Would other mums please let me know of their experience of Parent's Evenings please? It is my child's first year of secondary school and her parent's evening was a washout. Firstly pupils have to make the appointments themselves. Teachers post lists of times on their door and pupils have to book their parents in for appointments (5 minute slots). There are over a 1,000 pupils and each teacher teaches two year groups. Parent's evening lasts from 3.30 to 6.30 so if you work it out each teacher can only see half of her pupils. It is 'first-come, first-served' really - whoever has a class at the moment the teacher posts her appointment list on the door gets to book an appointment. In the end, my daughter was only able to get appointments for 4 out of a possible 14 teachers, for Art, French, Textiles and Geography. We really specifically wanted to see her Maths, English and Science teachers.
The Head said that parents would get an email report from any teacher you couldn't get to see, but this was just a couple of lines and not any different to a school report. We were very disappointed with our first experience of parent's evening at secondary school. I have written to the Head about it and she said she realised that all parents do not get to make appointments but that she was loathe to ask teachers to give up any more time. I also wrote to the Chair of School Governors who just said the same really. I spoke to other mums and they were also disappointed that they only got to see 2 or 3 teachers. I was wondering if it was just our school or if other parents have experienced similar, or if their school organises things better?
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Secondary education
What is your experience of Parent's Evening in Secondary school?
CrazyforCrochet · 14/06/2016 09:39
Oh and Generally I get to see all my dd's teachers. If the computer can't sort it ( and I want to speak to them) then I phone up the school and ask for them to phone me with a verbal report . Don't think I've ever done that though... With ds they did occasionally phone me 
Usually I am on the lookout for an unexpected gap if there is a teacher I want to see and jump in if they are willing for a chat.
Ds' school introduced an on-line booking system 2 years ago - so it's now in our control which teachers we book rather than ds' 
We get 5 minute slots to choose from - but the computer doesn't allow you to book 2 consecutive 5 minutes, to ensure that you've got time to get from one appointment to another.
The main challenge (as others have mentioned) is that some parents/teachers overrun. I believe that they have considered ringing the school bell but decided that having it ring every 5 minutes would be excessive. Instead, leaflets (with the map of the school and where the different teachers are located) reminding people about the 5 minute appointments are given up and I think there are signs too. just need to get the message through to some of the teachers
The initial appointment letter (giving sign on details) and confirmation emails also reiterate that if you need more than 5 minutes, then the school should be contacted and a separate appointment made.
There are still problems with the "full year" subjects like English and Maths. They fill up very quickly.
I know that some schools use a system whereby the form teacher or pastoral care teacher gathers together all the info from the pupil's teachers and you just get to see that teacher. Really don't like the idea of that system 
. The friend whose son is at one such school said the feedback was most unsatisfactory and unhelpful, exacerbated by the fact that the teacher didn't like her ds (who didn't like his subject but was doing well in other subjects) 
- yet this is one of the "best" schools in the Glasgow vicinity. 
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Ds1s school- all of the teachers are in the hall, he books a 5min slot and leaves a 5min gap before the next teacher. You sit near the teacher you want and nip in when there is a gap. If a few parents are waiting you go in appt order.
Ds2s school- teachers are spread through various classrooms and parents queue to see them. Although there maybe five teachers in a classroom and someone always starts the queue at the door meaning you can't see which teachers are free and if it's one you want. I'm very rude and enter the class encouraging others to follow my bad example The teachers like to stick to the order wherever possible.
Something I've discovered is that if th dc book late appointments the teachers will accommodate seeing you if there is a gap as it means they stand a chance of finishing earlier.
Some tips:
My dc are told which teachers I want to see and that if I don't have an appointment I will speak to them anyway and blame the dc for not booking.
Ds2 avoided booking me an appointment with a teacher I wanted to see, when I found them they said they had asked him to make an appointment as they wanted to speak to me.
Keep on top of your dc if they have to book the appointments, it's very easy for them to tell you they had gone-especially the ones they are not performing as well as you would expect.
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