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?!

[Tiredteacher1]

Fairly not fairy [blush{

[Tiredteacher1]

Fairly not fairy

[MaryPoppinsBag]

Why can't you challenge her?

[Tiredteacher1]

I can and am willing to but not sure what to say that would have any power behind it?

[MaryPoppinsBag]

I can't believe that you don't sit down and do it together! That's what happens at my children's school. I remember being told this is what happens. DS1's nursery teacher sat down with the two teachers in FS2 to decide. And this is what happens in all year groups.

Not sure how you approach it, beyond just being honest about what you think. Although IME as a school governor at a school in SM it seems that teachers are reluctant to challenge the SLT / head, and would rather just leave.

[2kidsintow]

If anyone sorts out how classes will be made in our KS2 dept, it's the teachers that the children have had in the current year. They suggest good/bad groupings and make the class lists. The new teacher they are going to has no say in the matter.

Perhaps you could suggest to the head that the new classes seem to be unbalanced and that it is as a result of someone who doesn't know the children grouping them. Ask if the previous teachers could give grouping suggestions at the end of the year before they move on.

Mind you, our classes just come to us in the same groups they have been in since nursery. And I STILL always seem to get the rougher behaviour and the more challenging children.

[Tiredteacher1]

Part of me wants to leave because of the unfairness but the other part of me wants to stay and do well for the children.

This is the third year this has happened with this teacher and it makes me and my TA very determined to do the very best for our class. the progress of my class is better than hers this year as she gave me so many of the underdogs. We worked our asses off to get them their levels up and it worked :)

It's just the fact my class next year is so obviously more boy heavy than hers that has annoyed me. Especially as I have a smaller classroom and often the boys need to be meow active!

[TheBuskersDog]

What year are you in? As a previous poster said, in my school classes are decided by the children's previous teachers i.e Foundation Stage teachers sort out the classes for year 1, if it is decided to mix up the classes at the end of year 3 for example, then the year 3 teachers do it.

[caroldecker]

Well I'm glad all the girls are brighter than the boys - excellent start for them to have a teacher who believes they are ignorant little shits.

[Tiredteacher1]

I don't think that at all CarolDecker.

Most of the girls in her class for next year have been levelled at a level 3 by their current teacher.

Most of the boys on my list are 2b/2c!

[stillenacht1]

I'm a teacher too (although secondary) I do understand how you feel in terms of the unfairness of a colleague who gives herself an easy ride but as I have two DSs (one in special school and a 14 year old who was always in bottom group at primary), it does make me sad to see how you view the boys. I sort of thought this is how my DS was viewed by all his female primary teachers Poor boys I guess with PM there will be more boy hating from primary teachers

[scarlettsmummy2]

I would approach it along the lines of how did she decide who was in what class. Not 'you cherry picked, it's not fair'. Let her walk herself into it and then say you will take her class as it has obviously been done fairly it shouldn't matter who does what.

[caroldecker]

tired your post mentioned girls and boys, not levels. I find it hard to believe all the girls are higher levels than the boys and, if true, it smacks of blatent sexism.

[Tiredteacher1]

Genuinely sorry if I offended/upset you or anyone else, wasn't my intention. I didn't think the actual levels were particularly relevant in terms of my first post.

I don't think the teachers levelling them have been particularly sexist, that's just the level they are at. We did have a number of boys with level 3s but most of them are going in her class too.

She doesn't usually do it the classes this blatantly on ability but it seems this year she has more so than previously!

[NutellaStraightFromTheJar]

I'm amazed it doesn't get done by the current class teachers, together. They are the ones who know the children. We have to show on ours that we have an equal balance of girls/boys, older/younger, ability, SEN, behaviour issues. We also have to put each child with at least one close friend, preferably more. It is a logistical nightmare and takes hours but we get balanced classes.

[lunar1]

Maybe you should try working in a girls school. You are obviously backtracking now but your opinions are quite clear on boys. I wouldn't want you teaching mine.

[mnistooaddictive]

As a teacher, we all know boy heavy classes are harder to teach. Give the op a break, she is not anti boy.

[littlesupersparks]

I would ask if you can have a meeting to discuss next years classes with her and head and just point blank ask her how she has arranged the classes and why. Like just say at the start of the meeting 'as a starting point can we just run through how the groups were decided please?' Also support from other teachers who have taught the kids is a great idea.

[lunar1]

In the op she put a sad face at having majority boys ffs! How should that be interpreted?

[kscience]

To get back on track, I would agree with others who have suggested having a meeting with other teacher to discuss your new class, and direct this to how the setting process works. Has the school changed policy from mixed ability classes to setting/streaming?

[OrangeMochaFrappucino]

I'm the mother of two boys and a teacher. I wouldn't want my sons in such an unbalanced class and I wouldn't want to teach such a badly balanced group either. It's not in the students' interests to do this - but I would have thought if the sexes are so clearly split it would be easy to raise? I don't see any option really other than to discuss it with the Head in a calm, rational manner trying to avoid categorizing the classes as 'easy' and 'hard' but clearly pointing out the discrepancy in gender and ability balance. If it's obvious and factual then surely they can't really argue?

[PenelopePitstops]

Lunar1 I am a teacher and boy heavy classes are more difficult to teach. This is a FACT. It's not negative or judgemental, just a fact.

Until you have taught boy heavy and girl heavy groups, it's not possible to understand. It does make a difference.

[rollonthesummer]

I'd just calmly take the data to the head and ask of they've been ability streamed? Work put the percentages for each class at level 3+ and 2- for each class and take it with you.

[alemci]

isn't it better to mix the classes up a bit so there is a balance of girls and boys. Does her class not have a TA?

[museumum]

Why would both classes not be made gender balanced. I went to a small primary with one intake so some classes were very boy heavy and some very girl heavy and neither were ideal. If you have two classes and an opportunity to balance them then why wouldn't you do this.
You could suggest to the slt that this should be a policy?