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

Support staff being asked to grade lessons

7 replies

Thiscantbeallowed · 13/04/2022 19:18

It has come to light that learning support assistants are being asked to complete lesson observation forms on the teachers supporting the ALN pupils they support. Teachers have not been told about this so it all seems a bit sneaky and underhand. They are being asked to judge our lessons on how well we engage students and how well supported the ALN pupils are in our lessons. Some of the LSAs have told teachers about this because they don’t feel happy that they are being asked to do this! A colleague saw one of the forms and said that it looked like a regular lesson obs form. It does seem as if some teachers are being targeted as well, the LSAs are being told which subjects to complete the observations in! Surely they can’t get away with this? I think this has already been reported to the union but I’m curious to know if this is happening elsewhere?

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MrsHamlet · 13/04/2022 21:48

God no! Totally inappropriate.

Thiscantbeallowed · 13/04/2022 22:55

@MrsHamlet

My thoughts exactly!

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Newrumpus · 14/04/2022 00:31

Do you know who has asked them to do this? A couple of things spring to mind here. Firstly, is this part of the LSAs’ job description and if so have they had proper training regarding the grading system? Secondly, I would be exploring constructive dismissal if you don’t get a rapid resolution to this.

echt · 14/04/2022 06:34

I'm not in the UK, but while I think it's out of order and should go to the union, SLT might have a loophole.

The principal in Victorian schools can and does delegate functions to staff, e.g. line management to HODs. This might be what's going on here. It's bloody ridiculous but it might be their "in".

I'd be very surprised if it's different in the UK

MrsHamlet · 14/04/2022 07:27

I don't have a problem with someone supporting a student in my lesson feeding back to me... I might not even mind this if it was discussed in advance.
But I would have huge concerns about being judged against criteria I don't know about.

Thiscantbeallowed · 14/04/2022 07:36

Thanks for the replies. I think it has already been reported to the unions. I doubt that they have had proper training I don’t feel that I can do anything myself because it hasn’t happened to me yet. I’m sure I will have my turn though! This is all on top of a huge increase in general lesson observations and learning walks.

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Thiscantbeallowed · 14/04/2022 07:38

@MrsHamlet My thoughts exactly! It’s all very sneaky and underhand!

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