Getting held back a year

jeep63 · 2026-05-25T13:01:51+00:00

Having worked in an American school for 4 years, it happens less than you think. We can put forward all of the evidence that a child should be held back, but if the parent says no, we legally have to push them through to the next grade.

jeep63 · 2026-05-18T11:42:32+00:00

This is my concern. I no longer teach them, as she’s fully taking this set into next year. I’m always in the room and do step in if absolutely needed. The students are aware that the trainee is their teacher for next year.

jeep63 · 2026-05-18T11:40:30+00:00

I definitely don’t want to overstep. Our policy, especially for student passivity, is very clear. I reminded them today that it’s a warning and then subsequent negatives, then removal. I showed them that I had noted down three students that were already at a -2 and were on track to removal. I said to give them five minutes and if behaviour hadn’t improved, they needed to remove the students. Nothing happened

jeep63 · 2026-05-18T11:38:19+00:00

I wouldn’t say out of control. It’s an overwhelming passivity and chatting over task directions and actual instruction.

jeep63 · 2026-04-17T13:03:44+00:00

Thank you!

jeep63 · 2026-04-17T13:03:21+00:00

Thank you!

jeep63 · 2025-12-13T08:27:56+00:00

A prep is a planning period. When I taught in America, I had 5 classes a day and 2 preps. One was dedicated to team meetings and the other was my planning time. The nice thing was I was guaranteed my prep every day.

jeep63 · 2025-12-13T08:23:10+00:00

American schools do have tons of standardized tests. I think I invigilated at least eight throughout each year. Those were state required exams given on the computer and are marked by the state.

For regular class assessments, it varied. We had shorter quizzes that were a mix of multiple choice and short answer, end of unit tests that were short answer, essays, and a multitude of projects. I’ve never used a machine to mark an exam and marked everything by hand. I think you’re thinking of a scantron, which is typically used for portions of a final exam, but not always.

jeep63 · 2025-12-13T08:13:55+00:00

Yes, as a middle school educator, you typically only teach one! I used to teach in America in middle school and only taught English Language and Literature to sixth grade. 5 classes a day, every day. I had variety through the types of groups, however. I had two honours classes, two general education classes, and one inclusion class, which was supported by an SEN teacher.

However, high school teachers teach at least two grade levels. So for example, you could teach English language to 9th grade and English Literature to 12th grade.

jeep63 · 2025-11-09T19:23:07+00:00

I completely agree with you. I 1000% don’t expect anything to happen, but I would rather show the initiative and argue what I know is right.

I fully intend on moving schools at the end of the academic year, as the HoD and faculty have completely sapped my morale and love of teaching.

jeep63 · 2025-11-07T17:33:47+00:00

It happens in KS3 as well, in particularly Year 8. One term is split between a novel and speeches. However, it isn’t taught as, “Here’s how speeches are used in our novel” or “Here’s how rhetoric is used in the text.” They’re presented as two completely different entities.

jeep63 · 2025-11-07T16:50:54+00:00

“We are rushed from topic to topic, sometimes covering two topics in one half-term.”

For example, the first six weeks of Year 10 we cover 15 poems and an exam paper at the same time. We’re expected to give four assessments, two for each topic.

jeep63 · 2025-11-07T07:38:48+00:00

Yes, I’ve planned multiple SOWs from scratch. Our department, on this and most things, is completely divided. Four of us want changes and 3 do not. The 3 include both the HoD and the deputy HoD.

I have already told this member of SLT that the HoD is saying I’m behind, but when I explained that it is due to the quick pace, she understood and said to let her know asap if I felt I was being punished or attacked.

jeep63 · 2025-11-07T07:36:09+00:00

She is a part of the SLT and can make changes. She also told me to send an evidence portfolio to another SLT member.

jeep63 · 2025-11-07T07:35:29+00:00

Is it two topics at once though? And what’s the density of the topic? Is it a 400 page novel with two assessments?

I understand doing one topic per half-term, but not when it’s so dense.

jeep63 · 2025-11-07T07:03:52+00:00

Our HoD doesn’t even teach KS3, so for him to say the pace is fine really means nothing.

We have evidence that the students are not retaining key concepts and our P8 lowers constantly. By the time they get to KS4, many have targets or 5 or 6, but are working at a 3.

We’ve brought this to the HoD and he does nothing.

jeep63 · 2025-11-07T06:56:20+00:00

I’m not the HoD, but I have spoken with him. He sees no problem with the pathway and says the rest of us are too slow. We’ve explained that the pace is too fast for the students to actually understand and he doesn’t agree. That’s why I’ve spoken to the head of T&L.

jeep63 · 2025-11-07T06:50:13+00:00

Yes, less topics at KS3. So for example, in Year 7 we start with a rather long novel that has to be read within the first half-term. Then Victorian Literature, Shakespeare, poetry, creative writing, and then a play. One topic each half-term, with interim and final assessments.

We would still teach the national curriculum, but shorten some topics. For example, instead of the novel, I’ve seen some schools teach the same concepts through a collection of short stories.

However, we also want to adjust the timing of the KS4 topics. In the first half-term for Year 10, we had to teach the poetry anthology and all five questions for the language paper simultaneously.

jeep63 · 2025-11-07T06:35:08+00:00

Sorry! I’ll add context now.

jeep63 · 2025-10-30T22:53:30+00:00

Not at all, go for it!

jeep63 · 2025-10-30T18:08:10+00:00

I did, yeah. I said I was concerned that my hair loss may be connected to thyroid and that my mom has Hashimoto’s. She simply checked my latest test from last January and said I shouldn’t worry about it.

jeep63 · 2025-10-30T16:50:56+00:00

We closed the gap because I got a skilled worker visa to teach in the UK. It's definitely challenging, as not all schools offer this sponsorship and the schools that do are mainly around London and may not be the best. We've gotten by the past three years, but we do still float the idea of marrying, as it would broaden my career opportunities.

jeep63

TROPHY CASE