Member of SMT being unfair... WWYD?

[Tiredteacher1]

I don't think there is anything I can do but thought I could ask.

A member of our SMT is in charge of our Key stage (2 form entry) and gets to decide the class lists.

She never does it fairy, always gives herself an easy ride and gives me and my TA the hard children e.g. Behaviour issues, struggling academically etc

I can't complain to the head as the head is very pally with her and would just tell me it is fair or say 'I'll be fine'.

Would it worth me asking for a note on my performance management sheet in September to say I have a class that is very boy heavy, all the SEN issues.

Her class is majority bright girls and mine majority boys. How she feels she can justify that is beyond me?!

I agree with lots of previous posters. It is not fair! Take the class lists to their current teachers for analysis. Make a list of how many boys and girls are in each class and then group them by current levels. Then ask to see the Head (and KS coordinator if appropriate) for their take on it all!

When I have worked in 2 form entry schools the previous teachers have always done the class lists too. Recommend this for future years? There will be several children in each of the classes currently who would learn better being split up. Do they take parent and children's views into account?

Whenever I have done the class lists for the next teacher, I've always done them with as equal number of boys and girls and HA, MA, LA children as possible. I then look at behaviour etc. I think it's important for children, parents and staff that the classes are as balanced as possible.

You need to act now as once the classes are released to the children there will be no going back. However, if any parents make comments about the classes, you can direct them to the Head.

You also don't want the parents to think that you are given the 'weaker' children and your colleague the 'brighter' children - that is another reason why you must speak up.

If I were organising my own class as a member of SMT I would ensure I took the child with the most challenging behaviour and the child who needed the most support so as to be seen to not be taking any liberties. I would them explain to you in detail why I'd split the classes the way I had and check that you were 'ok' with that! The fact that your colleague hasn't done any of this indicates she knows she's being unfair.

Once a previous HT gave a colleague a class full of challenging children and the other a bright, studious class so that this colleague would be found lacking and not coping as well. It totally backfired because the first teacher loved teaching those children and they thrived! (She still got rid of her though.)

Once a previous HT gave a colleague a class full of challenging children and the other a bright, studious class so that this colleague would be found lacking and not coping as well.

That was my first thought when I read the OP. Do you think they are trying to get rid of you?

Please give the OP a break! I'm a teacher and a parent of 2 boys, and I'm afraid I agree that it is harder to teach a class that is predominantly middle-ability boys than a class that is predominantly able girls. And at the the age of 7, going into Y3, girls do tend to be ahead, even though the boys catch up over time. That's just a fact. OP is not boy-bashing; she;s just stating that there seems to be an unequal division of the children over the two classes.

The only thing I would say, though, is that if the other teacher has given herself all the Level 3 children, the onus will be on her to show good progress. This can be tricky in Year 3 when some have only just scraped a Level 3 at the end of Year 2. You might find you can demonstrate better progress over the year with your 2b/2c boys as they mature.

The OP actually said
Her class is majority bright girls and mine majority boys
If she had said
her class is majority bright white children and mine majority black would the defenders been quite as accepting of her phraseology?

Ds had a teacher who didn't like boys.
It had far reaching effects on him and the family.
I think the way you have phrased your OP will have lost you any sympathy from parents of boys.

I'm a mum with a son and I totally understand. I work in education.

I don't think primary is always easy for boys in it's current form.

its current form

I'm a teacher. I love teaching boys. I love having them in my class. As a whole, are they more difficult to teach? Yes. Fact. That is why courses exists at county level aimed just at boys - "How to improve boys' writing" and "Relucant boy readers". It has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the OP liking or hating boys.

Only a parent here.

Sound like the school needs to do a 'You cut and I choose' like getting siblings to share cake.

One teacher divvies up, the other teacher gets to pick which class they teach.

Have you spoken to anyone about your class yet, tiredteacher?

Good idea Teen