Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Relationship between school office staff and parents?

9 replies

Zigazigahhhhhh · 05/06/2021 09:48

I work in the school office of a smallish junior school. There are three of us - one full time and two of us part time (job share). I’m the newest to the team. The other two are very formal with parents, for example if calling a parent they’d say “Good morning, Mrs X? It’s Mrs Y here from Z Primary School”. Whereas I’d say “Hi, is that X’s mum? It’s firstname here from Z Primary School”. Last week on a rare occasion when the three of us were in the office at the same time (I think they were waiting to gang up on me!), the other two told me that I was too informal and should not use my first name with parents. I get on well with them and it wasn’t too awkward but I told them I disagreed and sort of laughed it off. But I’ve been stewing about it all over half term. Do I bow down to the school norm or do I dig my heels in? I’ve worked in a school office before where we used first names. I could I ask the Head I suppose?

OP posts:
Whatalottachocca · 05/06/2021 10:34

Our school office goes with the informal vibe. It smooths relations with difficult/upset parents in my experience.

Eaumyword · 05/06/2021 12:12

Hi, I'm School Sec in a small prep school. I much prefer to be informal and have a nice working relationship with most parents.
I use the traditional route of hello Mrs X, I'm (say) Kate. Usually they say do call me Sophie etc and I will then use their first name going forward.
If they don't invite me to, I still say I'm Kate but call them Mrs X. As pp says, it really helps with relationships and even if something awful happens, it's not awkward as they know you're only acting on decisions made by SLT.
I do inwardly judge anyone who insists on being called Mrs X when you've got to know each other quite well and she calls you by your first name.

DolphinFC · 05/06/2021 15:16

I think it would be best to go along with the prevailing culture of the school. One person being out of step with the others ( no matter which way around) is going to be an issue.

LolaSmiles · 05/06/2021 16:40

There's merits in both approaches.
As a teacher, I tend to address the parents as Mr/Mrs/Ms Surname until I've established a relationship, but will say "Hello Mrs Blogs, it's Lola Smiles from SchoolName. I'm Child's teacher/form tutor/enrichment club leader..."

From the office, I'd say the important thing is that there consistency across the team so in your situation I'd follow the norm to begin with.

junebirthdaygirl · 05/06/2021 21:51

I would take my lead from whoever was there first. We use all first names but l have taught in schools where it was all very formal. I followed whatever was there when l arrived.

Clammyclam · 07/06/2021 22:52

It makes me cringe when I hear adults introduce themselves on the phone as Mr/Mrs Jones etc. It sounds condescending.

I will always greet the parent by their chosen title and surname but then introduce myself as my first and surname followed by my role in their child's education.

My previous line manager did this and she built long standing positive relationships with parents.

I think you are right.

HopeValley · 08/06/2021 05:55

I work in a "first names school" which I find much nicer and more reflective of the wider world - I've worked in big companies prior to teaching and even if you spoke to the CEO you'd call him Steve or whatever, and same with big clients. I don't think it's great to ask to speak to, say, Katie's mum though, much more respectful to use their name. Are you a parent yourself? It annoys me more now that I am - I sometimes feel like shouting that I have a name and aren't just x and y's mummy.

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 08/06/2021 06:46

One of the issues with first names only is that the students don't know who it is when the parents talk to them. I used to do first name and last name but so many students didn't know that it was me who phoned, I started to use Mrs X again. This is the school culture too.

Birminghambloke · 08/06/2021 23:22

Both can work. However, I would follow the model set by the school. I would not bypass colleagues and go to the Headteacher on this. If you don’t use Mr/Mrs, at least say your forename, surname and role. My colleague calls all ‘mum’ and ‘dad’ which I dislike (open about this), however it’s much better than the alternative which would be to say the wrong name or pronounce wrongly- which we both know would happen!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page