Just found out who DS1's Year 4 teacher is next year, and I'm not happy.....

[whippet]

She has a reputation for being grumpy and ineffectual.

Was not teaching a class last year - just doing 'support' work with a variety of children, and all those who have come into contact with her have not been impressed.

Am wondering what, if anything, we can do? Wonder if we should be talking to the Head now, or wait to see how it pans out?

But if the key subjects are streamed across the year group then she may not be teaching your son for those subjects in any event. Or, even if your ds was in another class then he may still get her for the key subjects. I guessing that you don't know who is teaching which set yet (if you do then I suspect that your head gives out more advance info than the average school!). And presumably in a prep school there will be specialist teachers for a number of subjects eg PE, swimming, Art, music, French, IT etc. I would have expected that her ability to be detrimental to your child's education is actually fairly limited?

You made an interesting point about expecting good teachers each and every year. I guess that when I selected a school for the dcs I was looking at the whole ethos and management. Of course I would love for every teacher to be entirely wonderful in every way, but I'll settle for a rich variety which is well-managed. I do think that one of the plus sides of some private schools is the fact that you are not dependent on just one class teacher to be the sole influence on the children.

Goign back to your OP I do think that you have to let it pan out. But you've obviously had quite a reaction to this news so it may be worth exploring why you feel this way. I suspect that it may not be solely about this teacher but possibly there are still issues about the class and how the increase has been handled?

Thanks LM - you make some good points.

I'm much more mellow about this today - I was having a rotten day yesterday and this was just the straw that broke the camel's back!

I think it's fair to say that we bought into the total ethos and management of the school too, and I really am generally very happy with it. However DH was probably more pro the independent school route than I, so I guess I like to feel I can see what we're paying for!

There haven't really been any issues with the 'new class', adn the school made a really good effort to make sure we all felt welcome, and we were given a highly respected, good teacher to manage the transition.
However now we just want to make sure we are 'just one of 3 Year 4 classes, and not the 'new' class forever'

I'm sure it will all work out fine, and my DS is really good at coping with all sorts of people.We've just had his end of year report, and it is fantastic - he has achieved so much this year - academically, and in his music and drama - that I'm so proud of him.

I guess we'll just have to see how it goes. It's very hard to find out what a 9 year old boy really feels about his lessons/ teachers though - "fine" is the usual response

You have my sympathies whippet as we potentially have the same situation here. In this case a person who has just qualified but has been at the school for 3 years. Anyone who has had dealings with her has been less than impressed. She messed up in admissions. She messed up as a TA. Wants to be an actress. Oh - and she is the head of primary's partner.

So we heard she would be teaching next year. A number of us wrote to the head (of the whole school) with our concerns. We got the 'buying into the ethos of the school' (almost word for word!) thing! And to an extent I agree. But I am not prepared to pay 10,000 a year for someone as ineffectual as she is.

I recently spoke to someone who knew a bit more and she reckons she will be teaching Yr 4 and her thoughts were that it is a good year as they have already learned to read and write and are starting to work more independantly.

I now don't think my DS who will be in Yr 3 will have her but I will be mega pissed off if he does.

I was in this situation last year my DD was going to have her current teacher who quite frankly is dreadful but I thought I would give her a chance and maybe DD would like this teacher.

My DS had her in year 3 and destroyed his confidence and based all parents evenings, reports on the fact that he struggled to fold paper accurately

Well the year is nearly over and my DD now has no confidence at all and hates school. The teacher is dis-organised, can't stick to the subject in lessons (have witnessed this first hand) She has no control over her class the children are very aware of this and know who to scheme to get things their way (people being moved to and from tables etc)

I was very close to withdrawing my DD from school this year but decided not to only because this teacher is leaving! (the cheering from the parents was drowned out by the cheering from the staff!)

OH dear MrsW - that sounds terrible.

I don't think this situation is nearly as bad thank goodness. However I may pop in to see the Head if only to try to find out more about my DS's new teacher's background/ experience etc.

Haven't read all the replies but if it hasn't already been said, please be careful to ensure that your ds doesn't pick up on your feelings about the teacher. Be nothing but positive in his hearing. IME children often really like a teacher that parents are not so keen on if they don't overhear adults conversations... but if you do have concerns as time goes on, obviously talk to the head.