Being a form tutor is a very peculiar thing that no teacher ever actually signs up for. It’s hardly touched on in training, yet almost every teacher will have to become one at some point and it can be a brilliant experience. Ross McGill, also known as education blogger @TeacherToolkit, had two classes for five years each and was also a co-tutor for several years before becoming a deputy head. He loved the role, but says the lack of guidance can be problematic, particularly for newcomers.
“It’s much more than just being a face in the morning to say ‘Are you present?’” he explains. “Good schools will give you a bit of induction, but even then it’s usually no more than a couple of meetings on safeguarding, attendance and detentions. Otherwise, the only training is watching other people do it when you’re a trainee teacher. It’s very haphazard.”
As a result, he says, the quality of form tutors can vary enormously, from those who develop meaningful relationships with their groups, to those who “come in, sit down and just do a register”. Tutor time is usually short, but you will see that same group every day, possibly for several years. That’s a lot of time. So how can you put it to the best possible use?
Establish routines
Like any class, a form group needs consistency. Create a weekly timetable so your tutees know what to expect. Assembly will probably take place once a week, but McGill also recommends at least one session of silent reading (allowing you to speak to individuals or complete admin), along with quizzes, personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) sessions, exploring current affairs and other activities that will engage students with the wider world. The key is to open their minds to ideas they may not have encountered elsewhere in a safe, supportive environment that encourages discussion, without getting bogged down in academic assessment.
Manage administration
Making sure that uniform is correct is a key part of form administration, along with checking equipment and addressing any sanctions students have received from other staff. Taking the register each day is a legal requirement, but a good form tutor will also be chasing up the reasons for any absences or lateness
and keep a close eye on any patterns that could indicate a cause for concern. Other tasks can easily jump up the priority list in the middle of a busy week, so it’s worth setting aside a time slot each day – it needn’t be more than 15 minutes or so – to follow up on form issues. It will pay off in the long run.
Create connections with home
Form tutors are the go to for families, so establishing and maintaining contact with home is essential. Find out as soon as possible how parents or carers would like to be contacted and provide them with regular updates – for all students, not just the difficult ones. McGill says: “At least once a half term is the minimum expectation for every student, to build up a relationship with the family.” Make sure that other demands don’t get in the way by setting yourself a list of students to call or email home for each week, and sticking to it. McGill recommends doing this on a Friday afternoon to get your students’ weekends off to a positive start (or otherwise if need be).
Be aware of issues
As one of the adults that students see most regularly, form tutors are in a good place to spot when there is a problem. If a student appears to be going through a difficult time or begins behaving unusually, speak to them privately. Direct them to possible sources of advice and support (both in school and externally), contact parents/carers if appropriate and escalate the matter to your school’s safeguarding officer if you have serious concerns.
Forge links with other staff
Encourage your colleagues to contact you about your tutees. An email round robin can be a quick and efficient way of getting information on students you are concerned about, but ensure staff also contact you when your charges are doing well, allowing you to reinforce positive messages. McGill says: “We’re all busy and have a lot to do, but when a difficult kid did something brilliant, I would pick up the phone that day before I went home. It might make them feel better and behave better throughout the next day.”
Build an ethos
Perhaps the most important thing you can do is create a positive culture within your form – members should not see themselves as a randomly thrown together bunch, but a cohesive unit in which all members can achieve, regardless of their performance in other lessons. There are countless ways to foster team spirit, such as shared charity projects or in-form competitions. Many tutors also opt to present awards at the end of the year, underlining the idea that form time is a purposeful, positive place where success is recognised. “When you do it right your form can be like an extended family,” McGill says.
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