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Original poster

Not enough time to see all the parents on parent's night?

60 replies

var123 · 19/01/2015 14:04

Is this ok or not? The teacher has 18 appointment slots and 30 children. Its an important subject that matters to everybody so almost all parents want an appointment.

So the teacher has allocated appointments to just over half the parents and told the other children that their parents can get an email update if they want one.

Its year 8 so not a GCSE year, but more important than any other that has gone before.

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Original poster
var123 · 21/01/2015 09:26

I had a phone conversation with the teacher yesterday (at my request in lieu of not being able to get the appointment). The teacher is absolutely lovely.

She started by saying that he is a model pupil, very intelligent etc and that she had no concerns about him as he is in the top set and turning out work that is slightly above the midline of the class.

However, although she did know about DS's sen diagnosis, she wasn't aware of the impact it was having on pulling down his grades (because he's doing reasonably well anyway). Also, she wasn't aware that he's supposed to get extra time in exams.

I think she was genuinely shocked when she realised what she's missed, but when she looked through his work file and saw the evidence for herself, she did agree with me that what he knows is not making its way onto the paper.

Sometimes, information needs to flow in 2 directions, which is why I think its wrong to decide that, as teachers, you already have all the relevant facts and therefore don't need to speak to the parents.

Saying that, I do understand that you will be making a good call at least 90% of the time, and there is only 24 hours in a day. I am not criticising you, just pointing out that its a mistake to assume that you already know all that you need to.

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Rosieposy4 · 19/01/2015 22:40

I do think part of the problem here is the 10 min long slot. I teach a state secondary and our slots are 5 mins, as they were at my last school, that allows me to see at least one whole class per parents evening, those year groups where i have 2 classes are obviously more of a problem.
And var, we do speak to the kids in class and have a pretty good knowledge of them. Not putting their hand up isn't necessarily a big issue, his teacher should still know about his capabilities, limitations and SEN

cricketballs · 19/01/2015 18:16

Roisin - I work at a state school, please read my earlier post re teaching load and parents evenings

cricketballs · 19/01/2015 18:14

Var - targets are set which are based on numerous things (SEN does not affect targets, for example I have a student who is in my form who has ASD, but very intelligent, his targets are all A*/A, whereas my own DS has ASD and LD; his targets are a lot lower) therefore if your DS wasn't working towards his target you would know - I'm guessing that he is if teachers gave not been in contact, requested to see you

roisin · 19/01/2015 17:55

I'm a bit Hmm at a parents' evening system that only allows teachers to see 18 pupils... Unless it's a private school and that's the general class size?

Also, at KS3 a child might have 15 or so subjects, so will you have to be there for 2.5 hours?!

My boys have always been in state schools: parents evening generally at least 4 hrs long for most teachers. Appointment slots are 3-5 mins each; teachers with two classes - 60 children - are expecting to see everyone who wants a slot.

In KS3 they usually come home with messages from teachers in subjects like music, dance, drama, art... saying the teacher teaches 7 yr8 classes, so is unable to see everyone in a single evening. If you want a slot, please book one; but if you have no particular issues, please don't bother; if you have a small issue/query that could be clarified by phone or email, please do so.

Original poster
var123 · 19/01/2015 17:32

My issue is I want to ask how my Ds is coping wrt to a learning disability. He is twice exceptional so sometimes it isn't picked up on i.e. the cleverness offsets the disability and the disability offsets the cleverness making his work good enough overall, if he was aiming for average performance.

The SEN dept were supposed to have told all the teachers. Maybe they have and he's genuinely doing ok. Or he could be turning in average work and the teacher hasn't realised that he's much more able than that. Its anyone's guess which it is when all the school offers is "we'll contact you if we have anything to say"?

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Unexpected · 19/01/2015 17:23

Var123 if you or your child have an issue, surely you would bring it to the attention of the teacher outside of parents' evening anyway? Meeting the teacher on the evening is very useful but it's only one way of contacting them or discussing issues. Very often, if there is an issue, you don't necessarily want to discuss it in an open hall with the noise at football stadium level and someone's handbag whacking you on the back of the head as they squeeze past.

cricketballs · 19/01/2015 17:22

Var - in answer to your questions from marking and assessing during the lesson

Original poster
var123 · 19/01/2015 17:09

cricketballs - I think the answer may be in the question, but how do you know that there isn't an issue unless you speak to the parents or child at some point?

How do you know that the children whose parents you don't see and never speak to haven't got something they could tell you that you ought to know? e.g. the DC struggle massively with the homework, or are finding the work a bit unchallenging? Not all children will volunteer info by sticking their hand up in class (including DS1, unfortunately).

