6th Form Education - Teachers keep not turning up - Can they do this?

pollypenny

Just a thought - is the teacher who is missing lessons an examiner?

He/she may be away on examiners meetings. This can be a real pain, not just to students, but for staff as well who end up covering.

Some priorities need to be examined.

EDIT: I should say a senior examiner ( team leader or chief ) ordinary examiners wouldn't be away often.

moneypuddle

That's shocking. The same thing happened with my brothers course at Leeds Uni. He would travel 1.5 hours to get to a lecture (bus, train, bus) only to sit and wait half an hour for a lecturer to not bother turning out. He dropped out in the end, after it happened repeatedly. It's hard to care when your tutors clearly don't.

[Deleted User]

newcook wrote: »

Presumably they still have exams for 6th formers?! How are they meant to learn if the teacher is not there to teach?! I appreciate that they are old enough to be trusted to get on with it themselves but what if they have questions? Or what if they are focusing on the wrong section?

One or 2 lessons can be excused but I know I wouldn’t be happy if I was at school (and by choice!) and the teacher wasn’t there – 6th formers are there by choice to get the grades needed for university or for a certain job they want. If they aren’t guided properly by the teacher it could mean failing the exams and having to re-sit them or re-doing the year.

Completely agree with the above. While 6th Formers can be expected to work under their own supervision to a degree.., if the teacher attendance I am seeing is standard, I am not at all sure how students are supposed to cover the required syllabus.

This week, my son was told to work on his drama log book (which the students are supposed to be doing in their own time anyway - half an hours work for a triple period).., and given no work for the other triple period lesson. So he actually gained little in terms of covering the syllabus for 50% of his attendance this week so far.

maman

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Don't complain express your concerns, ask for an explanation/ better alternative arrangements when a class is cancelled.

I would definitely ask for an explanation (or maybe encourage your son and his mates to do so). It is possible that the school is being affected by the 'action short of strike action' being taken by teachers' unions. Not covering for absent colleagues is an element of this. Although, if the school uses cover supervisors that shouldn't have caused a problem. Personally I don't agree with cover supervisors except for short periods in emergencies (which probably wouldn't be necessary with year 12 anyway) but that's another issue....

CH27

I would contact the Head of 6th & raise your concerns.

pollypenny

Don't hesitate - complain directly to the head.

I worked with someone who was always off - examining and very well paid - but not doing his proper job.

It was left to the rest of the A-level team to pick up the pieces and listen to the pupils and parents woes.

However the head maintained that he never had any complaints about the guy.