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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Help, advice needed on who to complain to after headteacher.

26 replies

jillyrg · 19/09/2013 11:04

Hi,
Can anyone help me?
My son's currently a year 2 student and we have just moved so he has started at a new school in a different region. His new teacher approached me yesterday after I'd written polite comment in his reading book to say he was on the level above at his last school. She said she was trying to rebuild his confidence, she knows he can read but said he's absolutely terrified of getting things wrong in class. My heart sank, we had major problems with his last teacher, she blatantly didn't like my son,. I am so glad we have moved and pleased this new school has brilliant communication with the parents and have made me aware so I can reinforced her praise when reading and writing etc at home too.

I complained to the head teacher and had meeting's at the last school as the teacher wouldn't talk to me when I raised concerns about my son's progress, he never moved up levels, he got a book once a week, never got spellings or writing, while the other children who's parents I knew were always getting home work and daily books. I wrote the teacher a letter saying it had concerns, never replied.. He had a diary which everyone else's child was updated weekly, my son's wasn't looked at 5 months until the teacher went on sick leave. Low and behold once I complained to the head my son jumped up two levels in his home reading books and he got them daily. But no apologies reason was ever given as to why she held him back or didn't try and help him achieve his potential. She had 3 favourite children who were streets ahead of the others and she concentrated on them.

I was shocked when the new teacher told me he had no confidence and was terrified of getting things wrong incase she shouted at him like his last teacher. I want to make a formal written complaint about her, she's got my son's education off to a poor start and he is such a confident chap with a vivid imagination, he's now terrified to openhhis mouth because of one teacher.

Who do I complain to that's above the school? I've emailed the council but not had the grace of a reply.

Please note, it wasn't just me who noticed that my son was being left out, I had other parents comment to me also. I'm not a pushy mum, I don't expect my son to be top of the class, he's an average little boy but the teacher at his last school should be reported for crushing my son's confidence. Thank you ladies.

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NynaevesSister · 19/09/2013 11:07

I don't know who, hopefully someone will help, but please do follow up on this and keep complaining. If she did this to your son she will do it to other children.

EmeraldJeanie · 19/09/2013 11:14

Chair of school governors?

jellysmum77 · 19/09/2013 11:15

There is a procedure for complaining that you must follow. You have done the right thing so far by trying the teacher first, then the head teacher. The next step is to complain to the governing body of the school. If you have no luck there then the LA is your next step.
This link may be useful for you;
www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/governance/becomingagovernor/rolesandresponsibilities/a0060898/complaints-an-overview

HTH

Original poster

jillyrg · 19/09/2013 11:23

Thank you so much x

OP posts:

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/09/2013 11:38

Jillyrg - it sounds as if your ds had a horrible time with his last teacher, and that could very well have affected his confidence in class. Isn't it a good thing that his new teacher has identified this as an issue, and is taking steps to mend the damage that this other teacher has done?

Can I suggest that you don't complain just yet, but leave it for a while to see how the new teacher's approach works?

After all, it will not damage his educational prospects in the long term to be reading easier books for a while, but if he never regains his happiness and confidence in school, this could have a real impact on his learning.

Jellyandjam · 19/09/2013 11:43

Oh I took it as it was the previous teacher the OP wanted to complain about?

wheredidiputit · 19/09/2013 11:50

Which teacher are trying to complain about.

As I read it your ds new teacher is trying to encourage and build up your ds confidence without putting any pressure on him.

If worried about his new teacher why don't you try to work with her and the new school rather then going straight to file a complaint.

Original poster

jillyrg · 19/09/2013 11:50

I have clearly said I am glad my son is now in a new school where the teacher is helping him gain confidence!! And I am delighted she has approached me so that can also help at home. I have no doubt that between the new school and home we will help my son regain his confidence.
I am complaining about the old teacher and the old school. She shouldn't be allowed to get away with shouting at children be cause they got a spelling wrong
, it is detrimental to their learning!
I was glad when we moved and thought we'd left this problem teacher behind but she has clearly affected myson and she shouldn't be allowed to bully other children in this way.

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Original poster

jillyrg · 19/09/2013 11:51

I want to complain about the old teacher and school for allowing this to happen.

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GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 19/09/2013 11:52

Which teacher do you want to complain about? The new doesn't sound like she's done anything wrong just trying to settle an underconfident reader into his new class.

