GCSE teacher leaving - no replacement

[Ffodessip]

DS is at a small, independent, specialist school (ASD). He is academically able and has been working hard toward his GCSE'S. He has learned today that the English teacher leaves next week and there is currently no replacement lined up. He suffers with anxiety so this is really not helping
I will be contacting the school next week to see what is happening but where do we stand if they have no teacher?

First I'd check with school that he has facts straight. My DS (also ASD) often completely misunderstands teachers, especially if they use lots of figurative language that he takes literally.

Is he in yr 10 or yr 11?

Reassure him that the texts are the same, the exam board the same - none of this will change.

And if he's correct I'd let other parents know and put pressure on the HT to come up with a replacement asap.

He's in year 11. It was announced to the pupils that the teacher was leaving. Ds then spoke to the HT who said that he was trying to sort something out. There have been some staffing issues before but as it's so close to exams I am worried. Don't know any other parents as the school is not a local one.

Look, it's almost certain that if they don't get an actual replacement, they'll rejig timetables to give the year 11 class to an actual English teacher from within the department and that teacher's year 7, 8 or 9 class will get an RS or tech teacher or a TA or a supply or random covers. The exam class will be a priority.

Wait until school work it out; I'm sure that will be pretty soon.

Agree with Ralph, it's as much in the interest of the school, as is it in your DS that the class have a specialist teacher to get them up to the exam. It's highly unlikely that they'll take the risk that a whole class perform poorly, as that will reflect on the school as well as the students.

Rejigging of timetables is what will happen.

With only 6 weeks after Easter until year 11 have their exams, it's not worth them employing a teacher for one term. After year 11 and year 13 go, they will then re jig the timetable for the final 5 or 6 weeks of term.

They will have his lessons covered by a cover supervisor or possibly swap round a couple so there is a specialist teacher.

Just to point out Ralph that a lot of schools will all teach English to year 11 at the same time - so may no be possible to replace with a specialist.

There is no English department or any other spare teachers that I know of.It's a very small school of around 40 children so not many are in year 11. I was wondering whether they could get a tutor in but it's a bit late notice now.

If it is a known absence then they will have planned for it.

Hmm, I'm not too sure. Children with asd need to be advised of change in advance and this hadn't happened

They need to employ an English teacher on a short term contract from an agency. Don't let them fob you off with cover teachers. They might try to do this to save money.

Jeanne there are very few English teachers on supply books! We had a similar issue

No news on what is happening with regard to a replacement teacher. Another parent has actually made contact with me today as they are also concerned. School are apparently not responding to phone messages or emails about this so I will chase this up tomorrow and hope for a response.