go...

Our HT is a bit of a showman which I personally don't like but as a HT I can't fault him (well maybe for his spelling and grammar in the letters home ) He's approachable, helpful, takes on board concerns, always available (parents have his mobile number) knowledgeable, enthusiastic and openly has the best interests of every child in the school at heart.
For me I don't think you have to like them as a person but just feel confident in their ability to fulfil their role.

This is my DD's headteacher....

www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2012/03/22/north-wales-headteacher-jailed-for-stealing-53k-from-school-funds-55578-30602517/

However, he was a lovely headteacher and the kids miss him.

They are happy, the school is being run pretty well as far as I can tell in his absence and I am happy to keep them in the school.

Blimey 2kidsintow, but it goes to show; you liked him as a head before all this came to light, so being liked and doing an effective job can be two very different things.