Hey everyone,
Last Friday (which was the very end of my second last week of placement) I got informed by my mentor that I had failed my placement. After receiving very little feedback over the previous two weeks (some casual verbal feedback, some handwritten notes off of one teacher), and even being left alone with several classes, this obviously came as a huge shock. I contacted my uni tutor right away, and thankfully she confirmed what I was already pretty certain of; they are not allowed to fail me with no warning over a week before my placement is due to end.
I don't want to give out too many details so that I can keep things confidential, but here is some more information.
I had been told to work on a certain aspect of teaching, and when my mentor saw that I wasn't up to standard, instead of telling me he was concerned and flagging this up as an issue, he kept it to himself right up to the point that he decided to fail me. He then realised later that day that he was not allowed to do this, and gave me some things to work on in a rushed informal meeting right before a lesson, with some hope that I might pass if I worked on these things quickly. I was told he would wait to fill out the final report until the final few days.
I am in a strange position now where I have been given a little bit of hope, however it seems like they are pretty set on failing me.
I feel extremely confused as to why I was trusted to be alone with classes right up to the day I was 'failed'. I think my only hope is that my uni have agreed to come out and visit me next week. I'm nervous about this as this is my last chance to pass, however I'm hopeful that I can show them I'm capable.
Has anyone else ever had anything similar happen to them? I'm beyond shocked that this has happened with so few days left, and why they didn't even want to give me a chance to improve initially.