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The problem: I’m a European-trained MFL teacher working part-time in an academy where there are behavioural issues. I’ve been working hard to adapt to the British system. My two most recent observations were “good”. Unfortunately, I’ve been given a Year 9 (S2) French group that wasn’t enthusiastic to start with and now their behaviour is worse. One pupil told me he hates the lesson and that I’m a bad teacher. They also hate my seating plan and refuse to sit where I tell them

The problem: I have just started at a new school where my main issue is the girls. I am an experienced teacher and in a middle management position. In this Year 10 (S3) class there are four or five ringleaders, and when they are not in it is blissful. The main culprit is loud but very bright. When her friends aren’t there, she contributes well and is fine. When they are she starts up – making comments about me, the way I look, the way I teach, constantly giggling and so on. I have had her in detention and I used that time to try and get her to understand why her behaviour isn’t appropriate. She thinks she is right all the time and whenever I explain that her behaviour is unacceptable she just says “OK, then” in a really sarcastic way. I had to stop my lesson completely last week and couldn’t restart until I used the emergency button to get her out of my class. I have shouted when needed but I get told to F off