To expect an appointment with all my child's teachers?

We are online too. Considering how many teachers are at home rather than school, I suspect that the teachers like it too.

My youngest is in year 13 and I’ve never been able to book every teacher as there’s always one or two who are unavailable on the day. (our school is always recruiting for science teachers and they are generally the ones who were unavailable in the younger years.)

I’m glad that it’s not the system where only children with problems get an appointment. I suspect that my kids are pretty typical in that they don’t really talk about school at home so while parents hope that they are doing fine, it’s good to hear it from the teacher. I also suspect that secondary school kids secretly love having their teacher tell their parents that they are doing great.

We are back to face-to-face. I preferred online, as a teacher and as a parent, but apparently the majority of parents preferred face-to-face.

Are schools still doing it over zoom? We’ve all gone back to in-person at the schools local to me. I had my son’s first high school parents night a few weeks ago. He got all the appointments by going round all his teachers with a slip of paper all students were given, and he got appointments with all of them. We went up on the night and just went chair to chair; it was running late as they always do and some appointments got a bit muddled but everyone got seen!

It is very clear practical use. The children are there (at secondary) and should hear the praise.

The praise happens constantly in school time, verbally, through marking and through the school's rewards systems.

I am actually surprised that teachers still concentrate on the negatives so much when people do much better when their strengths are praised.

You say 'teachers still...' as though you are imagining rigid old schoolmasters back in the day barking out 'Young Ponsonby-Smythe is a dolt who will amount to nothing in life!' You are misunderstanding the purpose of feedback. It's not about 'positives and negatives'. It's about giving information to enable students to achieve the best they can. Repeatedly saying 'You're great!' doesn't do that, however nice it is to hear. Telling the parents of a weaker, or bright but underachieving pupil what they can do to perform well is not a 'negative'. It's constructive and positive advice, even if it relates to e.g. inattention in class.

Genuine question - my eldest in last year of primary - is there any point going to parents evening in secondary? I’ve always felt I had to go to show I supported the school / teachers. But if our child has no issues should we stay away and leave appointments for others? That feels “wrong” to me but then I am a bit of a goodie two-shoes when it comes to school….

We didn't even get to see all the teachers in DS1's GCSE year. (however, I'd sort of given up on the school by then anyway)

Our first parents evening, none of the teachers had any idea who DS1 was, completely pointless.

Other two go to private schools and parents evening are useful, staff teach well and given relevant, useful feedback.

Yes this.
When I was kid (not in the UK), this is how it worked. Teachers where inviting some parents for an appointment, and parents just confirmed attendance. They had more than 5 min too.
Other parents could request an appointment on parents evening too, but usually where redirected to the "referent teacher" for the class.

Perhaps it would be better to do away with general parents evening and issue invitations to the parents the teachers need to see? I always knew I'd get glowing comments for my children, but I felt that I needed to show support for their education by signing up for the appointments offered.

Me too. My dc are 15 and 18. I have never found parents' evenings very useful asa parent, and quite often not that useful as a teacher tbh. I prefer reports.

It is very clear practical use. The children are there (at secondary) and should hear the praise.

OK maybe "moaning" was the wrong expression. But it's not just about the negatives.

I am actually surprised that teachers still concentrate on the negatives so much when people do much better when their strengths are praised.

That's such a negative approach. The parents of kids who are doing well should be spoken to as well.

Teachers aren't just there to moan, they should be praising as well.

It's lovely to be able to tell parents that their child is doing really well, but it's of limited practical use. Talking to parents about strategies for their child to improve progress is useful and is not 'moaning'

That sounds a little smug. But I think all parents should have the chance to discuss their kids' progress - not just the ones whose kids are doing less well for whatever reason.

I was one of the parents whose child wasn't perfectly behaved in Y7. It got much better in Y8. The Y9 parents' evening was a lovely experience where everyone said how well he was doing. Admittedly, I only chose to see the teachers whose subjects he was carrying on to GCSE. But still. I think I had just as much right to see the teachers in Y9 to hear the good things as the parents whose children needed more support/discussion.

