As a parent I am continually frustrated by my childrens primary schools

[NotAnOtter]

But delighted with the secondary schools.
Why is this? I felt all the way through my childrens primary education like i had to be in 'teacher' mode - keeping an eye on what ( if anything) was being achieved. I dont just mean academically i mean the whole shebang.
In secondary school the picture is very different. The teachers take control. the teachers drive the child - check its shirt is tucked in (yes!) keep tabs on what is being done and generally do what I had thought teachers did throughout the school system.
As spetember 07 draws near and another child hurtles towards primary education - am I alone in thinking 'Oh no ...not again!'?

[Twiglett]

I only have experience of primary schooling .. and its fairly limited at that as DS is in Year 1 but I have to say I know exactly what you mean

[Jimjams2]

We're really pleased with both ds1 and ds2's schools (think ds1 is year 4 although lost count a bit they don't call it that maybe he's year 3; ds2 reception)

[Twiglett]

bloody hell ... how can DS2 be in reception? he's only 2, 3 at the most

[Jimjams2]

Nope that's ds3 (2 next month!)

[NotAnOtter]

its so frustrating and tbh it all seems the wrong way round to me...

[mumblechum]

I found the primary thing a lot easier so far as communication is concerned. You walked 50 yards to the school and if there was a prob, you spoke to the teacher in the playground and sorted it in 2 mins.

Now ds is in Year 7 I haven't a clue what's going on, he's getting detentions for not doing homework I know nothing about, you never get to see the teachers except 2x per annum, and I find the whole thing a bit overwhelming, tbh.

[Judy1234]

If you never took or collected from primary school (as a working parent) you find at secondary level you then become more normal so you're used to that distance from the school. Also the children get on with it when they're older which suited us better. I never looked at a single bit of GCSE course work for example ever.

[kiskidee]

mumble, sounds like your ds is not writing his hw in his planner then. make a call to his head of year expressing your concern and ask how would it be possible to make sure ds gets his written in. This way your ds can learn to do it himself.

[mumblechum]

Thanks Kiskidee, I had a meeting with his head of year last week and that's what we were discussing. He's been threatened with all sorts of torment if he doesn't fill it in, and the teachers have all been asked to specifically ask him if he's got it in his book.

Time will tell!