Secondary school parents' evenings

Thing is atia of you teach something like RE or Music, you could teach the whole year group, and only see them once a fortnight - I'd rather the teacher checked they'd got the right person before commenting, if they weren't sure.

I then heard him say he had two y9 classes - so yes, 60odd boys (all boys, so not even a chance to halve his odds of guessing!) for an hour and twenty minutes a week. If he's only had them since September I can see he might not be sure, and of course it's best to check, but I'd still wince. Perhaps I have been fortunate to have memorable children!

A sports hall scenario is what I'm dreading. I wouldn't be able to hear a thing.

We have ours in the Sports Hall, which removes the need for parents to move from room to room, but it is cold and draughty and the acoustics are dreadful. I go home with a sore throat every time.

I prefer people to bring their child - a) it helps me know who they are (I generally recognise the children I teach, not always their parents) so I can call the right person over and b) more seriously, I think it is really helpful for them to hear how they are doing and how they can improve.

I usually take my DC tho sometimes (football practice, gym class) something else gets in the way.

DD is in Y9 so still does about 13 subjects, but has only managed to get slots with 3 teachers because they all seem to teach more than one class.I don't think that is a satisfactory state of affairs

I prefer them when I don't have a DC with me - not allowed at their current school - now I have to take them with me and instead of learning anything useful about their performance it just becomes a series of pep talks.

They are a bit of a bun fight, true - no appointments here, just (fairly) orderly queuing! We split up for some subjects and doubled up on others.

Full of admiration for the teachers - they all knew my DS's name, for the right reasons!

Learned some useful stuff about son's progress and good for him to hear how is doing.

We all took books!

I don't much enjoy them and don't see much benefit. We have regular reporting of grades and progress, excellent marking in books (which I check regularly) and teachers respond promptly to any (rare) email queries.

We had parents evening this week and were unable in the chaos to see one teacher. Instead we had a brief email exchange, which was probably more helpful that PE appt in the end. They offered a telecon, but it didn't seem necessary.

I like the opportunity to 'meet' teachers if I haven't met them before already, which helps me understand the boys' response to particular teachers better. If they are in need of a boost, it's good for them to hear praise about themselves. Sometimes - when I'm in the mood - I use the opportunity to thank the teachers for the work they do.

I've rarely learned much or had surprises at parents evening. In retrospect I would have been better off attending fewer PEs, or seeing only the teachers we "needed" to see. But as ds2 is in yr11, this was our last big/long PE, so no time for us to change approach.

Yep. Can't stand 'em.

And I'm sat in the other side if the desk.

Thing is atia of you teach something like RE or Music, you could teach the whole year group, and only see them once a fortnight - I'd rather the teacher checked they'd got the right person before commenting, if they weren't sure.

Mathsy, I do ask if there is anything I can do to help at home and they always say no he is doing fine or they have made suggestions before I can ask the question, we do go on trips and read books that will supplement his learning but I rarely need to ask the school for further information. Our school is very good at communicating so I know in advance what topics he will be studying, there is a lot of information available online I know what homework he has been set and when it has been handed in as it's all on the online diary. It just surprises me when some parents spend an absolute age with the teacher and I'm done and dusted in a few minutes.

When I was at school there was virtually no communication between parents and school and I can imagine that if I was a parent back then I would have had a lot of questions. These days we are invited into the school regularly for curriculum evenings, option evenings, etc, there is so much information on the website including suggestions to enhance their learning etc I'm not sure there is much more they can say. I do find parents evenings useful the teachers will tell me about a specific piece of work that ds has completed that they are pleased with, they give me information about his strengths and weaknesses and what we can do to help so it's all good. I think because the school are effective at communicating I don't have any need to ask any further questions.

I find them beneficial/of interest but nightmarish to negotiate with Dts. Tbh though if I have any concerns I address them straight away, don't wait for parents eve.

We wear stickers to identify us. I think it's fair enough, the teachers must get boggle eyed at the procession of families in front of them.

My sister has twins and another DD in the same school year (we joke she had a private room in the maternity suite!) - different classes for every subject - nightmare!!!

