Fair?

[Zena85]

DS attends a 3 form entry school.

We have been told which teachers will be teaching which classes for next year. Every year for the past 3 years DS class has been given a newly qualified teacher whilst the other 2 classes have had well respected and thought of teachers with heaps of experience. Is there any rhyme or reason to this?

As parents we are requesting a meeting with the Head. Will that change anything?

Has there actually been any issues with the teachers?

I’d assume that your son’s class is the ‘easier’ class so they put the new teacher in there. Is staff turn over high?

They probably think his class is the better behaved one and more suited for an NQT!

What difference do you feel it will make and why are you speaking to the head? It isn't really up to you, I'm sure she knows what will work best in the school.

Yes what has he not been getting, that he would have got from a more experienced teacher? Like actually, not "well an NQT might not be able to..."

I’d say behaviour wise they were all the same.
No issues but the other teachers have much more experience. At meet the teacher session, the other year group teachers have led sessions. Ours this year didn’t have a clue and kept saying to the others isn’t that right.

Are they all falling behind academically? Have the school not addressed that at all? It’s not really clear what the issue is

Also, just a note, it's an ECT now - Early Careers Teacher, and they are given this status for 2 years post qualifying.

Frankly, that sounds like a silly reason to be demanding a meeting with the head.

Collectively we just feel it’s about having 1 experienced teacher and that’s based on fairness. Every year we get the new teacher. That’s all. I’m not leading the complaint, but just thought I’d post here to see if it sounds a weak argument.

I feel so sorry for your school. I'd be so embarrassed to be part of such a group of parents.

You still haven’t said what the issue is. What is wrong with having a new teacher? What negative impact is it having on the class?

Well there’s 30 of us all thinking the same! And thank you for the ECT correction.

Experienced teachers are not always better than new teachers.

If there was any notion of his class not progressing as much or equally as the other classes, then they would not have done this. In a good school, ECTs are very well mentored for 2 years and have time outside the classroom each week, on top of their PPA, to become confident 'full' teachers. I would not worry.

Can none of you think for yourselves? You’ve not managed to give a proper reason for your complaint but maybe between the 30 of you, you’ll manage to find at least one!
The poor HT - all the parents moaning but not sure what about other than a chorus of ‘it’s not fair’

edited a typo

I was just about to say the same! Mob mentality at it's finest - I expect they've all wound each other up on the WhatsApp group!

On the plus side you’re getting an enthusiastic teacher at the beginning of their career not a knackered fed up one. They will have all the latest training, extra support etc They might not be as good at dealing with the parents though because they sound quite terrifying. They’ll be great with the kids though. Planning is most likely to be done as a group with other teachers teaching the same year group, so there won’t be much difference in content.

They’ll have access to all the existing curriculum resource at the school, they’ll most likely be mentored by an experienced teacher, and they’ll be full of enthusiasm. They’re also fresh out of learning how to be a teacher, so should be well up to date on the latest pedagogical research, potentially unlike some more experienced teachers.
Do you think they’ll be confident and ready to teach your sons class after 30 parents get together to tell they they think they’ll be useless before we’ve even got to September 1st?

Honestly OP, I can see your point of view. As a former teacher, I can confirm that every lesson I taught in my final (12th?) year whilst feeling pissed off and wanting not to be there, was considerably better than any lesson I taught as a fresh new enthusiastic NQT (as it was then). i got excellent feedback as an NQT and everyone said I was brilliant but when I look back I can see massive areas for development, as I’m sure most teachers can.

That said, I’m sure the school are aware of the experience of each teacher they employ and have considered this. If one class was falling behind in data (as they surely would be if they’d had consistently poor/patchy teaching from a series of bad teachers) this would be noticed and something done.

I think it’s ok to request a meeting to discuss and see what they say but don’t go in all guns blazing.

I once worked in a 3 form entry school where classes were mixed every year. I once tracked the teachers some kids in a particular year group had had…one had bounced between 2 outstanding teachers, having each for 2 years. Another had had 3 NQTs, then a second year teacher who had significant periods of illness throughout the year. Those 2 children would have had very different experiences of that school.

Some would say you get the benefit of them still being bright and enthusiastic before the system drains their will to live.

On the plus side you’re getting an enthusiastic teacher at the beginning of their career not a knackered fed up one

Enthusiastic right up until the first day of term, when they meet 30 sets of parents (or at least, 30 mummies) who make it clear that they consider that their DC are being short changed by being in his / her class.

Look on the bright side, @Zena85 , if the teacher is a first year ECT, there'll be quite a decent chunk out of the week when your DC won't be abandoned to their sole charge.

Don't be that parent who complains before there's actually something to complain about. You are not in the classroom I presume? Therefore you have no idea what the other classes are really like behind closed doors compared to your son's.

Experienced teacher doesn't always equate to better teacher. ECTs have had access to the most up to date training. They often bring lots of energy and enthusiasm to the role, along with new ideas. There are plenty of experienced teachers in schools up and down the country who parents secretly hope their child doesn't get. How can you judge someone you don't even know yet?

IF there are issues down the line with this new teacher, raise it then. Definitely not before.

I must say, it's unusual for a 3 form entry school not to mix their classes each year. That causes great controversy and complaints from parents too, who think they know how to run the school better. Headteachers can never please everyone.

Yes so what you are actually complaining about is some stereotype you have of an NQT, not the NQT shortcomings of the NQT(s) your child actually has. You don't even appear to be able to concretely describe that stereotype properly. I pity the school.

Totally agree