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Secondary education

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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:
Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 07:42

What about the children? Why not feel sorry for them. They were very upset to do so badly - until they were reassured by the fact that all the parents were in agreement and the teacher was wrong.

OP posts:
InimitableJeeves · 15/09/2015 07:43

Have you taken copies of the work in question? These things have a way of disappearing when schools are challenged.

Bubblesinthesummer · 15/09/2015 07:44

TBH you are coming accross really badly ans that a group of parents are 'ganging up' for want of a better word on a new teacher.

Bubblesinthesummer · 15/09/2015 07:45

*in that

Shutthatdoor · 15/09/2015 07:46

If this is a French school, how are posters supposed to know the 'correct jargon', laws etc Hmm

SheGotAllDaMoves · 15/09/2015 07:46

Sounds like the school are struggling to recruit in this subject?
Is this due to a general shortage? Or is it an issue with the this school?

The answer to this will tell you much about how best to proceed and what outcomes you can hope for.

Lurkedforever1 · 15/09/2015 07:48

I don't know what the correct teaching jargon is, but in any situation I want to say 'what are you going to do about it?' I use ones such as 'How would you suggest we go forward?' 'How can we best resolve this?'

BlowOnMySackbutt · 15/09/2015 07:50

I know that teacher bashing is commonplace in England but I'm a bit surprised that it's now taking place in France where teachers train for much longer and the standards are higher, ime. I can't see how a teacher can go through their rigorous system successfully without showing excellent subject knowledge.
Two weeks is far too early to come to any meaningful assessment of how the year will pan out. Also, if the teacher is ousted then the children may well be in the position of having no teacher and having cover staff who know even less.

Aramynta · 15/09/2015 07:52

Perhaps, OP, you should mention it in the meeting and leave it at that. Give this teacher a chance to make a change and rectify?

Was there really any need to ask the other parents to join the gang, so to speak, instead of just handling it as an individual?

It all smacks of bullying to be honest. It also sounds like you have a personal dislike for the teacher in question, rather than it being a purely educational issue.

Hmm
RedMapleLeaf · 15/09/2015 07:54

I don't think the behaviour of the parents sets a good example to your children to be honest.

RedMapleLeaf · 15/09/2015 07:55

I hope that this teacher can earn a living by the time you are done with him.

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 07:56

Pfff, Blow. Lots of teachers in France come straight from the job centre - no training needed!

OP posts:
SheGotAllDaMoves · 15/09/2015 07:57

OP says the subject is not this teacher's specialism. Which, together with no HOD, points to problems in recruitment.

If the recruitment problems stem not from a national ( or regional) shortage but a school issue, then though that sounds more fa mining, it's actually easier to fix.

rollonthesummer · 15/09/2015 08:00

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

I can't believe you wrote that. Nice.

Original poster
BoboChic · 15/09/2015 08:02

Red - what are we supposed to say our DC? "The teachers who you and we all loved and supported for the past 8 years and got you to a very high standard were in fact wrong and this new person, whose ideas are completely different to any you have seen before, is right?"

Come on....

OP posts:
MumTryingHerBest · 15/09/2015 08:03

BoboChic French employment law

Can I just ask, where does the French employment law come into it? This might be crucial for people offering advice and assistance. It will be particularly pertinent in the context of employment law.

I would imagine, as with any employment dismissal case, a solid case of incompetence, over a sustained period of time will be required to demonstrate the individual is not suitable for the job. The only exception to this will be gross misconduct.

BoboChic Blow no. We have the schemes of work from previous years (lots of parents with older DC).

Bit confused by this point as I thought he was new to the school. Could you just clarify approx. how long he has been at the school please as this statement suggests a number of years?

RedMapleLeaf · 15/09/2015 08:04

You can demonstrate calmness, respect and kindness.

Or you can demonstrate name-calling, disrespect and bullying.

TheFallenMadonna · 15/09/2015 08:05

I can't give you the "jargon" for France, nor can I tell you how best to approach the school. In the UK, I would email the person responsible for Teaching and Learning (usually a senior leader) in the absence of a HOD, and ask them to investigate your concerns re subject knowledge.

coffeeisnectar · 15/09/2015 08:05

I think you need to calm down a bit and just ask for a meeting to discuss your concerns.

You are coming across as quite aggressive tbh.

longtimelurker101 · 15/09/2015 08:08

You have schemes of work? That is fairly rare, I'm surprised you don't decide to teach it yourself.

GnomeDePlume · 15/09/2015 08:21

Having had to complain about a teacher, my experience was:

  • keep it calm
  • keep it factual
  • keep it relevant only to your own child

Dont make disparaging remarks about overall effectiveness. Dont criticise the teacher's competence. Just be specific to the concerns you have relating to your child.

WyrdByrd · 15/09/2015 08:25

OK, you've got evidence that things aren't right and you know that this teacher, whilst experienced, is not used to teaching this particular subject, so how about coming at it from that perspective?

"We are aware that Mr X is new to the subject and have been very concerned about examples x,y,z of homework and it's marking. Can you tell us what measures are being put in place to support Mr X given that there is also no head of department at the moment, as we are worried about the impact on our children's learning."

At least initially, you will probably get a better response by trying to be positive and non-confrontational rather than going in all guns blazing spouting wanky 'jargon'.

Kuppenbender · 15/09/2015 08:26

Statements such as 'he doesn't have the first inkling of the subject he's supposed to be teaching' really won't go down well. You couldn't possibly make that judgement on the strength of pupil hearsay and one homework. Exaggeration won't help your case.

Even if you've got some Norman Wisdom-style character teaching your Y7 dc, the strongest language I would use would be that you 'have concerns' about the teacher in question. List the facts, not impressions/gut feelings and give it a month or so. If the teacher doesn't improve, try another email/letter ramping that up to 'strong concerns'.

Personally, unless my child's safety was in question or it was a GCSE/A level year, I wouldn't even consider making any kind of complaint until at least half-term.

guineapigpie · 15/09/2015 08:33

Is this teacher trying to teach a foreign language (to him)?? If they have no HoD and can't recruit a specialist in the subject, then you're on to a loser in that subject already! What is this teacher's specialist subject? Does he actually get to teach that, too? It seems a bit harsh to be so critical of the teacher when he doesn't claim to be a specialist in that subject, rather than the school which asked him to teach it.

Stillunexpected · 15/09/2015 08:35

Please answer one question - are you in France?

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