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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

New recruit teacher is inadequate

459 replies

BoboChic · 15/09/2015 06:41

This, basically. DD in Y7 started secondary school 2 weeks ago. One - and only one - of her teachers is totally inadequate. He is a new recruit. Parents and pupils have noticed pretty quickly that he doesn't have the first inkling of the subject he is supposed to be teaching. One approach has already been made to the school to alert them. What are the best words to use to describe this situation? Inadequate? Lacking subject knowledge?

OP posts:
gingerdad · 15/09/2015 06:44

Come on give him a chance. Two weeks into a new school how can you tell so quickly he's inadequate?

Rainuntilseptember15 · 15/09/2015 06:45

Examples needed,

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 06:48

I'm not going to expose the horrors on the internet as it isn't necessary. I just need the jargon!

OP posts:
Kez100 · 15/09/2015 06:50

Why has this conclusion been drawn?

By new recruit, do you mean newly qualified? Or just a new appointment? Nqt s get a lot of support and observations so any major problem they probably already know about.

pictish · 15/09/2015 06:50

Gosh two weeks in and he's 'inadequate'. Are you a teacher of this subject yourself?

Kez100 · 15/09/2015 06:51

How can we describe a situation with accurate jargon with no examples?

fuctifino · 15/09/2015 06:51

How do you know this, is it on your dd's say so?
2nd week back, it is too early to judge. If he is an NQT, he will be subject to increased observations, if he is that bad, it'll show.
Give him a chance to find his feet before wading in and sticking the boot in.

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 06:52

Newly appointed but no, he's not being managed (HOD post is vacant). The analysis is really straightforward from the tasks the DC have been set / have marked.

OP posts:
pictish · 15/09/2015 06:52

Yes...jargon for what? We don't know what the problem is!

fuctifino · 15/09/2015 06:54

I don't understand how the parent's can tell. What are you all doing up at school? How have you been able to see him teach?

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 06:54

I don't need vocabulary for the analysis. I just want to check the jargon to describe a teacher with no subject knowledge and whose basic skills are inadequate.

OP posts:
Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 06:55

We see our DCs' files every day - they get set homework every lesson.

OP posts:
fuctifino · 15/09/2015 06:56

He will be managed, there is normally a dedicated teacher that 'looks after' nqt's. The hod wouldn't necessarily observe all lessons but they would be in on regular meetings

fuctifino · 15/09/2015 06:58

Can you give an example of how he is lacking in subject knowledge?
It must be dire to be evident from their books?

TheSecondOfHerName · 15/09/2015 06:59

"I have some concerns about the homework that has been set". That states the facts.

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 07:00

He is not an NQT. He has been newly recruited to the school and has never taught this subject before, however. He is 40 and has another subject specialism.

OP posts:
Kez100 · 15/09/2015 07:00

But it's week two? In week one my two were given books to cover in favourite paper. Is it the level he has set? The work incorrect? What's wrong with the marking?

If you insist on approaching the school, forget jargon, give examples and try to have a supportive tone as otherwise, after two weeks, you could look a bit daft. You don't want that with five years still to go.

You might be right of course, but if they are that bad then it will come to SLT s notice.

GloriaHotcakes · 15/09/2015 07:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 07:02

Fuctifino - he set a gap-fill style grammar exercise. It had several conceptual errors (ie it was impossible to give correct answers) and his "correction" was also littered with mistakes. DC were totally confused as they are all fully master this particular aspect of grammar.

OP posts:
Lowdoorinthewall · 15/09/2015 07:03

You don't need 'jargon'. You are not ofsted!

Just phone or email DC's form tutor and express your concerns as you have here- tasks set don't seem appropriate/ marking seems to be a problem etc.

They won't say 'Wait one moment bobo, we'll just pop MrX on capability and send you the transcript of the meeting' though. You will have to put your faith in them to deal with it- and if they are a decent school they will.

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 07:05

I do need jargon because want I feel like asking is why this moron got the job!

OP posts:
Changedtoday · 15/09/2015 07:06

Are you concerned they are repeating material covered in primary Y6? That's quite normal as teachers need to bring all pupils to a common standard. In our case it's in French and the teacher explained to the pupils why this was happening. Have you got subject leaders, heads of year that you can contact? No need for jargon, explain your concerns.

Kez100 · 15/09/2015 07:08

Raise the issue and stick to facts or examples . Forget comments like no subject knowledge at all as that is highly unlikely and only serves to make it sound like you are exaggerating the situation. You want to come across as level headed and adding things like "at all" for dramatic effect are not necessary.

If the work is that bad and could out the teacher, you are right not to put it on here.

Devilishpyjamas · 15/09/2015 07:11

Why on earth are all the parents getting together and hovering over year 7 homework? I only know about 3 parents in ds2's class & he's in year 9.

Just email & say you're concerned. Personally I'd give him a bit longer before getting all flustered.

noblegiraffe · 15/09/2015 07:12

You phone up and say 'I'm concerned that X has set my DC incorrect work, please can this be monitored.

But if the guy isn't a specialist and the HOD role is empty it sounds like the school is struggling to recruit. It may be a case of X or no one, so don't expect X to be sacked and replaced with someone better.

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