Why would every Y6 teacher leave the school?

[brilliotic]

Single form intake, supposedly 'outstanding' primary school, that was last OFSTED-ed 11 years ago. Used to have stellar results, but they have been sliding in recent years. Still above average though, for attainment AND progress. 'New' headteacher started 6 years ago (was not new to the school though).

Since then, every single Y6 teacher left the school at the end of the school year. I wouldn't know if they were encouraged to leave or if they gave notice, but not a single teacher has 'survived' teaching Y6.

Some were new appointments, so they were at the school for one year and then left again.
Some were longstanding class teachers at the school in a different year group, moved to Y6, left at the end of that year.
When no 'longstanding' teachers were left (there is not a single class teacher remaining from before 'new' headteacher), some were teachers who taught Y6 after a year of teaching a different year group (so they wouldn't have known the 'curse' on Y6) - they too left after a year in Y6.

What would this make you think? As a teacher, as a parent? After six consecutive teachers leaving at the end of one year of teaching Y6, I am no longer inclined to think 'coincidence'.

For context, other teachers appointed by 'new' headteacher have generally stayed put, or where not, there have been known reasons (not returning after maternity leave and similar); with only one exception.

DC is moving into Y5 in September, am wondering if I need to start considering alternatives for Y6.

Were they the defence against the dark arts teacher?

I’m sorry. I apologise.

Bubbles, that kind of info (where teachers go next, after leaving our school) is quite understandably not shared with parents!

Interesting, I cannot think of a single teacher who has left DD's school without being told "Ms Z is off to take up a position of assistant head at school Y, we wish her every luck etc." and similar. Of course though it does depend on the reasons and if the teacher wants them to know. That does tend to indicate though that it's negative reasons for moving rather than positive if the teachers and SLT aren't happy sharing.

I agree sirfred. Normally we tell our students where we are going when we leave.

The turnover in y6 combined with lots of existing staff leaving and only staff remaining being from the new head tells a massive story to me. It's not a positive one.

Thequaffle

The Head isn’t new. 6 years into the role and was promoted from within. I think I read that correctly. Yes, I thought promotions were known about. Of course capability might have been used but it all seems a bit secretive.

But interesting that in the 6 years they've been head there's a revolving door in y6 with lots of old staff from the former head leaving.

I could understand the turnover in y6 if it was people being put in year 6, hating it or not being suited to it and being redeployed to other year groups based on their strengths. It's the leaving the school that concerns me.

We were told this year 2 teachers leaving , one retiring and one off to a management position elsewhere.

We have had 2 teachers leave and come back in the years my Ds was there. That says a lot to me.

Year 6 is massively stressful (SATs and the attitude year 6's get) that many teachers suggests they just aren't getting the support they should be from SLT, which yes they could go to a different year if they hate year 6 but by that point if they are feeling unsupported or possibly even got at by SLT its ruined their relationship and itd be hard to stay. I've worked in schools where we have had the same issue in year 2 and 6 because SLT get so hooked up on SATs that they forget you can only actually teach children to their ability.

Interesting, I cannot think of a single teacher who has left DD's school without being told "Ms Z is off to take up a position of assistant head at school Y, we wish her every luck etc

At my current school we've never said where teachers are going, just "Ms Z has decided it is time for a change, we wish her the best of luck" unless it is maternity and they'll be coming back.

"that kind of info (where teachers go next, after leaving our school) is quite understandably not shared with parents!"

That is a bit worrying. If the teacher leaves from my dc's school, where they are going/what they will be doing, the reason, will be shared with all the parents via news letter, every time.

Year 6 is a horrible year to teach in a school where there is lots of pressure on sats results. This is even more so when you bear in mind it is single form entry so no other year 6 teacher to work with. However it's still very odd to lose them every single year.

that kind of info (where teachers go next, after leaving our school) is quite understandably not shared with parents!

Google the teachers names and see if they come up on staff lists of other local schools. This would show then if each has left for promotion.

Also, if they had mean score of 110, the teaches's job must have been easy, as for Sats prep, if it was because of the high ability cohort. Basically, everyone is doing well, without much help from the teacher.
It does sound odd, that teachers are leaving after achieving such a great results.

Also, if they had mean score of 110, the teaches's job must have been easy, as for Sats prep, if it was because of the high ability cohort

Or the teacher's job could have been really hard to try and make sure all the kids got a high score.

Are there no Sen kids at the school, btw?

“Interesting, I cannot think of a single teacher who has left DD's school without being told "Ms Z is off to take up a position of assistant head at school Y, we wish her every luck etc”

At the school where I am governor we don’t always say why teachers are leaving. In the last few years reasons we have not disclosed are:

• a teacher left after her relationship with another teacher ended and she couldn’t handle seeing him;
• a teacher was not very good and after two years of trying to help him improve it was mutually agreed he should leave;
• a teacher objected to the school turning into an academy so resigned.