DS's sixth form actually took the approach you describe, and the straight A* students didn't get to see the lecturers.

Last year I taught 120 Year 7 students. We have 37 slots. We are supposed to give email feedback to parents who didn't get an appointment if requested, but only for KS4 and 6th form, I think. Emailing detailed feedback to the parents of potentially up to 80 sets of KS3 parents would not be manageable.

That's such a negative approach. The parents of kids who are doing well should be spoken to as well.

Teachers aren't just there to moan, they should be praising as well.

I think there should be time made for all parents who want it. I appreciate it can't be done in one evening perhaps, but during each academic year there should be one appointment per subject teacher. It should allow the parents to support their children better which in turn should make the job easier for the teachers in the long run. Not in every case i'm sure, but in many.

I’ve been teaching 20 years and done lots of parents evenings. I don’t dislike meeting/talking to parents, it’s part of the job but hand on heart I can say that 90+% of all the appointments I’ve ever had were so I could say to nice parents that their child was nice and generally working well, could contribute more in discussions (mostly girls) or take more care with presentation (mostly boys), was occasionally chatty with friends but stopped when asked and missed one homework but I’m sure that won’t happen again, will it? I would also add that every one I’ve ever been to with my own DC have been the same. Really you don’t need to see every teacher. Honestly you probably don’t need to see any. If there’s a problem I’m sure you’d know about it and if not you’re going just to hear how nice your child is, which, while enjoyable isn’t exactly hugely important.

The most meaningful conversations I’ve ever had with parents were when I’ve phoned them or they’ve been asked into school for a meeting. Never at parents evening.

There are 1400 kids in my dd school and only 78 teachers (many posts unfilled). Time and space is tight. If you have specific subjects to discuss then email the guidance or year head at any point for an update or discussion but I promise you're not losing out. Primary is so very different that as a parent it can be hard to adjust.

I teach 4 year 7 classes. That’s 128 kids.

3 hours parents evening, 5 minutes a slot. 36 slots.

and no, I don’t have time to ring you later at a mutually convenient time. I can’t make 92 phone calls at 10 mins a go to talk to year 7 parents.

I am genuinely sorry if I can’t speak to everyone who wants it, but the reality is that I simply can’t.

Well, this is something I'd not considered! DS in year 7 now. The school use synergy and parents evening is face to face.

Will I still need to book on there? I'd like to see as many teachers as possible!

@Flensburg

It's a nightmare. I've got twins so need double the slots in the same night, which is never going to happen. I just have to hit the button and take what I can get. Maths and English are the hardest to get.

We can't divide and conquer as DH teaches at the same trust so he's hosting his own parents evenings.

They can’t just put on another night. A secondary school teacher could teach from Year 7 - 13. That is 7 nights already. If more directed time is used for more parents evening, then it has to come from somewhere else, such as teaching time.

i can’t imagine to old sit in classroom/hall would guarantee you see everyone. There would have to be a fixed end time and some parents will take ages taking about their darling child.

Before you all jump on me, I am a teacher and in my school we do virtual zoom appointments on an inset day as well as on a different evening when we would normally have a staff meeting. All the staff are provided with lots of tea and coffee and support for those challenging parents who might become agressive. Meeting the needs of pupils and parents doesn’t have to mean sacrificing teacher wellbeing. It does require some creative thinking.

That’s ridiculous. Ask for an appointment on another day. But this isn’t the norm everywhere. If I respond slowly I wouldn’t have my choice of appointment times but I would still get to see them all.

Perhaps it would be better to do away with general parents evening and issue invitations to the parents the teachers need to see? I always knew I'd get glowing comments for my children, but I felt that I needed to show support for their education by signing up for the appointments offered. If the system was more geared to targeted appointments, the right parents would be offered the appointments.

Given the number of students taught by some teachers up thread ignore my post.