observations by pupils!!

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Bloody hell!
Just spoke to my friend. He teaches in a secondary and is middle management with a good TLR. He didn't get home until 9:15 tonight as he was having to input data for 3 teachers who are on long term sick. He announced at the end of the conversation that he needed to go as he was being observed tomorrow. I asked by who (whom?!) and he replied "a year 9 pupil."

Seriously.

They have given her a proper observation proforma to record her findings. What the fucking fuck is this about? Is this routine or is it just an academy thing?? I'm genuinely shocked by this...

Likewise sunsetdreamer!

I've had this before.

However, students see classes all the time! Why can't we ask our classes for their feedback rather than have a formal observation? I've certainly used student feedback to plan together and improve aspects of my teaching that wasn't helpful. But I don't like the power dynamic formal observation produces.

This is exactly the sort of bullshit I have come to expect. I attended an interview a few years ago where part of the process was me being asked by a group of teenagers what animal would I like to be and why. And no, I wasn't being observed interacting with them. They were supposedly giving their input into the process. What a load of crap!

I like student panel interviews. I think they are useful as a recruiter and as an interviewee. Our students take it very seriously, but are also very frank when answering the interviewee's questions. I also think interviewing students about teaching is very useful. I don't always agree with their views on some teachers, but it is interesting to hear them talk about their experience and their perspective.

A 13 yo with a clipboard sitting at the bck of my lesson though. Er.... Not convinced by that.

I would not dream of being formally observed without providing appropriate data, working at levels, interventions, SEN And other issues, along without how I would,d accommodate these needs. It would be vastly inappropriate/illegal to share that information with a child.

I know this thread is a few weeks old but for what it's worth...
I am a teacher. I am also student voice coordinator. I have trained students to carry out learning walks throughout the school. My students know exactly what to look for and only look for the interactions of students, how students are learning etc... They will not judge how a teacher teaches nor will they give feedback that details this. Any feedback would be likely to centre around positive interactions, praise etc... My students are trained to find the positives and to help teachers understand how the students see their lessons. I doubt very much a student observer will be there to judge the progress of the lesson and quality of the teaching.
Do you not think a teacher who is not willing to listen to the very people they are educating needs to reevaluate?