Dispair at School ...

DS1 is in Y8.

He has 'tracker tests' each half term, to assess progress and understanding of the topics covered that half term. Each half-term, he uses his own notes from lessons and the CGP revision guides to make short revision notes or a mind-map on the topic(s) he's just done, then tests himself using summary questions or revision questions. He saves the revision notes in a folder to use when revising the whole year's work for the summer exams, so he can remember what topics he did.

I honestly think three complaints on this count is three too many. I don't think parents need to know what exactly is being taught when for their child to do well. I never know when assessments are due. The DC sometimes tell me a result (I assume only if it's good :)). They really do need to become independent learners once in secondary so constantly looking over their shoulders can seriously hinder. I'd leave him to it, really I would.

Pretty normal, not having really clear twice yearly test periods for setting that children are able to revise for pisses me off big time.

General lack of information is normal.

My DDs do bring books home, but I can't confess I look at them.

HisB - I'm really surprised by the number of people that are saying back off and don't worry about it. IMO the combination of hardly any homework, lack of books, and seemingly lack of information about tests would leave me feeling that school is a it of a black hole. I'd be concerned in your shoes. I also agree some children need more practical support than others otherwise they perform below their potential. Ds year 7 now much more organised than at junior level but starts to slip when tired so we keep half an eye on what's going on but leave rest to him. It's a good habit to read through books before tests - it doesn't need to be cramming - it's about being more familiar with the material. Is he allowed to bring his exercise books home - is there anything in them?

Honestly? I think you're massively overreacting.

Homework - For every parent who complains about 'not enough homework', there will be another saying 'too much'. If you want him to do extra work at home there are plenty of websites etc where you can find some. Clearly his teachers don't think it is necessary at the moment. Alternativey, you could try something a bit more creative - writing competitions, etc.

Not knowing what he is working on - what do you expect the school to do? Contact you each time your DS starts a new topic in each subject? Really? How long do you think that would take? Who should be responsible for doing it? Surely you just say "so DS, what are you studying in history this half term?" and find out?

Assessment week - They did tell you (and, more importantly, DS) about the assessments. It was on the calendar. If staff felt that pupils need more preparation then they will have explained it in their lessons. A lot of my pupils did end of unit assessments last week. I discussed it with them; it wouldn't have crossed my mind to contact the parents of the 200+ pupils I teach to discuss it with them too.

I'm genuinely baffled as to why you've complained to the school about any of these. Is it the right school for you? Do you need to consider alternatives?

Hi Maryz, I've been here.....

Maryz - Y8 is 12/13.

When I taught secondary we sent sheets home which highlighted the key topics, with a few bullet points below each, taught in that subject that year.

I now work in primary and we do the same, but half termly, this also goes onto the school website. DD's primary does the same, as does the secondary she is going to move onto in the summer - the latter uses a student portal thing.

Similarly we always sent out exam timetables even for mid term assessments and pupils were told the key topics so that they could revise beforehand. Again - this happens at DD's primary and at the secondary she is moving on to.

I do think a secondary school pupil should be able to pass on this information themselves, without it coming direct to parents. But I do think that the information should be issues to pupils at least.

I also agree that by year 8 a child ought to be developing skills which enable them to manage and organise their own work. The more a parent tries to 'help' them with this, the less likely they are to become independent learners or be able to cope with the big wide world in just a few years time.

I am not convinced that the OP is interested in any opinion that disagrees with hers.

Doesn't he haver a planner to write test dates in etc And surely you can tell from his exercise books wjhat topics he is studying

But you said the tests were on the school calendar - so you did know about them. And your son did too. You also know that there are tests each term.

I think you need to stop organising your ds and his school. At some point he will be out in the big wide world and will need to have developed the skill to know he has to do an essay/presentation/interview or whatever, and to plan his time accordingly.

And yes GCSEs are sadly a test of one sort of memory ability.

OP, I am in exactly the same situation, with a Y8 boy who tells me very little. We have a parent's evening coming up, and I am going to raise this very matter with his tutor, just to understand a bit more.

I do think it's a good idea to step back a little when they are this age, so they can start to develop work skills for themselves. At primary (and to some extent in Y7) I looked after his homework planning, i.e. told him to do Maths now, Art tomorrow, but now I leave it to him to schedule his week and decide when he wants to do homework. Obviously I check from a distance, but if he fails to do it adequately then he has to take the consequences, which is going to teach him to be more self-sufficient. He knows full well that this control will be taken back if the school tells me he's failing to manage the tasks set.

I would however like to know if the school teaches them revision techniques, and if so, when. He has exams in May.

But I don't see the point in him cramming for regular tests/assessments where no-one else is, then becoming disillusioned and demotivated because he's in a stream that's too high for his true ability.

Yes but if no one is revising because no one is being told when the tests are then the setting will be a test of true ability.

I am sceptical however that your DS hasn't been told when his tests are. And also, why can't he tell you what topics they are studying?

The OP did say that she knew about the assessments because they were on the school calendar. I'm guessing the kids knew about them too.

Revision skills are important, of course, but again I think it depends on the context of the tests. Mid-year tests in yr 8 are not likely to be formal, so it's possible that revision, in the sense that you mean, is not necessary.

evil I agree that the results of these assessments are not going to be life changing. I too have a DS who certainly can't cram the night before and assessment like these would panic him and the resulting poor mark would stress him out. His school put on their intranet accessible to parents what would be assessed and therefore we don't have these problems currently. Surely this is not difficult for all schools to do. Thus the parents who want to know what their DCs are doing and want to help them can do so.

I also feel that these assessments are also important because DCs can learn how to revise eg arranging notes and methods for revision. In a few months there will be some posts from MNetters saying that their GCSE DCs are sitting in their rooms looking at their books hoping that something will go in! They will moan that their DCs haven't been shown how to revise? Surely these assessments could be used to help the learn these skills.

I think you're worrying unnecessarily. If the tests were important (ie the counted for anything other than the school and the students knowing how things are going) then I'm quite sure that the school would have provided more formal guidelines.

As for the rest, I stand by my comment that it is impractical for teachers to let parents know individually what is being covered. Perhaps DS needs some help with organisation? Could you contact his form tutor and ask for this? He needs to be organising himself.