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Original poster

Dispair at School ...

33 replies

HisButler · 13/02/2013 19:51

So,
He's in Yr8.
We have already complained to the school at the almost non existent homework being set by them.
We have complained that we have no idea what he is learning in class, so we cannot support him at home properly. (They are not allowed to take class books home!)

Now before they are fixed, a 3rd strike ..
In the School Calendar, there are 3 weeks in February marked as 'Assessment Period Year 8'.
I was waiting for him to come home with revision homework, or at least a list of dates when tests would be, what subjects, or some information of any kind.

So we are now into the said 'assessment period', and with no information coming home.
A week into the 'assessment period' , I emailed the school at the weekend, asking what the situation was.
Today (Wednesday), he comes home and says that he's just had a maths test. He also found out that he is having a Science test tomorrow.

So no warning to the kids, no guide for the parents or kids as to which subject to revise ....

Is this normal ??
I really want to help him study and provide the best I can ... but I just feel that I'm completely shut out by the school.

If it is not normal ... then I will be onto my third complaint to the school in as many months. I'm starting to get paranoid - am i expecting too much ?

Many Thanks

OP posts:
GrimmaTheNome · 14/02/2013 00:07

He's yr8, not age 8.

I wouldn't expect to know anything about DDs assessments other than anything she might tell us. They usually get some warning of tests but not sure its always much.

They do bring books home - to do their own homework. She certainly does get homework set, though some of it gets done in school time. They have a homework diary which the parents are supposed to sign each week.

The more formal summer term exams are a somewhat different matter - she's yr 9 now, in yr 7 and 8 there was some revision guidance for those, they were definitely meant to revise properly for those. But not really much to do with us other than ensuring time and appropriate space to do it.

It sounds to me as though you're expecting too much involvement but OTOH the school isn't doing things quite optimally either.

EvilTwins · 14/02/2013 00:03

When you say book, do you mean his class book or a text book?

HelpOneAnother · 13/02/2013 23:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EvilTwins · 13/02/2013 23:41

It's not practical to let parents know what topics students are doing. I teach every single year group. TBH, if a secondary age child can't manage to pass that information on him/herself, I'd be worried. As for assessment, I agree it's likely that this is not something the school feels it's necessary for students to cram for. Mid-year tests in Year 8 are hardly GCSEs, and it's likely that the results are simply to help inform the teachers' planning and give an idea about how students are getting on. At my school, we spread tests over the year so as to spread the marking load.

Original poster
HisButler · 13/02/2013 23:33

Thanks to all replies, and it has made me a little clamer.
Not that I agree with the assessment approach, but at least the situation is no too uncommon !

We have asked the School many times before about sending us info about what topics/levels are being studied ... little or incomplete response received.

Example : Tonight we went to the schol website and looked up revision aids for Science Yr8. Found that the subject he's being studying since Christmas is not even there !!

We have some Lonsdale books ... but again, I have no idea if he's being tested on what he's studied this year, this term, since the last assesment, or ....?

I appreciate cricketballs comment, yet ...
I guess I am just thinking of any exams in the future, GCSE's for example, who would NOT revise & prepare for them ? I don't understand why this is any different.

Last test his results shot up a grade because of decent revision .... this time we did not get the opportunity.

Manging his own work load !?
I wish !!

OP posts:
goinnowhere · 13/02/2013 22:50

Not having books to bring home (textbooks) is quite normal. There are not enough of them.

Email asking for an outline of the topics covered in each subject if you are bothered. No need to complain, just ask Year Head to get it together. Or you could ask your son.

Assessment week may well be tasks to be done in class rather than "tests". Which the child does not prepare for. Again quite normal.

racingheart · 13/02/2013 22:18

I don't think you are expecting too much, but there are things you can do, despite no communication from the school.

First - get your DS to tell you what he did in class that day, each day, when he comes home from school. He should know enough about what work he's doing to give you as much useful info as the school could. Then, if you get hold of KS3 revision books from Collins or Letts, you can go through the topics they've covered so far with him in the run up to the test period.

TBH, they may be expecting him to manage his own workload by now, and not encouraging parents to intervene (not saying that's right or wrong, just could be their policy.)

cricketballs · 13/02/2013 22:13

I will play devil's advocate.....

the assessment period could be a check on what they have learnt rather than what they can 'cram' the night before

sometimes homework is set for no other reason that to follow school policy and has no benefit to the learning in progress

the lack of books home could be due to the number of students who failed to bring their books into lessons and this is how the school is dealing with the issue

I understand your frustration at the lack of details from the school but in terms of helping your ds - have you asked him what he is currently studying and support him that way? What are the other complaints you have made to the school?

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