Are others with older secondary kids struggling to monitor their work?

[P1ece0fTheWorld]

My ds is year 10, has own laptop. I can’t get into his school accounts to check he is keeping up with work set. Can’t bug school to go through everything and check. It’s GCSEs next year and important he is doing everything properly.

How are you monitoring things?

[passthemustard]

My DS is year 10. I get weekly emails from his tutor group leader telling me if he's up to date and generally checking in on him and us as a family.

(He's rarely up to date with his work 🙄)

[sunshineanddaffodils]

It’s so difficult. My ds has work set on his school portal. When he’s done it he has to mark it as completed but not actually submit it - he’s sent answer sheets and has to self mark. I’ve no idea if he’s doing work to a high standard, I suspect he’s doing enough but not above and beyond because his teachers aren’t checking his work so he’s not accountable. I’m checking as much as possible but really don’t know whether he’s doing enough or not! I’m so worried because of GCSEs. Not had any contact for school apart from generic newsletters. Hoping that the time in school might be helpful for making sure he’s still doing ok.

[whenwillthemadnessend]

It's crazy. Write to MPs submit questions to daily briefing. Kids are ignored in this.

[Mintjulia]

Can’t you email his form teacher and ask?

[sunshineanddaffodils]

@Mintjulia his tutor has been off sick since way before the crisis. Anyway how would they know if he’s doing ok if he’s not required to submit any work?

[middleager]

I feel the same. Two year 9s, due to take a couple of early GCSEs next year.
They do the work, but I haven't a clue if it's OK and it would be way beyond me.
Their grammar school seems to set lots of homework style work, but I haven't heard anything off the school re the work and have not wanted to bother teachers to ask for feedback.

[MoreW1ne]

Does your school have a central homework setting platform? Many of the platforms used also have parent access logins? If not, can you find an email address of some of his teachers? If not a tutor (who could presumably check all for you) you could maybe find the English, Maths, Science teachers as a start and then go from there.

As a teacher, I do contact students first for not completing work, but if it goes a couple of weeks I directly contact the parent myself. However, responses from them vary, it's also hard to get around to contacting them all so I would always welcome an email from a parent.

In fact, given the vast array of complaints on MN about schools I'm shocked that as a year 10 tutor and head of core subject I haven't had more emails from parents.

Equally, I suspect (and this is no criticism) that like many parents of year 10 you may not have habitually checked on your child's homework/discussed his work as much. Maybe try to include a time a few times a week to chat it over where he can show you what he's done. Start with just a few minutes as it will be hard for you both at first, but with next year looking to be interrupted, this will be important for you both.

[Pandsbear]

We chat (or nag depending on how my 2 Yr 10s perceive the day before has been) every day. I can see on the school work portal what they have to do/overdue etc. Some is submitted, some just marked as done. Some assessments. It is getting more difficult as the time goes on I find -and a few hours per week actually going in to school might motivate/encourage them a bit more. I feel like they are losing focus because of how long it has been going on. Had some feedback from teachers - they are ready also finding it hard.

[Iggi999]

I have all his school passwords and check from my own tablet. But he does need support with his learning. Easy enough to email school and ask if he is falling behind though they would probably wonder why you hadn't sat down with him and got him to show you all his work.

[sunshineanddaffodils]

Problem is ds does show me work and I ask him about it but really don’t know if he’s doing it to required standard as he’s not required to submit it. Have let school know we get no feedback from teachers but not had a reply to this. Told mental health is the most important focus at the moment.

[Iggi999]

Sorry I sounded a bit off in my answer, I know it's not as easy as it sounds. Are you sure he isn't supposed to submit? Is he on teams/google classroom or something? He could email work to teachers as well

[Travelban]

I have a year 9 and year 10 and it's different challenges. The year 9 needs constant reminding of checking his work as he keeps leaving it to the last minute and having meltdowns as a result.

The year 10 is more organised..

I have no idea of the quality of the work they submit as I am working full time and I don't have time to look. We get school reports at the end of this term so hopefully we will get a view then. I was told by both schools that if they fall behind or fail to submit we would be informed but whether they do that or not it's a different matter.

[ILiveInSalemsLot]

When ds logs in, I’ll have a look through what he’s due and what grades he’s got for anything that’s submitted.
Sometimes I’ve got him to send emails to his teachers asking for feedback if there hasn’t been any.

[Iwantacookie]

I can log on and see that dd has said shes completed the work. She doesnt have to submit it though so I really have no idea how she is getting on in real time. Thankfully she wants to stay on to sixth form and knows she needs certain grades so I'm hoping that's having an impact on her.

[Desmondo2016]

My son is year 10 too. My involvement ends at making sure he gets up by 10 and making sure he had regular fresh air and exercise. Absolutely no way at 15.5 should he need me to tell him what work he needs to be doing. It's on him!

[ITonyah]

Yes, year 9 and year 12 private school. If work wasn't being done I would get a phone call. Dd missed one piece of homework and teacher contacted her housemistress to check if dd was a habitual homework skiver (she isn't, just entered her homework in the wrong place on the system). Assessment to me at end of half term and year 9 currently doing assessments in every subject.

[ITonyah]

Told mental health is the most important focus at the moment

What's that supposed to mean? Surely their mental health will be improved by keeping on top of school work?

[Orangeblossom78]

I have a year 10. Work is on google classroom and they email you every week or day to tell you if stuff not done. You can change this. Also uses Show my homework which is accessed by my email too.

We also have emails from specific teachers e.g. music, DT, for their subjects, a contact email for their tutor who rang to check up, and weekly newsletters too. Feel a bit like a PA at times though.

[Orangeblossom78]

Instead of end of term exams ours are having assessed pieces of work this next two weeks, also pupils not engaging have to go in and work on computers at school- they rate them on scale 1 to 3.

[Orangeblossom78]

This is a state school

[sunshineanddaffodils]

@ITonyah I know! I'm trying not to get too stressed, he's doing all work that's set I'm just hoping it's OK.

[puffinkoala]

I can see my son's 6th form college emails so I know if a tutor emails him to say work hasn't been done (or I can see that it has been marked, I don't look at the feedback but I can see he's done it and it's been returned).

I have had the odd email from one subject tutor so have chased him on the work in that subject. He's not having lessons in that subject so is a lot less motivated, I see him doing work for the other two subjects.

He is also doing a separate diploma with another organisation and they email parents as well as students when they have assignments to do so I can chivvy him if necessary.

[puffinkoala]

Feel a bit like a PA at times though Totally!

I'm shocked that as a year 10 tutor and head of core subject I haven't had more emails from parents

I wonder if, like me, they just think emailing in would be counter-productive as the schools/colleges can't change Government guidance? I have twice drafted emails to my son's personal tutor and twice deleted them again.

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

I can’t get into his school accounts to check

Why?

Sit him down every Monday morning and have him log in so you can see what he has done/is expected to do that week?

[CuckooCuckooClock]

Just email the teachers and ask. I’ve had emails from worried parents and I’m very happy to reassure them or to set specific assessment work.
All our parents have access to our homework platform so can see what their dc have been set and submitted but if any parent wanted more information we’d happily provide it.