I've been to two this week. They definitely can be stressful/boring, but on the whole I quite like them. I like to hear nice things about my kids, lol I like it when it's clear that the teacher knows my child pretty well. I got told this week that wow, don't you and dc look alike, which really tickled me. It was good to talk to my y12 dc's teachers and be reassured that they and dc have similar aspirations for the future.

I also this week overheard a family sit down in front of a teacher and the teacher say, "remind me of your name?" - ouch!

And I am quite picky now and don't try to see everyone for the lower years - if you do ten appts it's pretty tedious.

Humanjam asking things like "is there anything he can do to get beyond his targets?" And "what topics will you be covering next?" are good. Also asking if there's any additional support you could give him at home. It just makes the conversation more of a two way thing. And I know some teachers might say the same thing for lots of pupils so it makes sure they individualise their comments a little more.

I understand why parents want to come and hear some praise but if your child is on target and working hard there's not much point coming! I had a class the other night - 32 kids, about 28 of whom I just wanted to say were doing well. I was there from 4.30-8pm seeing every student!! The time would have been better spent having half hour consultations with the kids who needed it.

I like getting a request for email feedback!!! As an English teacher everyone wants to see me so it frees me up a space. Phone calls are a pain though - it's difficult to fit them into the working day.

Oh Mathsy, I think I'm one of those parents that you don't like. I don't want to be like that but I've never really been sure of what to ask/say.

Right since primary school I've watched other parents go in there and spend ages talking to the teacher. I'm in and out within a couple of minutes. It's not that I'm disinterested I genuinely don't know what I'm supposed to be asking. Ds has always been on target and not had any specific issues.

What sort of questions do teachers want parents to ask?

Well, they aren't really there to be 'enjoyed' are they?
I find them very beneficial - if nothing else, so I can actually put a face to the name when the dc mention someone. I need to meet someone to have any sort of relationship with them, however professional and irregular that may be.
I do though - as someone suggested upthread, tend to write down a few words about what each teacher said, to discuss with dc later, or share with dh.
I much preferred ds's school's system of all teachers being in the hall and you just joined a queue to dds' school where they are supposed to get appointments prior to the evening and the teachers are spread around the school, and so if one is running late, it knocks you out for all the following ones - I get quite stressed about all that side of it.

I really enjoy parents' evenings. I mean as a teacher. I realise I am a bit weird but I love to see the parents and make a connection (sometimes they and their children look so alike which makes me smile).

I love it when there is a parent who really seems keen and interested in my subject (which is perceived as difficult and not very popular). The other week we had an options evening and I spent about 10 mins chatting to a mum whose son I don't even teach (his teacher was in a different room) tho I know the lad - it was lovely and I will remember her and her enthusiasm for him taking MFL for GCSE, so I really hope I teach him next year.

I agree if you get a po-face and no reaction you do wonder why people have come but that's rare tbh.

I hate parents eve for same reasons.

Everyone in the hall so it's very noisy and very crowded. DS doesn't cope well with crowds.

It's not at all private so all the other parents can hear which I hate.

I know how he's doing because I get his grades before. So I don't need the teacher to tell me how he's doing.

I hate them. But I know you're judged as 'not being interested' if you don't go. So I go.

I am interested. Very interested. Which is why I don't rely on 5 mins a year to tell me how he's doing. I always know how he's doing.

As a teacher I enjoy parent's evenings even though they're exhausting. I love it when parents bring a list of specific questions they want to ask, it shows they're really interested. I also like it when a parent tells me about something their DS/DD has done in my lesson and how much they enjoyed it.

It's also good when a parent writes down any advice you give about how their DD/DS can improve. What can be annoying sometimes is when a parent sits there very passively, doesn't ask any questions, doesn't speak and then leaves after I've said my piece.

I like the way my DCs are organised now. 1 at the beginning of the year for all years, meeting with form tutor. Then 1 of each year group, spread over the year (in a rational order so years 11 and sixth form earlier, then year 9, so there is time to use the information before exams/choosing options). Teachers request appointments, but you can then make appointments with any you wish to see.

Teachers like it as, school finishes early on those days, so they aren't kept too late.