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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

Problems with teacher

11 replies

FeelingOld · 20/07/2010 17:16

Am at the end of my tether with this.

Dd is in year 10, is in top set for maths but has been having problems with her teacher for about 7 months now. If she puts her hand up in class to ask a questions cos she doesnt understand something she just gets barked at to 'put your hand down i havent got time to answer your stupid questions now' so she left it til end of lesson and asked again, he just said 'get to your next lesson' she explained she would not be able to do homework as she didnt understand something and he just shouted at her to 'just do it'. Similar stuff has happened a few times and I went to see form teacher and she said she would look into it and we got 18 year old cousin who is doing A levels to explain stuff to dd as and when she needs the help.

Any way we first complained 5 months ago and have several times since but nothing has changed, he still shoots her down in flames for asking questions and he has even kept dd back after class few times to tell her she is disruptive for asking questions in class.DD says he makes her feel stupid and she says he does it to other girls too.
Have spoken to head of dept and have asked for dd to be moved down to set 2 but they are refusing saying they cant just move pupils about willy nilly or everyone would be wanting to move. I am not happy, have app to see headteacher tomorrow, i do not want my daughter having to put up with this in her final year, she is very upset by it, she is doing well in all of her subjects but this is really getting to her. She says she cant bear the thought of being in this mans class for another year, i have said i am just not willing for her to go into this clas next year but think our only option is to withdraw her from maths classes all together and get her tutored somehow.

I just dont know what to do!! Any advice would be welcome.

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FeelingOld · 20/07/2010 18:14

Bumping cos gotta nip out, am hoping for some advice from all you lovely mumsnetters when i get back.

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mnistooaddictive · 20/07/2010 18:38

I am a Maths teacher and this has really upset me. She clearly has a presonality clash with this teacher and it is in no-one's interest for it to continue. He obviously feels that she is being deliberatly difficult for some reason (I am not suggesting she is being, but his perception is that). You have done all the correct things complaining to HOD who has refused to move your daughter.
I would suggest that at this stage her relationship with this teacher is irredeemable. She needs to move to set 2. She may not achieve what she should but better than she is doing now. You need to stress to headteacher that this is the only option. If he gives you the rubbish about not wanting to set a precedent then you have to stick to your guns. Ask for observations of the teacher and another maths teacher to act as mentor who she can talk to about issues. She could work on her own during the lesson time but will underachieve because of this. Is there a Maths teacher she feels she can talk to who she can get on side as it were?
I am really sorry this has happened to your DD. I am in wiltshire, don'y know if this is near you but if I can be of any help then ask!

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loopyloops · 20/07/2010 20:19

Good advice from MNistooaddictive.

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FeelingOld · 20/07/2010 21:22

Thank you for your advice.

Its the last day of term tomorrow and just feel so gutted that we still havent got it sorted so am worried my dd has to spend the whole of the holidays worrying about it.

I agree, i dont think the relationship between my dd and the teacher can be put right, thats why i want her moving to another class. I have found out tonight while i have been out that 2 other parents of pupils from my dd class have complained about this teacher for similar problems to those my dd is having during this academic year.

I will suggest the observations thing, that sounds good, might make me look like i know what i am talking about. Am dreading this app as i am a single mum and dd does not have any contact with her dad so its just me and i must say i do feel i will be a bit imtimidated by the head.

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SuzieHomemaker · 20/07/2010 21:24

Ultimately if there is no satisfaction from the headteacher then I guess the next step is chair of governors.

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ravenAK · 20/07/2010 21:50

You can't withdraw your dd from Maths lessons - short of withdrawing her from the school.

The teacher's treatment of your dd is totally unacceptable. I'm assuming her account is accurate, as the HOD hasn't challenged it?

If the teacher's generating complaints from 3 sets of parents of top set year 10s, then I imagine he's already being monitored. It's just that you won't be told because it's not going to be in the school's best interest to confirm that yes, Mr X is indeed borderline incompetent with anger management issues.

The HOD's refusal to move your dd is also suggestive of this tbh - it implies that students would generally choose to move OUT of this guy's class given the choice! Normally the HOD would have no problem finding someone in set 2 who was keen to move up & take your dd's place...

I think your best bet is to explain to the Head that dd is being made miserable & anxious by this situation, that she is doing well in all her other subjects & is in no way a trouble-maker, that she has tried her best to 'keep her head down' but still feels intimidated & that she simply can't ask for clarification of the work.

Emphasise that you are willing for dd to move to a lower set, & will support her at home to do additional work if need be to reach her target (bribe the A-Level cousin!).

If you get a less than helpful response, point out that you've tried to address an ongoing problem via form tutor & HOD, to no avail, & have now brought it to the Head Teacher - it should never have gone this far without some sort of resolution, but since it has, the only recourse left is for you to write formally to the Governing Body & LA.

Good luck & don't be intimidated by the Head - he/she won't want this to worry about in September either.

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TheFallenMadonna · 20/07/2010 21:52

Agree completely with Raven.

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violetqueen · 20/07/2010 22:14

Feelingold - just to say good luck tommorrow ,
Can you take anyone with you for support ?
How about telling head that you feel slightly intimidated by meeting - " I'm not used to this type of meeting ."
I personally find it useful to have a piece of paper with the points I want to get across - get it out straight away ,explaining that you feel a little nervous ,easier than interrupting and then producing it .
And I always take notes - it gives me time to think and focus on what their answer is .
And if it's a load of waffle ,I paraphrase and read it back " Have I got that right /you're saying that ...what does that mean in practice ? "
That kind of thing .

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FeelingOld · 21/07/2010 09:47

Thanks everyone.

I have made notes violetqueen as you have suggested so that i make clear all the points and have written down some of the suggestions that you have all given me.

My daughter is not perfect but she is not a trouble maker, all other subjects no problem, have never had any teacher say anything negative about her behaviour in class or out of the classroom. Before speaking to head of dept i talked to other girls in the same class as dd and they said her account of what has happened is accurate.

As for saying i cant withdraw her from maths lessons, what do i do if they say she has to stay in his set?? My daughter simply can not cope with one more lesson with this man.

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mnistooaddictive · 21/07/2010 13:21

YOur only choice will be to remove her from the school or appeal to govenors.

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FeelingOld · 21/07/2010 14:14

Ok, update.

Have been to see the head, she was very nice and listened to everything dd and I had to say. She said she had been speaking to some of dd teachers and that they only had positive things to say about her and that she could see how this has affected dd. She is also very upset that despite having first complained way back in March that problem teacher had not got back to me about it and that it was me who then had to get head of dept involved, she said that this was not acceptable and will be reviewing procedures. She agrees that this should have been dealt with months ago so that things never had to get this bad.

However she insists she can do nothing until there has been a meeting with dd, maths teacher, head of dept and myself. This is going to now have to take place on 1st day of term in Sept. She has asked dd to trust her that things will get resolved.