Relationships between teachers and students vary and the way these relationships are perceived by their members also differs. Seventy Australian adolescent boys described their relationship with a key teacher using the My English Class questionnaire. The teachers described the same relationships using the Teacher Student Relationship Inventory. Student–teacher relationships generally were seen positively. Cluster analysis identified two distinct profiles of student–teacher relationship for both student and teacher perceptions. In 44% of cases, perceptions of boys and teachers did not match. The boys considered positive feedback and a caring, helpful attitude towards themselves important elements of a strong relationship whereas teachers considered help-seeking important.
