Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

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

Original poster

Does my child really need to choose French as an option?

54 replies

user1493494748 · 29/04/2017 20:54

My child is in year 9 and has already chose her options. However, she hates French and is bad at it too. She is Gifted and Talented but French is her worst lesson. The teacher and her doesn't have a good relationship and her friends describe it as the teacher bullying her. I have heard a video of what he has said and I support what they say. So, should my child change that option into something she enjoys or carry on doing French. Also, how would this support/conflict with her future?

OP posts:
AlexanderHamilton · 29/04/2017 20:59

Why did she choose French if she hates it?

My dd didn't choose a particular because of conflicts with the teacher/unprofessional behaviour (dh teaches at the same school & putbin a formal complaint about issues he as with her that were taken out on dd)

Your dd could putvin a request to change but depending on the school/class sizes etcit may be too late.

Original poster
user1493494748 · 29/04/2017 21:04

Her tutor was put under the impression that they had to choose French. She would be able to change her option but she thinks it's too late to catch up with the rest of the class if she were to do it

OP posts:
MaisyPops · 29/04/2017 21:07

Most schools will make a language compulsory for all students capable of passing it.
It was like that when I did gcse and I think that's just increased with EBACC measures.

They're not definitely going to end up with the same teacher. I'd just play it by ear.

Darkblueskies · 29/04/2017 21:08

Is a language compulsory?

Darkblueskies · 29/04/2017 21:10

Your daughter being bullied by teacher is a separate issue. If you think she is being bullied you must contact the school. Why have you seen a video, I don't understand that bit.

AlexanderHamilton · 29/04/2017 21:10

Her tutor? Her form tutor at school or her private tutor?

My previous reply assumed she had only just chosen her options. If she goes to one of the three year gcse course schools it's probably too late. However what wouldca child joining in Year 10 do?

RandomMess · 29/04/2017 21:14

MFL is no longer compulsory!!! I had to argue with my DDs school and they have finally let her drop it and in the younger years it's no longer and automatic option thank goodness!

Original poster
user1493494748 · 29/04/2017 21:14

My daughter's friend was on snapchat whilst he was shouting at her which wasn't for the first time and they recorded him. I have gone into the school and spoke with the Deputy Head and she has spoken to him about it but his recent actions last Monday proves he hasn't stopped.

It was her form tutor that persuaded those who has the choice to do french to choose it.

And yes she has been doing French since year 7 and is now on a course to do it at school until her GCSE's are over.

OP posts:
Iamastonished · 29/04/2017 21:18

If she is in year 9 she won't have started her GCSE courses yet, so why can't she change to a different subject before they start the GCSE syllabus?

Original poster
user1493494748 · 29/04/2017 21:22

In her school and other schools in the area, they decided to start the course from Year 9.

OP posts:
MatchsticksForMyEyes · 29/04/2017 21:22

At my school they can change to a different option right up to Oct half term. I am a Head of Languages, but I still don't think making kids who are unwilling and have no aptitude for languages take it as an option is a good idea.

AlexanderHamilton · 29/04/2017 21:24

I'm surprised her friend wasn't disciplined for being on Snapchat & for recording in the classroom.

EmpireLine · 29/04/2017 21:24

On Snapchat in class?!

Original poster
user1493494748 · 29/04/2017 21:29

They had double French, so 2 hours and the teacher lets them go on their phones for the last 5 minutes before they go home but he kept her behind. My daughter had volunteering for Duke of Edinburgh with her friend so she stayed behind with her and got it on record.

OP posts:
MaisyPops · 29/04/2017 21:46

I'm amazed that they thought going on phones was appropriate as a teacher. I always thought colleagues who let kids use phones if they were well behaves were just a little bit crap if I'm honest and the kids thought they were cool but didn't respect them.

Even if teacher said they were allowed on phones, recording a member of staff like that is totally inappropriate.

The teacher shouting I would deduce comes less form bullying a child and more to do with shocking classroom management where they bribe kids with screen time.