As I understand it you've already complained to the head about your DS's old teacher. I'd leave it there now. The head will be keeping an eye on the teachers behaviour now. I think you and your DS need a new start with a new school and drawing a line under his experience at his old school is a step towards this. I wouldn't want an ongoing complaint about the old school hanging over me and my child unless the issue was very serious.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 19/09/2013 11:53

X-posts. I stick by comments re the old school. You've made your feelings known to the head. Now's the time to move on and forget it.

Original poster

jillyrg · 19/09/2013 11:58

I am not and have not said anywhere on my post that I want to complain about the new teacher, she is brilliant and I understand why she has done what she has with the reading.

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SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/09/2013 12:03

So sorry, jillyrg - I completely misread what you were asking. I hope I haven't offended you.

Phoebe47 · 19/09/2013 17:22

I think you should contact the Chair of Governors at your child's previous school and lodge a formal complaint against the teacher. Give a reasonable time for this person to follow your complaint up and get back to you (say two weeks) and if still no reply then put your complaint in writing to the LEA enclosing a copy of the letter you sent to the school's Chair of Governors. Hopefully you will get some action.

sittinginthesun · 19/09/2013 17:29

You need to follow the complaints procedure at the old school. Look in their website, as it should be published under "policies" (maybe under Governor's section).

You have to follow it to the letter - basically, after the Head, it will probably go to a complaints panel made up of governors.

pining · 19/09/2013 17:32

I do not understand why that type of person would go into teaching, and its not a one off. There's always at least one of them in every school. Its so sad to think of our tiny 5/6yr olds being made to feel nervous when they should be feeling full of curiosity and confidence. Please make a complaint, you never know how many other people have complained and yours could be the decider. Good luck.

brettgirl2 · 19/09/2013 19:22

The teacher went off sick. Presumably depression/ stress. Please have a heart, your dc isn't the only person involved here. I really wouldn't complain, she knows it was all wrong, perhaps when well she is a good teacher?

Original poster

jillyrg · 19/09/2013 19:33

No it wasn't stress it was an operation on her leg. She Is a middle aged woman in the wrong job, there's no excuse for bullying little kids!

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teacherwith2kids · 19/09/2013 19:33

DS left his first school in the middle of Y1 as a school-induced selective mute, mainly owing to the desperately poor classroom management of his teacher (and as a consequence the treatment he got from poorly behaved children in his class).

However, this was a teacher who had, in previous years, been cited by parents as brilliant.

What had changed? She had returned from maternity leave, probably too early. She was unquestionable hugely sleep-deprived. The class was a difficult one, and the staff as a whole just beginning to slide into chaos (the school slumped into Special Measures not long afterwards).

DS, after a short period of HE, thrived in a new school elsewhere.

Did I complain about the teacher? No, she was clearly going through a horrible period in her life (she left not long afterwards, took a year off then a new part time job elsewhere) and DS happened to bear some of the fallout. It might be the case here too.

Original poster

jillyrg · 19/09/2013 19:35

And bretgirl2, if it was your child involved I'm sure you would be as mad as me! A 50 year old woman should not terrify a child.

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teacherwith2kids · 19/09/2013 19:36

Sorry, X-posts. There are poor teachers, and it is entirely fair to complain about them if they are not to tarnish the reputation of the profession (I would say, though, that it is not true that 'every school has one' - as a parent, I have encountered only the sleep-deprived young mum over 3 schoools, and as a teacher I have encounterd vanishingly few over several schools)

Dogonabeanbag · 19/09/2013 19:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

jillyrg · 19/09/2013 19:44

No I don't necessarily agree that every school has one either. I'm not slating the school just thus particular teacher and the head for not providing any answers To my initial complaint about her. My child loved school in reception and I'm confident he will love it again. We certainly haven't had the usual drama in getting him there. Thanks for the response, I have the info I need now, I'll decide if I make the complaint, I know I'm not the first to complain about her to the school at least.

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teacherwith2kids · 19/09/2013 19:45

Dogon, I think that is fair comment. The OP could be seen as vindictive if she not only moves her child but also complains about the teacher from afar. However, if there is strong evidence that others are still siffering, then this additional complaint will give weight (I, for example, did contribute a short paragraph describing DS's experiences in the school as part of a formal investigation of his old school by the LA and then by Ofsted, follwing a request to me from parents still at the school. It has wholly turned round under new management)

Original poster

jillyrg · 19/09/2013 19:45

Thanks dogonabeanbag, I appreciate your response x

OP posts:

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