Repeats in Grade 2 Piano pieces Options

[VerityG]

Hi,
I'm new to teaching and I've inherited a pupil who's doing Suite de la r?jouissance (A:1) and has an AB structure but with the repeats is AABBA. The syllabus says not to do repeats more than a few bars but it's only two lines. Though I am thinking about the overall timing.
Secondly, I just what a bit of confirmation that I'm doing the right thing. I've been trying to get her focus on thinking 3-4-3 fingering for all of her scales but she told me that her previous teaching had told her to do 4-3-4 and have an extra finger left over for F major. I can understand why, as it's an awkward stretch but it's confusing all her other scales too so I asked her to try doing all of the scales with the same fingering for a week and if that helps then stick to it, if not then we can go back. But she didn't look to convinced. It's a bit of an awkward situation as the previous teacher had a very laid back view of teaching that led to the pupil failing grade 2 as the girl needs a bit of a firmer hand to direct her. I don't think it's professional to criticise another teacher so I've tried to show the mother the way I do things and gently say that different methods suit different people but it's been a bit difficult to make it sound neutral. The mother is very upset now that she has investigated a bit further into the previous teacher and the examination process and realised how much wasn't done. I think she's upset on her daughter behalf only the pupil seems to have got on really well with the previous teacher and is getting quiet upset with hearing her mother's rants. I'm trying not to say anything negative about the previous teacher in the lessons but things like the scales issue above, if I suggest she does something different to what her previous teacher did then she seems to take it to heart.
I was thinking of talking gently to the pupil next week and say that different teachers use different methods, just because they are different doesn't make them wrong, and doesn't mean that I'm criticising her previous teacher. Then adding that although it's hard to hear her mother rant about the previous teacher, she's only doing it as she's hurt on her daughter's behalf, it's what mothers do!
But is this overstepping the mark?
Sorry, this post turned into something completely different to what it was originally about! But some advice from more experienced teachers about coping with previous teachers would be appreciated!
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