Do you really think it matters if we don't attend Y7 parents eve at DS's new secondary...

At all three of my children's secondary schools (one for son, two for daughter) it has always been possible (in theory) to see every single subject teacher she/he had that year plus the form tutor, the head of year/phase, the SENCo and the headteacher. Never had to make appointments either, although some individual teachers have done this informally, or sent messages that they would be leaving by a certain time. In all cases there was a very strong expectation from the school that we would go, latterly accompanied by offspring. At son's school there is always a talk from the Head and other senior/middle management as well, which can be interesting, although usually fairly predictable ('important year' - 'learning good work habits' - 'thorough preparation for exams' - all phrases that feature every time).

I am surprised that you think that the teachers won't know who your DS is. We have our DS's Y7 parents' evening in 2 weeks and have just received the letter, asking us to put down the names of the teachers we would like to see.

In fact, part of the contract between the school, the pupil and the parents concerns the expected attendance by the parents at any parents' evening.

I would be very upset if the teachers didn't know who my son is and would want to know why.

I think you should go, to signify both to your son and the school that you are taking an interest in his education.

His teachers will have: records of what he has achieved so far, notes of any areas of concern, tips for how he can get the most out of his senior school career (now he has settled in), and information for you on what is going to happen next (likely curriculum, sets etc.). They may or may not know your son, but will know the name and roughly how he's doing (they may surprise you, as name learning is very important).

This maybe a rare chance for you to meet the teachers, and is a valuable opportunity. When something goes wrong it is much easier to deal with people you have met. It is very different at seniors school to juniors.

Well, if you want your ds to think that you can't be bothered to go to his new school, meet his teachers, see his classroom, see the place where he spends his day, meet some of his frienda and their parents, then of course there's no need to go.......

Not expecting my parents' evening for DS1 next week to be a "praise-fest" tbh! I'm still gonna go tho

What I mean is, OP, while you may be lucky enough to have no surprises or concerns (and I hope so), some of us have concerns or may receive surprises - and maybe that's why the event is worth having.

Go. My parents often didn't go to mine as they found it a bit inconvenient, and they knew I got 'A's, didn't get in trouble etc... I never said but it really upset me that they couldn't be arsed.

rosin, think that is a reasonable balance...the parents evening is for parents to use to get get any feedback they particularly want...and for teachers to meet with parents (particularly any you have concerns about)

My reading of the OP ( and thereafter) was that they had appointments with some teachers...but wanted to know if they should see all.

Have I read this wrongly?

Ampere, you will want to glean as much information possible.

Secondary school is a whole different ball game.

What Lougle said.

I actually think it is a little sad that you think of your own DS as someone who wouldn't make an impact, wouldn't leave a mark, wouldn't be remembered.

I am sure he has a lovely personality, with a nice character and the teachers will have picked up on that?

Don't you want to know how he is settling in to the classes, and school in general? They will know that from how he is in individual classes.

If your DS has already arranged some appointments for you that implies he is keen for you to go. If you now don't bother to go (for whatever reason) you're sending a message to him that you don't care about his education. Might leave him feeling a bit deflated.

At our school all students have at least 1 lesson of art, dance, drama, music, IT, history, geography, RS and citizenship. So teachers of these subjects may often have 15 or 16 KS3 classes = 450 students.

They might have 150 students in any one particular year group! So cannot possibly see all parents at parents' evening, but hopefully by wk9 should have some sort of handle on who everybody is.

For parents there is a vast difference in the way teachers and the school communicate with parents as opposed to the way things were done at Junior school.

You really need to go if at all possible.

I was surprised how much benefit we got from ds1's yr7 settling in parent's evening.

We didn't try and see all his teachers, but went to core subjects plus the ones he was most interested in.

There are very few opportunities to 'meet the teachers' at our secondary, and just a 5 min chat, put a face to the name has been helpful.

But a couple of things did come up at yr7 parents evening, which did need dealing with. Like you we weren't aware of any issues and didn't anticipate anything really.

Oh OK that's fair enough.

Of course it must differ from school to school. I think most of the English teachers (for example) at the school where I work, will only have one yr 7 English group, or maybe two at the most.

Certainly thinking of a particular English teacher whose day I covered a couple of weeks ago, she had a lesson every period and saw one group of yr 10s (twice) and one each of yr 7s, 8s and 9s. I inferred that she then saw these groups again over the week.

My point is (I think!!! if I have one!!!!) that she would then know all those students pretty well, even after only 8 weeks.

Well, yes I think it is important. Just so you know who the teachers are and also do you not have any questions at all? OK maybe not to do with progress yet but regarding generally settling in?

Maybe the teachers don't know who they all are yet but I bet they're starting to, so it's a two way street wrt interest shown.

Also, in my dd's case anyway, it's sort of a big deal to her (not that she'd probably admit it) and therefore to us too.

and...depending on the way the timetable has had to fit in...some classes may be split between two teachers...so I would repeat classes but not as often as you might think.

Personally, no I don't (as a science teacher because the department is big). I might teach 4 classes in one year which would be 120...

Some smaller departments (R.E. for example) might have teachers teaching all classes in a year (which is 9) and only meet them once or twice a fortnight...so yes..they would.

Yes but you don't teach 280 pupisl out of one year do you Lydwatt, which is what OP is saying?

I am sure those 180 (phew! six periods in a day!) are repeated over hte course of the week?

Yes, one teacher can teacher 280 children...

I can teach up to 180 in one day!! (30 kids times 6 periods)

Having seen your post - I did my homework too but not much in class. My parents hadn't a clue!

Why would they organise a parents evening at 8 weeks if they wouldn't be able to tell any of the children from Adam?

Not all parents can make a particular evening for perfectly goood reasons! I wouldn't judge a parent for not coming if all was well (and, if not, I request an appointment..)