yr 7 son hates school - help

[medmum]

My son has been in new secondary school for a term now and he hates it. He was diagnosed with dyslexia and high IQ Sept last year [private test] - both missed by Primary school. Primary school helped with extra support in yr6, we gave extra help at home and he has a private tutor for 1 hour on saturdays. He has improved much over that year as a result, but still grossly underperforming.

Secondary school is set for maths/science/IT [his better subjects] and he is in set 3 [of 5], and he is in mixed ability tutor group for other subjects. He is miserable.
His tutor group has a number of disruptive pupils in it interfering with his learning and a number of parents have complained. School are dealing with it but I was told that there is no "quick fix", although things have improved over the last week.
His lessons are not yet "dyslexia friendly" although the school is trying to help with variable success.
He is also finding maths and science "too easy" but still struggles with input/output from his dyslexia. I want him moved up with "dyslexia friendly" teaching!
I have spoken to the SENCO numerous times this term, and the Head of Year three times this week and last. They have asked his teachers to implement some changes eg sitting at the front, minimum copying from board etc, and we are to have an Ed Psych meeting next term.
They will not, however, move him up a set in maths/science or even consider moving him to another tutor group [as that would just move the problem!].

At the moment the school are still listening and are being helpful so I am not ready to antagonise them yet. My question is - what can I do to get them to move him to another tutor group if the disruptions continue, and does anyone have any other advice on the best way to handle the school? We are considering a local private school but they have no yr7 places at the moment so we are stuck.

[LetsEscape]

This is very sad to hear. Poor boy and you; there is nothing worse than your child being unhappy at school. My only thoughts are that first term in Year 7 is very hard for all children even if they find it all easy, so with difficulties it is really hard. Next term may well feel a bit better and more familiar. He will also be less tired. My only advice would be to make sure you give him lots of TLC and lots of opportunities to see his old friends from primary where he can just be himself and feel safe, and meet up with some new friends so that he can consolidate some friendships as secondary school seems to be a lot about how your social life is going. It is good that the school is being helpful and keeping them on board will be key.

[mummytime]

As the mother of a dyslexic son, and someone who has spent some time in schools. I would be cautious, how much are they judging him on his reading and writing rather than understanding of Science? Have they done a MIDYRS test with him or similar? Do you have the results, if so does this help show his ability/potential?
Ask them on what grounds they do move pupils up or down sets. Which tests are important. Can he record his work competently, are there strategies he could use which would help. Try to find out what concerns the school has, and do be prepared to work with him to overcome his difficulties and revise for tests etc.

Good luck!

[amerryscot]

MidYis doesn't predict ability in Science, or at least, not very well.

I would imagine setting is done based on SATs results from Year 6, which again, is not very predictive for Science.

[mummytime]

Most schools I know use year 6 SATs and Midyrs/other tests to give a general idea for sets. Then they use Unit tests and exams to fine tune this during year 7. The problem is that some schools/teachers are used to teaching bright children who cope okay with writing, and non-bright children who struggle. They then struggle to adapt if they have a bright child who struggles with literacy. Midyrs results can be used to try to gently show that a child is bright, and is independent of the parent.

[medmum]

I think that they used his year 6 sats to set him, which is a reasonable place to start. He has had a lot of written tests since arrival and his teacher will not know what he is capable of as he is quiet in class. He is very good verbally but has not had the chance to show it.
He can be quite slow in class as he as to write down the question and then the answer. He makes silly mistakes as he hurries to write the answer down and to keep up. But the questions are too easy for him.
This week I have asked the school what criteria they use to set the children [esp set 2 to move him up] and which of these he does not fulfil - I am waiting for a reply.
At my request, his maths teacher has agreed to meet him "one on one" - then she should get an idea of his ability. I don't think it has happened yet.
We have just had the results of his writen tests and they are similar to his sats - but still underestimate his ability.
The problem is, without dyslexia support he would struggle in set 2 as he is slow at reading, writing, and with questions which have a lot of words in them. He also struggles with complex instructions because of short-term memory problems. But he has no problems with the concepts in both maths and science.
To teach him in a way which will benefit him requires a fundamental change in attitiude and in the way of teaching and that is very difficult to do. I would like to see the whole school become "dyslexia friendly" - and that is my ultimate goal. The alternative is that I spend the next 5 years frequently antagonising everyone and being a "pushy parent".
Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can tackle the whole school - I do know that it will have to be a "top down" directive. I want to get the teachers with me and not against me, but I don't want to appear to tell them how to do their jobs! A very difficult task I fear!

[medmum]

lots of things including:
sitting near the front
multisensory teaching
opportunities for "over-learning"
hand-outs and minimise copying from the board
instructions in "manageable chunks"
mark on content
extra time for tasks
get him to show working out in maths and emphasise the steps, and handouts to have space for answers so he doesn't have to copy question
give him enough time to copy homework into his book
be patient and don't tell him off when he doesn't understand

this is just a few relatively easy things that can be done - there are many more.

I do not think that the majority of teachers understand dyslexia and therefore it is difficult to get them to change their way of teaching. This is not their fault, it is a fundamental flaw in "the system".

The concept of a dyslexia friendly school is much much more and involves a change in ethos which benefits everyone. Such a fundamental change will take most teachers out of their comfort zone and is likely to be resisted in favour of what they know.

[dustiness]

i am a secondary school teacher and am also dyslexic (apologies for any spelling mistakes). I work in a school that has a high percentage of SEN pupils which includes severely dyslexic pupils. In my experience most teachers will try to include what you have prioritised. Ofsted more or less dictates that lessons are set up in this way.
Unfortunately this still does not address the needs of individual pupils. I find it frustrating and often distressing that I can't give the pupil the undivided attention that they need, but that is the way of education and I don't believe it is just of state schools, having had a private education myself.

I had an utterly awful experience at school. All I can say is that as long as you know that you have a bright and intelligent child that is what counts. His self esteem at home is what is important, as long as he succeeds and feels that there is something that he is good at he will progress and feel worthy. Dyslexia isn't the end of the world, as an adult you develop coping strategies. I was diagnosed as a severe dyslexic, later on in life, but through my love of reading I have managed to get over most it, although I still have an appalling memory.

You have understanding and a want for your son to be accepted as 'intelligent', therefor he is being supported in a positive and nurturing environment. Don't worry, though a 'late learner' he'll come good.

[camptownraces]

Many schools are totally intransigent about moving pupils between tutor groups. It is a surprisingly common request.

The view seems to be that if it becomes known that x's parents engineered a move, then there's no defence against all the other parents who would like it to happen.

Have you been able to speak to the tutor yourself? How is it that this person cannot control the unpleasantness which he/she must surely be witnessing?