Original poster
user1493494748 · 29/04/2017 21:55

The incidents have been happening continuously and has been happening after the final bell so it is usually only my child, a friend to stay with her and the teacher.
My child has said to me that she feels targeted by him as he has been blaming her for other pupil's test scores which she apparently is the cause of even though the are spread out separately during the tests, he tells her she is the problem in the class and she needs to sort herself out before he stops her from having 'excuses' from doing volunteering for D of E and spends more time after school revising French with him. This happens continuously so I do see it as bullying.

OP posts:
Darkblueskies · 29/04/2017 22:01

He has been blaming her for other students' test scores? Is she disruptive?

She can't quit french or change to another subject now if she's been doing her GCSE course and it's May! She'll have to make the best of it. Can you contact the teacher to see what your daughter can do to improve her French? A language GCSE is really beneficial and she may well look back on this and be proud if she manages to achieve in the end. You say she would be allowed to change her option. Is this what school has said?

Original poster
user1493494748 · 29/04/2017 22:05

No but she is popular so wherever she goes people talk to her, but this is 'her own fault because she brings attention where ever it is she us sat.' And the school has said she would be allowed but it's extremely late and she would have to put a lot of work in to catch up so they don't recommend it.

OP posts:
MaisyPops · 29/04/2017 22:49

From your extra info it sounds like the teacher is working on then principle of squashing the ring leader.

You've said she's popular and that people talk to her. Fine. She can choose whether to engage with frieemns chatymting or not. I've heard that from one of my gcse students. They are the hub of chatter. It makes it impossible on certain days to get through the lesson and those days I keep the girl back. Mum has been very supportive on the regular occasion we talk about this. I've gone as far as to tell student and mum that her obsession with gossip and chatting not only risks her own grades but is affecting others. She's settled now but it took a good few months of me and mum endlessly pulling her up for it. I don't care if she's popular or people talk to her. She can choose not to engage.

It sounds to me like the teacher isn't dealing with the situation well. E.g. bringing Duke of Edinburgh into it and blaming for other tests (we can only be responsible for our own actions). But friends recording the teacher plus the fact she's a chatterbox makes me think that she's not entirely blame free.

sashh · 30/04/2017 08:05

Sorry but she sounds like a brat.

Her teacher will probably be delighted if she swaps, but what could she swap to?

Sostenueto · 30/04/2017 08:18

Seems like your child has no respect for the teacher because she doesn't want to do the subject. Bit if 'I don't want to do this and I want my own way' . the teacher is stupid to allow any child to use phones at any time in a lesson and as far as recording goes that's definitely a no no, and finally if your child is so bright, changing to another subject should be no bother at all.

ArtemisiaGentilleschi · 30/04/2017 08:23

Your daughter sounds like she is the ringleader of the disruption going on in the class.
And I think you, and the teacher, know it. Maybe it's time to go into school to hear it officially.
Re the French. I doubt the teacher would want her in his class if he didn't have to have her, but again, ask the school not a forum.

PuckeredAhole · 30/04/2017 08:25

Don't you think that at this point in key stage 4 it's a little late to be changing an option? Do you realise how much work she'll have to catch up on since September??

PuckeredAhole · 30/04/2017 08:28

P.s. I'm quite certain there is more to your daughter's behaviour than you are letting on or perhaps even know. How do you know she isn't insolent to the teacher?

As a teacher myself I'm far too busy to conduct a focussed harassment of a student. I imagine he'd be delighted to shed her from the course!

ArtemisiaGentilleschi · 30/04/2017 08:29

Have you heard it from the teacher BTW, that he allows them on their phones during the last 5 mins?
You might find his version of things is very different to Miss Popular's.

I had a parent on Thursday come to ask me why I had it in for her (almost best in the class)dd. I told her, I could put X next to a statue and within 5 mins the statue would be laughing and whispering and drawing stupid messages in bits of paper. There have been 3 "statues" so far this term, and 2 parents have asked that their kids be moved.
You may be mistaking "popular" with "gobby showoff" here.

Swipe left for the next trending thread