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cricketballs · 19/01/2015 17:00

I teach 3 x yr 7 (90 students), 2 x yr 8 (60 students), 3 x yr 9 (90 students), 2 x yr 10 GCSE (40 students), 2 x yr 11 (45 students) plus 6th form. We have 1 evening a year per year group - as you can see from the numbers it is physically impossible to see every parent. Whilst we offer a first come first served I do prioritise the parents I want to see; others are told if I have appointments left then I would more than welcone them, over wise they can email or take it that their DC is working well

nowitsenough · 19/01/2015 15:55

I emailed our school to ask if I could see subject teachers and received a reply saying that wasn't their policy, but they could ask any ones we needed to speak to to call or email us. I prefer to speak to them in person.

TalkinPeace · 19/01/2015 15:42

At primary we all got to see the teacher
At secondary the teachers try to see everybody, but on occasion I was denied appointments but given an email reason
At 6th form you only get an appointment if the college request one

Simplest is probably to email and ask if there are any points needing to be raised

DoctorDonnaNoble · 19/01/2015 14:47

I'd contact the teacher. I'm sure they'd be happy to arrange some form of contact.

Original poster
var123 · 19/01/2015 14:45

So, its a known thing and its not worth flagging up because nothing can be done about it anyway and it will just make me look like a moaner?

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honeysucklejasmine · 19/01/2015 14:44

Each year group should have its own evening. Its simply a numbers game sadly. The teacher will be frustrated too. Give them a ring, they won't mind.

Unexpected · 19/01/2015 14:41

This seems fairly common at secondary level. Our parents' evening goes on for longer than 3 hours but appointments are only 5 mins and it's still impossible to see everyone. The problem is that each teacher is not just teaching one class in a year group but possibly 3 - so that's 90 sets of parents to see! On the one hand, maybe they should be having more parent evenings but on the other hand, with 5 year groups plus a 6th form, not to mention Options evening, 6th form evening, information evenings at the beginning of the year etc etc the teachers would be spending several late evenings every week in school at that rate.

Original poster
var123 · 19/01/2015 14:35

Could it be that Y8 is the unimportant year as far as secondary school is concerned? i.e. not an exam year, not an intake year and not even the year when the children choose their subjects?

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honeysucklejasmine · 19/01/2015 14:33

In secondary this will often happen. Too many kids, not enough time, and the ones who you want to come never do. I am sure the teacher won't be put out at all if you just pop in a note asking for a phone call. Smile

Original poster
var123 · 19/01/2015 14:30

an ASBO type mum is the type who might be physically or verbally threatening to a teacher. The sort of mother you would wish to minimise contact with if you were a teacher.

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EdithWeston · 19/01/2015 14:30

It is crappy when that happens.

It has happened to us, but there was a pre-emptive apology for shortage of slots, and invitation to email the teacher (either for email feedback or to book an appointment, or to book a time for a phone call) or to see the head of department instead. It was, as far as I can tell, a one-off.

I am sometimes amazed at how available they can be. Perhaps they find that if they make the offer, not that many people actually take it up?

Original poster
var123 · 19/01/2015 14:28

Seeline - I am not sure if she has more than one year 8 set to teach. I wondered that too.

I had thought of contacting either the HT or the head of year or even just the head of the subject in question but I am hesitating in case it causes trouble for the teacher when its not her fault.

I don't know that the teacher has made herself available for 18 appointments. She could've decided to go home at 5pm! So maybe it is her fault, but I assume that she's doing what she can and its the system, not her that's the problem.

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DoctorDonnaNoble · 19/01/2015 14:26

Our appointments are 5 minutes long. I have two year 8 sets so 64 students to see. Impossible.
It's worse for year 7 where I teach all of them - fortunately that's Drama so not everyone wants to see me.
When I have more students than appointments I have a list of those I want to see, first come first served any remaining appointments and then say that anyone wishing to speak to me can email, or dive in if they see me free. There's not a lot else I can do. I do my best.

SunnyBaudelaire · 19/01/2015 14:24

and what is an ASBO type mum exactly?

Seeline · 19/01/2015 14:24

Utterly ridiculous! I would complain to the school. How can they hold parents meetings when by their system, a lot of the parents won't be able to see all the teachers!! They need to look at their set up again.
Do the subject teachers teach kids from more than one class in a year - I'm thinking it maybe 18 slots between 60 sets of parents in some subjects?

Original poster
var123 · 19/01/2015 14:23

HaPPy8 - that's what i did and I just back a reply saying if I really wanted it, I could have a phone call but not a face to face meeting.

(I am not an ASBO type mum in case some of you are now imagining that!).

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