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

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

Primary education

Unknown new teacher for September -just found out

33 replies

Maxiebaby · 19/08/2009 17:55

Am I right to be annoyed at my DD's school's disorganisation/lack of communication and the impact that has on the kids and parents?

We were told last term by newsletter that DD's class was having a new teacher (ie completely new to the school) when they move into year 1 in September. The kids have met her briefly though to us parents so far she was just a name.
Today I found out on the grapevine, quite by chance and only 2 weeks before the start of term that this teacher has in fact turned down the job and we are getting someone else.

There was no indication the appointment wasn't definite so firstly I feel we have been misled. Secondly I am cross that the school cant inform us formally by letter of something as major as this. Surely we shouldnt have to find out about this on the grapevine, (which means some mums may not find out at all of course).

It seems very unsettling for the kids to come in on the first day of term and not even know the name of the teacher let alone have met her! My DD's class had supply teachers for long periods in reception so I am worried about more instability and uncertainty for them, and am unimpressed with the school's lack of organisation and communication (sadly only too typical).
DD had a hard time with her reception teacher and we wanted to be more confident about the year 1 teacher. Now we have nothing at all to go on.

Am I overreacting or do you think this is acceptable in what is supposed to be a good State primary?

To be fair I guess the school may only just have found out and they may be planning on advising us properly, but I really dont know.

We were disillusioned with the school last year and hoped things would improve this year, but this is not a good start!

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AspasiaManos · 19/08/2009 17:57

Well the teacher may have let the school down at the last minute (ds1's reception teacher vanished a few weeks into his first term and never came back!).

Are the other parents sure of these facts? Like you say the school may be about to send out a letter.

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BadgersArse · 19/08/2009 18:00

you are way overreacting
apointment of teachers is the HEads job not yours

what happend if you didnt " approve"
just roll with it imo

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cocolepew · 19/08/2009 18:00

Over reaction.

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BadgersArse · 19/08/2009 18:01

and its the holidays
the head is prob up to ears workign in HER time off appointing a new memeber of staff - you shoudl be pleased she has got someone suitable

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Sagacious · 19/08/2009 18:02

If the original teacher has met her perspective class perhaps she decided she didn't like them and scarpered.

Not the schools fault

[runs]

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TheFallenMadonna · 19/08/2009 18:02

People change their mind. We were let down by someone we appointed a good month after we appointed her. Fortunately we had enough time to find a replacement before the end of term, but if the new teacher bailed recently, then I'm afraid you will probably find a supply teacher come September. And not really through the fault of the school.

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BadgersArse · 19/08/2009 18:02

propective surely?

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llareggub · 19/08/2009 18:03

You are over-reacting, and I think you know that really!

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Sagacious · 19/08/2009 18:03

prospective

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primarymum · 19/08/2009 18:03

It may well not be the schools fault, teachers are not meant to turn a post down after being offered it! If this is what has happened the school has done very well to find a replacement at all, teachers resignation and emplyment dates are usually set in stone! The office staff aren't normally paid during the holidays so there may not be anyone to communicate with. I agree that this is not the situation anyone wants to be in, but the school probably aren't best pleased either! Teachers are normally back at school 1/2 days before the beginning of term so I would phone/call in and make some enquiries

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cazzybabs · 19/08/2009 18:03

they will be fine..I teach year 1 - they are so adaptable at that age...what if you knew the teacher but suddenly she went on sick leave or got called for jury service and they had to get a supply teacher in...
But if all you have heard is on the grapevine - is is possibly wrong and you will get the named teacher or it right -

the trouble is schools close down over the summer - there may be no-one in the write the letter etc...headteacher may be on holiday (heaven forbid) etc

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TheFallenMadonna · 19/08/2009 18:03

surely not?

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Sagacious · 19/08/2009 18:04

Bet the teacher was perceptive though hence legging it

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weegiemum · 19/08/2009 18:05

This is perfectly normal.

I was informed that my dd2 was to have Mrs A at the end of last term. When she went in on Monday, turns out she had Miss B.

So what? She is qualified, has been through interview, is approved by GTCS, has a disclosure check, had been chosen for the job over all other candidates who applied.

Mrs A had got a promoted post elsewhere.

What do you want the HT to do? Come in during the holidays (on top of the interviewing/shortlisting etc) and either call you or write you a letter to say that the name of the teacher had changed? I think that is unreasonable.

Either you trust the school or you don't. If not, move.

All the teaching jobs I held before I had kids were appointed at the start of the summer holidays. It never crossed my mind that parents might not have been happy that they didn't know who I was!

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weegiemum · 19/08/2009 18:07

(appointment/resignation dates not set in stone in Scotland!)

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primarymum · 19/08/2009 18:09

(Assumed it wasn't Scotland as it says Yr1 rather than P2)

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weegiemum · 19/08/2009 18:10

(me too! Just explaining why dd2's teacher had been able to resign for her new post when she did!)

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Goblinchild · 19/08/2009 18:10

It happens occasionally, although frowned on.
A teacher gets a better offer, home situations change, you could ask the school for an explanation when term starts as to what happened.
The hard thing about accepting a job (explanation not excuse) is that you usually have to give your answer on the day . So you can't say 'I've got an interview in three days time, can I give you an answer on Thursday?'
So sometimes people say yes, go to the other interview and say yes and withdraw from the first job.

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cocolepew · 19/08/2009 18:12

Do you really care enough to ask the school what happened? Really?

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Goblinchild · 19/08/2009 18:13

Oh, I think she does!

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FritesMenthe · 19/08/2009 18:17

Over-reaction. You knew NOTHING about the original teacher, except her name

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cocolepew · 19/08/2009 18:19

I think you're right Goblin.

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Fruitysunshine · 19/08/2009 18:19

Chiiiilllllllll

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TheFallenMadonna · 19/08/2009 18:21

I am wondering why a letter telling you that effectively one name has been switched for another would be necessary. I do understand that having supply teachers for a long time in reception isn't good, but it really isn't the fault of the school either.

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vinblanc · 19/08/2009 18:25

You are over-reacting. If you don't know Miss Smith, and she really turns out to be the equally unknown Miss Brown, you are hardly in a worse position that you were in July.

You don't have any say in the appointment of a member of staff. This is up to the Board of Governors. They don't have to seek parental permission for changes in school. You just have to trust them.

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