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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

DS doesn't want his test results read out in class by the teacher - can he ask the teacher not to?

41 replies

SirChenjin · 15/02/2014 21:19

One of DS's teachers reads out everyone's test scores instead of giving them back their papers. I'm not sure why, and it's not popular with the pupils. All the other teachers simply give them back their papers with their marks written on them.

He'll be getting his Higher prelim paper back soon, and doesn't think he's done that well sadly - he's really upset, as it's a key subject for him. He wanted to ask the teacher if he could have his paper back instead of having his mark read out publicly. Is that a reasonable request, and if so, what (if anything) could be done if the teacher refuses the request?

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SirChenjin · 15/02/2014 21:41

bump

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Minnieisthedevilmouse · 15/02/2014 21:42

No idea but I'm with him

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SirChenjin · 15/02/2014 21:50

Me too - seems like nothing more than an exercise in humiliation, but maybe it's normal

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Lomaamina · 15/02/2014 21:53

Outrageous! Complain. Completely against rules where I teach in a university. How can it be deemed acceptable at a school?

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phdlife · 15/02/2014 21:59

I am horrified to think a teacher would do such a thing - I would be kicking up SUCH a fuss

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TeenageAdvice15 · 15/02/2014 22:07

they do this at my school and it's horrible because if you get a really made mark then everyone knows. I'm too shy to even ask the teacher to not read then out that I just put up with it

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TeenageAdvice15 · 15/02/2014 22:07

*bad mark

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smugmumofboys · 15/02/2014 22:13

I'm a secondary teacher and never do this.

I don't think it's unreasonable of you or him to ask. I guess it depends on what type of school it is as to the response you'll get.

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SirChenjin · 15/02/2014 22:20

It's a reasonable school, and the HT is great - I know her through the Parent Council, and she's definitely a good 'un.

DS is 16 now and doesn't really like me interfering - but maybe if I had a quiet word with the Head of the science department thgat might be OK?

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smugmumofboys · 15/02/2014 22:30

You've got nothing to lose.

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TamerB · 15/02/2014 22:32

Why doesn't he just have a quiet word and ask?

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JanePurdy · 15/02/2014 22:36

They do this with spelling test results at my DD's school. She's in Y1

If he's 16 I think he should ask the teacher & it is a reasonable request. I think though this is one of those things it is better to do yourself than get your mum to do.

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SirChenjin · 15/02/2014 22:36

Tamer - he plans do, but I think he's worried that the teacher will just ignore him (teacher is a bit of a funny fish) and read them out regardless. I'm torn between pre-empting things and highlighting to the Head of science that this is going on in one class, or doing nothing and DS possibly being put in the position of having his marks read out.

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SirChenjin · 15/02/2014 22:43

Teenage - that's awful, I'm so sorry to hear you have to put up with this. Could you have a quiet word with your Year Head, or the Head of that department?

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TamerB · 15/02/2014 22:49

I just thought the teacher might take more account if it came from the student. Have you got time for him to try it first and you to be the back up if he is ignored?

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SirChenjin · 15/02/2014 22:53

Yes, I wondered that - get him to go and see the teacher this week, tell him he'd like the results on paper rather than read out, and then depending on the teacher's reaction I'll either leave be or make a quiet phone call.

Glad that I'm not being overly sensitive though - reading them out to the class didn't sound right

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TamerB · 15/02/2014 22:55

Because if his age I think it best to let him tackle the teacher. Time to then complain yourself if it is turned down.

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Martorana · 15/02/2014 23:00

Is it a state school? Because you normally have to pay for this sort of ritual humiliation.

My ds's maths teacher puts their scores up on the board- but it is a very small, very competitive top set, and a) there's not much difference between top and bottom, and b) it works incredibly well in this particular group. Not acceptable generally IMHO.

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SirChenjin · 15/02/2014 23:05

Yes, a state school - but only from this one teacher in all the years he and DD have been there. It's the Higher class, they're all bright kids - but really no need for it imo.

Good advice Tamer

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Martorana · 15/02/2014 23:10

I think he should have a word with the teacher in advance if he feels he can.

Is he worried about what his classmates will say? Or just the horribleness of hearing it himself?

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maddy68 · 15/02/2014 23:27

We do it as standard practice in my school. All kids know what each other's grades are as part of peer assessment and they pick targets for each other in order to reach the next level. However if a child told me they were worried about their grades being shared I would take that on board. He really needs to tell the teAcher himself

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mumofthemonsters808 · 15/02/2014 23:33

Different perspective from me,I would not do anything, I'd just reassure my son that even though his test score was not what he wanted to achieve, having it read out to the rest of the class, really is not the end of the world. He is 16 and approaching adulthood where lots of things happen that we dislike, make us feel uncomfortable, even cause us great anxiety, we just learn to handle them.

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SirChenjin · 15/02/2014 23:38

Yes, there's that - but there is an alternative in that he could do what the other teachers do and just hand them back their paper with their marks written on them. I wouldn't countenance my performance review at work being shared with my team, and vice versa for example - that doesn't mean that I'm not able to handle anxious or uncomfortable situations, it just means that some things are confidential or private.

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nooka · 15/02/2014 23:49

I think if you have a contact through the school I'd raise it as a general point re the ethos of the school because I'm sure it's not just an issue for your son. Seems like really poor practice to me.

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NoEgowoman · 16/02/2014 00:19

I would contact the teacher directly yourself if possible. I think as a parent you can make it clear that it is important enough that your son has mentioned it to you. If you contact him directly or head of science otherwise it can be kept low key so avoid the teacher feeling the need to defend his position and continue the practice or worse make it into a big thing which would embarrass your son more. Teacher can learn that it has an adverse effect on some pupils without losing face. Teachers don't always see the effect of their actions. He might think he's introducing a bit of useful competition or possibly not really thinking at all.