To be fair, there has always been some official info in the newsletter, but it usually is very vague and amounts to 'is going elsewhere' - sometimes with the added info that this 'elsewhere' is very far away. Sometimes no added info, so that would mean not so far I guess.
No retirements, no promotions that have been mentioned. You would think that if teachers were leaving due to promotion/retirement, and perhaps too if they were leaving teaching altogether to start a different career, it would be ok to mention in newsletter, so I guess there were different reasons.

None of the Y6 teachers have left to have a baby - when other teachers left for this reason, we've always been told.

What I know about SEN in previous Y6s is very much hear-say and rumours. The story goes that 'needs' aren't met and so by the time the children reach juniors, parents remove them to better schools. From what I've experienced myself, this sounds very plausible, but I would not claim any intent on the school's behalf. Just that provision is woeful, due to lack of staff experience, and the problem has always taken care of itself (children leaving) so there has never been any need to change (and strong results are a nice side-effect for the school).
There are low numbers of PP kids too, and what PP money there is, gets used very ineffectively (I would claim that it is subsumed into the school's general budget - at least that is the impression I get from reading between the lines of the PP report).

I do not know what the KS2 leadership model is. The deputy head doesn't have their own class, but covers PPA and teacher absences sometimes, and has numerous other roles. Head and deputy and one TA are the only staff remaining from before headteacher started.
The next Y6 cohort will be the first that has gone throught their entire primary schooling under the new head.

What is the ethos of the school? There is a lot of positive talk, but in reality it feels like 'let's spend as little money as we can get away with, and do whatever it takes to get good SATS results'.

You can look at the GB minutes and minutes of supporting committees to get a view on finances. Most schools are cutting back but a non teaching Deputy is a luxury. I would say it’s a luxury to get away with not supporting SEN either!

PP funding must be targeted on the children who qualify for it. This is used to improve their progress. If a school isn’t improving these children it won’t impress Ofsted if they ever turn up! Neither is it remotely acceptable.

No GB should ever tell the Head what to say about staff who leave. They don’t micro manage like that. It will be interesting to see what fate has in store for the new y6 teacher! I’m worried for them already. The good news is: at least you have got one. The results these children produce will reflect on the school. However do you not have any team teaching? Is the DH not a good experienced teacher who can take the booster group or similar?

Either they're leaving because they've achieved a quantifiable goal - the children they taught did well in their SATs, and the Y6 teachers can use this to help them get another, possibly better job. The interview question, 'Tell me something you have done that has positively benefitted the school/ children in some way.' has a brilliant answer.

Or there's something not-quite-right about the Y6/SATs situation. Maybe the pressure from the HT to maintain the excellent results is immense and has broken the teachers to the point were they just want to leave. Many HTs like to teach groups of Y6 children in the run up to SATs. Speaking from experience, this can be quite stressful for the Y6 teachers if the HT becomes overly critical and tries to take over. It can become like a constant lesson observation.

Or...there maybe something untoward going on regarding the administration of the tests which the Y6 teachers don't agree with. This is the most concerning scenario.

You've got to remember that good KS2 SATs results don't just come about because the Y6 teachers are good or because the cohort is high-achieving, the teaching in each year leading up to Y6 is crucial in enabling the children to achieve highly at the end of KS2. Maybe the other teachers in the school are also as amazing but don't get the recognition the deserve and this may lead to issues amongst the staff.

Do the teachers in the school move around at all? Do KS1 teachers get moved to KS2, etc, or have the school had to employ teachers specifically to teach Y6 each time someone leaves?

Either they're leaving because they've achieved a quantifiable goal - the children they taught did well in their SATs, and the Y6 teachers can use this to help them get another, possibly better job. The interview question, 'Tell me something you have done that has positively benefitted the school/ children in some way.' has a brilliant answer.

How much notice are teachers (not SLT) normally required to give? I was under the impression it was one full term, so they'd have to give notice before school re-starts in April if they didn't intend to return in September. SATs are sat in mid-May, with results back in July. Could a teacher realistically go looking for another position in September at that point?

How much notice are teachers (not SLT) normally required to give?

Teachers and SLT are required to give their notice at a half term, to go at the end of that term. So, to go at the end of a year, the resignation date is the 31st May.

Teachers and SLT are required to give their notice at a half term, to go at the end of that term. So, to go at the end of a year, the resignation date is the 31st May.

Thank you. I hadn't realised that this was different between the independent and state sectors.

Still, the critical date is well before SATs results would be known.