Is it worth complaining about a teacher or could it end up putting DD at a disadvantage?

[Titsywoo]

So DD is in year 7 and got put in the top set. The work they are doing seems a bit much for so early on and she is getting confused. The main problem according to her is that the maths teacher sets the work then disappears into the corner of the room and plays on his phone! So they can't ask him questions. I don't see why she would make this up and I am a bit pissed off. But I don't know that rocking the boat this early on will be helpful for DD.

What would others do?

I would be tempted to contact the form tutor and say 'DD feels she is struggling in maths as she is finding the work hard and doesn't appear to be confident to ask the teacher for help. Could you have a word with her and/or see what her teacher thinks?'

Or even include ' we are wondering whether she is in the best set for her' if you wouldn't mind her going down a set.

Or email maths teacher and say similarly.

I would contact the head of Maths/head of year/head of house - they need to be made aware of this. I'm a head of house and would be investigating this immediately. The teacher doesn't need to know who reported this - an unexpected visit from a colleague/line manager can sort it out quick enough.

I'd mention it. It's not on at all and your daughter should not be disadvantaged by you raising this ( children whose parents complain reasonably or otherwise are never disadvantaged in my experience)

What TeenAndTween said. It's all in the wording. I would raise your concerns but focus on the difficulties your DD is having rather than commenting on the quality of teaching.

I would first of all suggest some ways for your Dd to politely interrupt the teacher's activity when she needs advice or clarity.

If this doesn't work or she doesn't feel she can I would send an e mail to the teacher, cc'd to Head of Maths saying Dd sometimes needs clarification during lessons but is unsure if it is ok to ask for help when the teacher is busy at his desk during the working time: how should she seek advice on the work they have been set?

Just as a warning - a parent complained about her daughter in my year 7 class today as I had allegedly never marked her book and didn't know her name.
Complained straight to head.
Head saw the child on the corridor (parents are friends of his) and asked to see her book. Marked up to date. I follow the policy of books being marked every two weeks.

He then asked me a question and I was able to tell him the girl's grades, prior achievement and her targets. Without checking. I also described her as 'the tiny one with glasses and curly hair'.

So in other words the child made it all up. No idea why.

What happens if they put their hand up to ask a question?

I had cause to raise an issue about my DD's maths teaching. Kept it factual and specific to my DD. The issue was resolved and there was no comeback from the teacher.

I raised the issue with her form teacher who involved HoY and HoD.