Same teacher 2 years in a row

[Notcatchingtheworm]

My DD goes to a large primary school (3 form entry). She’s moving from Y2 to Y3 and we’ve just found out she’ll be keeping her teacher.

I’m not very pleased about it partly because I don’t really rate the teacher (although I’m trying really hard not to let that colour my view - and definitely make sure my DD doesn’t know how I feel).

My other reason though is that I assume it isn’t seen as good practice - otherwise the school would move teachers with the class more often. It’s a large school, so they could easily manage another way - but have choosen to do this. So...

Does anyone know professionally know if it is ‘bad practice’ or at least not best practice - and if not why not?

I know the school will say is for continuity reasons (as there are other issues with the teaching arrangements) - but just interested in any counter arguments.

It happens a lot, we've just had a switch around and most staff have moved year groups, mostly because of people leaving and not being able to find a new teacher for the year they were in, so having to shuffle round existing staff that had more experience.

In most cases the same teacher for more than 1 year is a good thing, it doesn't happen all the time because most staff have their preferred year groups (and some classes you really wouldn't want 2 years running) The first few weeks of each year are spent getting to know each other and getting the children used to that teachers expectations, keeping the same teacher means they can skip that and get straight on with teaching.

) The first few weeks of each year are spent getting to know each other and getting the children used to that teachers expectations, keeping the same teacher means they can skip that and get straight on with teaching.

This! this! This! Thus is what I loved last September when DS went back to the same teacher.Bish bash bosh, straight into the curriculum.

It takes a while to get to know 30 children and what type of learning suits them. I can imagine if I went up with my current class that they would have an excellent year in terms of attainment because I know them so well.

I only know one teacher that had this. It was to do with safeguarding issues; there were a few children who disclosed very serious things to her and they felt it was important she remained with them.

It was the norm where I grew up, for primary school, to have the same teacher for two or three years. I always found it odd that little 4/5/6 year olds are thought to gain something from switching teachers every year, whereas it makes perfect sense to me that it can be very advantageous to keep the same teacher.

My experience with DS here has been that by the time the teachers really understood how he ticks the school year was winding down and children were getting ready to move to the next teacher.

On the other hand, I have learned to appreciate the point that each teacher has different strengths and also a different character. If your child has the same teacher for two/three years who happens to be brilliant with struggling kids and really great at unlocking their potentials, but puts very able kids very far down in their priorities, then you might be overjoyed to keep them or you might be disappointed, depending on what kind of child you have.

I have also found each new teacher to be a chance to experience 'what school can also be like'. Coming from abroad, I did not know what to expect from school; various teachers have demonstrated to me that 'what school is like' varies quite a lot depending on your teacher.

From that perspective, I am a little disappointed that DS will be having a teacher he already had in a previous year for next year. But I do value the stability that this option promises.

I've been teaching a long time and schools seem to be waking up to the fact that this is actually very good practice if at all possible. The class can hit The ground running rather than there being a month or so of getting to know their gaps. Lots of info is passed up but it's so much better to know them properly.