DC's teacher doesn't seem up to the job

[hebe242]

My DD yr10 came home from school today and said her new this term Spanish teacher had told them that they were having a controlled assessment soon and that she didn't know what it was on or when it was going to be!
DD was doing really well under her previous teacher but says that this one hasn't taught them any thing and often goes a whole lesson without speaking spanish. DD has taken to making her own notes from her text book in desperation.
I don't want this situation to continue but I feel the teacher has only been in the school a few weeks.

To add to my problems I don't know who to complain to as the current HT and deputies are leaving at the end of the summer. The new HT is in the school twice a week but I've already had a grumble about 2 other staff recently (who are now also leaving at the end of term). I don't want to appear to be causing trouble but this is such an important year.

If the teacher has 8nly recently started it may be that she has not been given the full SoW so won't know the dates. I would advise rather than HT, speak to HoD and explain your concerns - my guess is that this will give the HoD a reminder to sort this out

The school is really small and only has 3 language teachers. I'm not sure which one is HoD but I guess if I call the school they should be able to tell me. I'm still concerned about the lack of teaching in lessons too.

The school is really small and only has 3 language teachers. I'm not sure which one is HoD but I guess if I call the school they should be able to tell me. I'm still concerned about the lack of teaching in lessons too.

Oops sorry I'm new to this

The teacher isn't allowed to tell them what the assessment is on until she actually gives it to the class! She could obviously tell them when it is, but perhaps being new she doesn't know herself yet.

Perhaps give her a bit longer if you can. Things might settle down soon, and there's plenty of work your dd can be doing if she's a well motivated student, which it sounds as if she is.

I would be questioning why so many teachers are leaving?!?!

The way she worded it was as if she didn't know what it was on herself. That was my concern. I guess I'm just going to have to give it a bit longer before I get over concerned.
Friedbrain
I didn't want to out the school but there had been problems in the past and it's now under new management (and IMO these changes are for the best)

Why are the senior management team all leaving -

It sounds more like an issue with the school than the teacher.

I I really can't say without outing the school. It's generally a great school but there have been problems and apparently anyone leaving is through there own choice.

That says it all really though. If they're leaving through choice surely things aren't up to scratch? Also, if a new teacher hasn't been informed about the CA or isn't up to date on the SoW that's the departments fault. There is no way that she could just not know if she has been told, no one is that forgetful.

It does sound as if something is seriously wrong further up the chain of command. I'm just hoping the school sorts itself out quickly as I don't want DD going into assessments unprepared.

I would find out who the HOD is, and email them asking when all controlled assessments are. S/he should be able to answer that quite easily.

I would be wondering if the school is financially viable? No money for salaries next year maybe so rats leaving the sinking ship?

I really just wanted to know what to do about this teacher who according to my daughter and her class doesn't teach them spanish in a Spanish lesson. I can see that her not knowing the date of the controlled assessment is down to the school so they are to blame for that but for her to spend most of yesterday's lesson talking about the weather and shoes(not in Spanish) doesn't seem right.

Find out who the HoD is from the school office. Email him/her saying you have questions about what's happening with dd's Spanish GCSE and ask for a phone call back to clarify.

Don't go in saying the teacher isn't up to the job, it will make the HoD defensive. Make it about dd. You don't know what's been happening in the classroom and you want to find out. Ask for more details about the controlled assessment. Tell her that dd feels the new teacher hasn't taught them any thing and often goes a whole lesson without speaking Spanish. DD does not feel that she will be prepared for her controlled assessment. You are concerned and want a response.

Thanks for your advice fubbsy. I do want this teacher to have a chance but I'm aware that every lesson is important. I'm going to ring the school and hopefully the HoD will be able to sort this out.

As a HoD (at a settled, "Outstanding" school - so in a position, I would hope, to advise from a successful angle), I would recommend making contact with the HoD and clarifying.

There may have been a misunderstanding.

I have had many ranty, rude phonecalls over the years about Controlled Assessments and tests supposedly happening the next day, which turned out to be "this is what we'll be doing in 6 weeks" confusion.
I have also had (far more) phone calls to clarify what students are doing, and when the assessment will be.
The student/DC is far more likely to be calm and reassured if the norm is the second (OK, don't worry, adults will sort this out - rather than OH NO IT'S ALL WRONG from the adults concerned), and they are who we are focused on.

First spek to HoD and Head of School, even if departing. You may want to pass on a copy of your written communication to the governors to make sure this discussion is taken seriously as the Head is departing and the HoD is not in a position to make regarding HR. And get a tutor in place quickly to bridge the shortcomings until the school gets the problem sorted out and your daughter's learning does not suffer.

So I called the school and calmly asked who was HoD and would it be possible to have a word with them re some confusion over the controlled assessment. I was told there wasn't a HoD and what was my problem. I explained that the teacher had told the class that the assessment was coming up but didn't know when it was or what it was on and that this had alarmed my Dd and could the school clarify what was going on. I didn't mention my misgivings about the teacher's teaching. The receptionist said she'd get someone from the Spanish department to call. My fear is that it may be the teacher herself and she still won't know anymore about the controlled assessment. I also can't really ask about the lack of Spanish in the lesson if it's the teacher herself. I'm really feeling frustrated.

That doesn't sound very encouraging. Wait to see what you get out of the phone call, but you probably will have to go to the Head after that. Even if she is leaving soon, she still should be doing her job now.

One of the more senior teachers rang back and told me the assessment will be after half term and what the topic is. She told me to tell DD not to worry as they will be prepared. I thanked her but I did also mention that DD had said that the teacher gets distracted from the subject sometimes. I said this was just DD's opinion but was it possible that it could be looked into which she agreed to do. So hopefully it'll be resolved but I might start looking for a local tutor just in case.

Hebe was that the receptionist? In the nicest possible way, just as with a Dr's receptionist shouldn't comment on medical matters, she shouldn't be commenting on staffing (I have had some pretty weird things sent my way from reception staff in the past and also had one tell a parent I wasn't HoY when I was).

Thankfully sounds like there is a senior member of staff in charge. She will look into the teaching, with visits and observations. Hopefully this will put things back on track.