Working with a true incompetent has made me realise...

[StuffezLaYoni]

It is totally possible in teaching to rise high up without being "found out." God knows, I'm not perfect and can never quite stay on top of things, but I am working with one of the laziest individuals ever; does no planning whatsoever but stock phrase is "can I pinch a copy of that?" Books going unmarked for up to two weeks, pieces of work that are just a L.O. and date with no writing. Bellows at the kids out of all proportion. Comes out with the most unbelievably crass and idiotic comments in CPD sessions.
Why is someone like that a deputy? Even the head seems embarrassed by the situation.
I posted about this person before falsifying papers by adding extra marks on, then hiding the papers when the head called them in for moderation.

Need to rant as I'm struggling to keep a respectful professional relationship and am feeling cross that their class has effectively wasted a year.

could you whistle blow?

It sounds like very poor management to have allowed someone this incompetent to climb up the ranks- has he not been rumbled by OFSTED?

I've been thinking about this a lot... But on what grounds? The head is aware of the falsifying papers but I don't know what's happening with that. I kind of feel its not my place to report this. I think other members of staff would support me/join together if we went down this route though.

He has only been there this academic year, as have I. The school is outstanding and I'm proud to work there - it's one of those rare places that achieves outstanding results with minimal paperwork and pen pushing. Ofsted aren't coming until Summer 14 at the earliest.

Oh and while I'm ranting, he has also befriended a couple of the dads and now participates in a certain hobby and pub with them. Not "forbidden" but just why would you?

Report him.

Please report him. It is hugely unfair on the children he teaches both now and in the future.

Is there anyone reading who has ever had to do this? I'm genuinely not sure how to go about this.

Nah. I can be really brave standing behind someone else. Sorry

That is me too, Exit!!

Are you a primary teacher? What is wrong with pinching others' ideas? We do it all the time. In fact when faced with a teacher whose teaching is a little lackluster, then I am of the opinion that they can have as much as they want. It's the kids learning that is important.

Are the kids suffering? Has there been any incidents due to the shouting? Different teachers have different behaviour managment strategies, some I agree with, some I don't, some more effective than me, others less. That is teaching.

As for not marking books more often than every 2 weeks . But that is why I suppose that you are a primary teacher, as in secondary once a half term is acceptable at my outstanding school (one outstanding teacher even claiming never - but I think that that is bravdo). As a secondary school teacher you would drop down dead with marking that often for every class on top of coming up with new resources, meetings, etc.

Do you have a personal clash with this person? Have they directly effected your teaching? Is there more that you haven't said? This mostly seems to be a deputy who is not reaching your fairly high expectations. Can I be bold enough to say that doesn't warrant reporting him (to who anyway???)

So children do homework but you don't bother to mark it . So why do they bother to do it and how do they know how they are doing if work is never marked?

On a similar situation we brought in a policy of marking different classes tests so that results couldn't be falsified. We had to do some quick talking to justify it, but it worked!

I am primary, yes. Nothing wrong with sharing planning, no. But not when you don't contribute anything and instead photocopy others' planning and use it when it's not even relevant to your year group! Also, I am of the opinion that planning needs to be personalised to your own class, your own children - at least in the core subjects.

As for children suffering from shouting - impossible to measure. But he shouts when totally unnecessary, and I have witnessed this first hand.
I totally understand the marking situation is fine in secondary, but absolutely not ok in Primary. How can they improve their work the next day if they don't know how they've done on the original piece? There are occasions where I can't get it marked for the next day, but extremely rarely.

My expectations are only high in the sense that I expect people to do what they are paid for. I have no personal issue with this person apart from being acutely aware that one teacher falsifying results fucks it up for the future teachers - I have seen a school slide into special measures due to dishonest reporting of levels. We are a small school and bust a gut to give the kids the best experience possible and yes it does rankle when someone gives so little. Every other teacher without exception feels this way. (Yes we do talk, which doesn't help, but it happens.)

Thanks for your perspective though - still trying to clarify my thoughts.

mn oddly enough I've just proposed exactly that today!

The Head shouldn't just be embarrassed. S/he should be doing something about it... they may be in 'informal competencies' already and you wouldn't necessarily know.

If you're concerned, I would speak to the Head about the example being set 'to the less experienced staff',

Thanks HHG - you're right about there possibly being things in motion and that's actually made my mind up not to do anything for the moment. I know for certain the Head is aware and unhappy about many issues, so I am going to stay out.

I agree with gloucester girl. There are incompetents in every walk of life, sadly - unless it directly affects your own teaching I'd back out of the moanfest (and yes, I know schools can be big on this!) and concentrate on with doing your own job to the very best of your ability.

I do think that's what I will do, Donnasummer, but it doesn't sit well with me that 30 children have had a year of shit teaching. In my role I scrutinise books and planning and wouldn't say that lightly. Will leave it though - it will get sorted.