How would you deal with school

covlass

Long rant sorry
I will try to explain as best i can.
DD is in year 11 so sitting her GCSE'S at present.

In year 10 she was moved to another English group the class was a mixture of pupils taken from other English groups and they had a new teacher. My DD said she was a great teacher and she felt she had learnt a lot more in a short space of time than she has with her previous teacher. At the star of year 11 her new teacher asked the class to go over a piece of work which they should have completed in year 10, my daughter along with a couple of other students said they had not done that piece of work, (they had all come from the same class in year 10)

I spoke to her English teacher from year 10 who said they had done all the correct work, my daughter got quite cross and said they had not. At parents evening I mentioned it again and the new teacher said what my daughter was saying was correct and she was not the only one complaining that they had not done the work. So that night I spoke to year head who said she would look into it.

Now it has come to light that out of 3 English lessons she has a week she only has an English teacher for one of them which is a different teacher to her normal one due to staff sickness. The other 2 lesson are cover teachers not English teachers and the students are left to get on with the work. I do not feel this is acceptable as these are students who are taking exams and I feel need the support of an English teacher. My daughter is not stupid but not naturally intelligent she gets good grades but does have to work hard to achieve them and she feels she is not getting the support. I contacted the year head again last week. She informed me that she has told the head of English all of the above and he would get back to me by Wednesday, he has not.

Yesterday i got a phone call off my daughter during in lunch in floods of tears on Monday 7 she had a business exam (business is a strong subject A/A*) She went into the exam thinking she had one to do it turned out she had 2 exams she got her result yesterday a B and is not happy.
It turns out that a email was sent to her form tutor last week with a message for pupils in that form that are doing business exam on Monday that there will be 2 exams not 1 and to let the pupils know so they could prepare themselves. My daughter along with the other girl in her tutor group never got the message. She asked to resit the exam and was told no as she was 5 marks of a A yet a student who got a A was 2 marks off getting an A* and she is allowed to resit even though she was aware on the day she was doing 2 exams.

My daughter is so upset she feels the school is not supporting her what so ever, and she said why should I bother any more mum the school is not bothered about my grades so why should I.

I am so cross I have spoke to the deputy head who said she would look into everything and get back to me.

Do you think it is worth making a complaint to the LEA or hold fire? I felt helpless last night she sobbed as she so wants to do well. She said I don't drink, smoke or have sex yet girls in the school who don't smoke for so many weeks get praised and a certificate saying well done. Those that get pregnant get extra support to do well and the naughty kids get treats to encourage them to go to school. All I want is some support and to be able to resit the exam I did not know I was doing:(

rachbc

I would wait til the end of today to see if deputy gets back to you, if he does not then I would write a letter to the head and the chair of governors detailing your complaints and what you would like to happen. Don't mention the stuff abut pregnant school girls (who of course need extra help) or smoking - stick to the facts about the exams and the use of supply teachers and missed work.

gratefulforhelp_2

It does sound a bit of a shambles, I would do as poster 2 says, maybe give the deputy an extra chance to sort it out. I bet if you make a bit of a fuss, your DD will be able to resit the business exam.

Tell her chin up, it will get sorted, but you will have to make a bit of a fuss, sometimes that's the only way. Rubbish that Head of english hasn't got back to you, wonder why?

Fang_3

You should definitely make a complaint. Just how many more chances should they have to mess up your daughter's education? Demand a meeting with the Head, and then at that meeting hand them a letter of complaint and CC it to the Governors and the LEA.

covlass

I just called them again and managed to get hold of the year head. She said that head of English tied to call twice this week and got no reply, funny that as the last call I had on my phone states it was on 3rd March. She does not understand why she can not retake exam and will speak to her Business teacher and call me back at lunch time. Regarding English She will have an English teacher for every lesson from Monday. I shall await phone call at lunch time as I still feel an explanation should be given regarding the whole mess.

bestpud

If it were me, I'd follow up every meeting or phonecall with a letter outlining what was agreed. The spoken word can be denied and I would never rely on that when it is something as important as this.

If you write, they will need to write back if they dispute your understanding of what was said. Plus you have a paper trail should any appeals or complaints be necessary later on.

Copy the letter to all the relevent people, including the governors and head teacher - you'd be surprised how effective it can be!!

It doesn't have to be detailed - just something like:

Thank you for meeting/calling about x, y and z.

I understand you will be doing x, y and z.

I will review the situation with you in x days.

Please let me know if you would like to discuss this further in the meantime.

You can pad it out a little but brief is better.

HTH

Spendless

Ask what number they are ringing you on. Just in case they are ringing your house phone instead of mobile. Or if they've got wrong number.

gratefulforhelp_2

covlass wrote: »

She said that head of English tied to call twice this week and got no reply, funny that as the last call I had on my phone states it was on 3rd March.

Spendless wrote: »

Ask what number they are ringing you on. Just in case they are ringing your house phone instead of mobile. Or if they've got wrong number.

Definitely double check they have your correct details, you wouldn't believe the number of times that schools have out of date details for parents/carers.

phunkles

Just to point out - The covered lesson by external supply or a cover supervisor internally within the school should be having work set by either the member of staff whos lesson is being covered and if they arent in school at all then it should be set by the head of English - and considering its a year 11 class - it should be coursework or exam based material - however the supply/cover supervisor can only set the work its down to pupils to get on with it. (but the fact the Head of English isnt calling you back suggests he/she isnt setting any constructive work??)

OP kick up a fuss about the business exams though definately
And leave a paper trial for 2 reason - its proof for you - and well if theres a paper trial then Id be more likely to sort the problem out and get rid of the extra papers

covlass

thank you all for your replies. I have just received 2 phone calls.
As of Tuesday the class will have a New regular English teacher and the whole class will be offered extra support as the Learning manager admitted they have not supported the students correctly.

And my daughter can re sit exam

I have copies of all emails and request a letter confirming what they said they have/will do

thank you all for your replies

gratefulforhelp_2

Well done, you did the best for your DD, I hope she appreciates you!!