Problems with Unqualified teacher in an academy - any sensible advice welcome

[BB100]

I'm really fed up. My child has a MFL 'teacher' who is unqualified. When I went to parents' evening the guy could barely read and write English and my child has spent the past year copying from the board. He also shouts a lot and sends the children to face the wall if they get an answer wrong (they are 15/16 yrs old!). Sometimes he refuses to teach them at all. This weekend I've found out my child has a GCSE exam due and whilst the other classes have been preparing for it this 'teacher' knows nothing about it. I've complained before but they just reassure me everything is fine. This time the school is not replying to my e-mails/calls but they have postponed the exam for a week to help the class 'catch up'. Other than keep ringing/e-mailing the school office, has anyone got any other suggestions about what I can do?

[lightweight]

Are you able to go in to school to book the appointment with the Headteacher? A call to the Council's Education department may help advise you on the best steps to take. Their number is: 0845 600 1284

Good luck finding the best solution.

[BB100]

Yes I did write and ask for an appointment with the Head. I did not get a reply so I wrote and asked for an acknowledgement of receipt. I got an acknowledgement but then nothing. That was over a week ago. If I ring they just pass on a message.

I work full-time so going down there is not an option and I doubt I will get pass the receptionist. Are Academies answerable to the council then? It is Croydon council though (no prizes for guessing who it is).

[Cora]

Could you not contact ofsted? Thy are meant to be checking that standards are kept across the board...by the way, what is MFL?

[espelli]

Can you ask the receptionist for a copy of the complaints procedure? It will probably say that if you are unhappy with the response from the head you can make a formal complaint to the chair of governors. As the head hasn't replied to you, you could include that in your complaint! The Local Authority have no control over Academies. Beyond that you could take it to the CEO of the academy chain.

[BB100]

MFL = Modern Foreign Languages

[BB100]

Thanks - downloaded the complaints procedure and it seems they have 10 days to respond. I'll have to wait till Wednesday.

[Ondine]

What about an email addressed to head of MFL dept, cc'd to head teacher and head of year asking a series of questions about the curriculum, exam board, date of mocks, expectations of revision planning etc etc

[TE44]

I think you can only complain to Education Funding Agency (an executive agency of the DFE), after you have been through the schools complaints procedure.There addres 53-55 Butts Rd, Earlesdon Park,Coventry, CV1 38H or visit www.education.gov.uk.There are set response times for each stage of complaint, which may be to long considering

this needs to be dealt with now. You can try the complaints and schools liason manager 0208 7266000 ext 65496.

Good luck.

Edited to correct phone number

[Otta]

A call to OFSTED is definitely the way to go.

I dislike Ofsted a lot, but unfortunately they are the only ones currently who can act properly on these concerns.

[Fuschia]

The ofsted complaints procedure can be accessed online

However it will not accept complaints about individuals, and even for qualifying complaints the school's own complaints procedure needs to have been exhausted.

[Otta]

If there are issues about children being punished I reckon a call to Ofsted would gee them in to action.

[EmilyPie]

Might also be worth trying to rally other parents so there is some coordinated group pressure. And possibly a call to the local press - or telling the school that you intend to do this - might provoke the head into action. Good luck!

[Fuschia]

https://www.ofsted.gov.uk/onlinecomplaints

[bawdy-nan]

Academies and Free Schools are allowed to employ unqualified teachers and the local authority has no jurisdiction.

[bornagain]

I think academies are only answerable to the Education Secretary and bawdy-nan is right that they are allowed to employ unqualified teachers. This is a hot topic right now with pieces on Radio 4 etc as Nick Clegg calls for tighter controls over academies and free schools.

Going to the press (or threatening to) may get some action. If I'm guessing correctly the school in question is v. high profile and held up as a great example so you may get some action!

Good luck!

[katgod]

The Guardian would be the newspaper to refer to if you need leverage with the head. Long term ctritics of both Academies and Free Schools.

[Romnarz]

this one one example just shows that we should have electable bodies ultimately responsible for schools!

[James Barber]

Which free schools is this?

Sounds horrific.

[bornagain]

Could it be one that begins with 'H'?

[sallyfran]

Contact the chair of governors and explain that your complaint is not being heard.

[BB100]

Well yes that's a good idea about reporting to OFSTED as the shouting, calling them stupid and idiots and shoving them in between the filing cabinet to face the wall would fall under child protection.

The media would love it as I have copies of his badly prepared powerpoints, and notes that do not have full stops, capital letters or English grammar.

However, when I have complained about teachers on two previous occasions my child has been bullied by them so I need to tread carefully as my child will just clam up and deny everything.

[StraferJack]

Edited for not being helpful. Again

[bawdy-nan]

Are you aware that there are no local authority secondaries in all of southwark?

[DenmotherSmith]

I suspect its a Harris school you are dealing with. I suggest you email the head and the Federation CEO, Dan Moynihan. I too have a child at a Harris school and a fellow parent had a serious issue which she felt the school head did not deal with adequately, she contacted the CEO and he was very robust in his action.

Good luck.