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Original poster

If I email the maths teacher will I be 'that' parent?!

30 replies

MidnightVelvetthe7th · 16/12/2016 17:40

This is my first experience of secondary, DS1 started this September. He's academic & usually does well in all subjects, and I'm a parent who trusts the school & upholds respect for his teachers. I'm not a teacher, I don't know the curriculum & I don't second guess teachers. However I've had a letter from his maths teacher & I don't really understand it, could someone tell me in plain English what it means please?

Dear Parent/Carer, Following the outcome of the recent progress check, your child has been identified as a student who is currently not within their ‘progression flightpath’ in Mathematics. This can be that they have not currently reached the expected level of progress from their KS2 result or they have underperformed in the recent assessment. As success in Mathematics is so important and we want to ensure that all students make rapid progress, I have set some extra Mathematics work that I would like your child to complete over the Christmas holidays. This will be work based on topics that we have covered so far this year to ensure consolidation and practice in topics that your child may have struggled with during Mathematics lessons as well as keep them busy!

So he's behind, I get that, but he's in the top maths group. This is the first time he's fallen behind (at any subject) & does it mean he had a bad day or does it mean that he is consistently failing to meet the standard? In his SATS last year he got an 'exceeding' mark, I had to take his books back in for the staff to pass to someone else & surely if his maths was bad that wouldn't have happened?

When I got the letter I mentioned to him that there was some extra maths to be done over the holidays, I didn't tell him he was behind but I asked how he was finding it & he said maths was fine & he wasn't struggling. So he will do the work, that's not an issue but I'm wondering what's going on with his maths?

I haven't emailed the teacher as I don't want to be the parent of perfect little Johnny whose mother is outraged , but I want to get an understanding of where he is in maths & how badly he is failing & what the teacher thinks has caused it.

So I thought I'd ask you all? :)

OP posts:
chosenone · 16/12/2016 17:55

Dear Maths teacher

Thank you for your letter detailing some pretty speedy intervention with Year 7's. I am pleased to see how well you monitor progress and that you are pushing my son.
I am, however, aware that DS has very high targets and therefore his target grade will be high. The new spec hasn't even been sat in a summer examination yet so i an understand your concern to ensure every child does his best.
However, as he is in top set and exceeded expectations in his SATS I am not unduly worried. We have a mixture of fun family time and relaxation planned for the festive season and that will not be including extra homework. Be assured that as the term resumes in 2017 we will support DS where possible.
HAPPY Christmas
Midnight

FlouncingInAWinterWonderland · 16/12/2016 17:49

If he got an outstanding sats result his KS3 (years 7-9) target will be projected at a rate beyond that, so phenominally high too. Its not about failing its about being on that peformance line.

Because he can achieve and they're monitoring closely, they expect him to achieve - coasting is not an option (thats a positive, so long as he's not feeling overwhelmed).

At primary right kids can often do well and not always apply themselves. In a bigger pool, with good teaching, they have to keep trying to keep shining.

All sounds rather positive to me.

user1471530109 · 16/12/2016 17:47

A few typos before anyone starts with the teachers don't know grammar thing....

cansu · 16/12/2016 17:47

I think it is pretty clear. He has found some things hard or didnt do as well as expected on a class test so has been given some extra practice work. Do the work send it back and maybe follow up with an email asking how he is doing and if he needs any more extra work. I guess now he is in a set he is working at a higher level with the other more able kids. Some things will be harder than others.

user1471530109 · 16/12/2016 17:46

I would imagine he has a ridiculously high target and he is currently not quite working where the teacher thinks he should be. I wouldn't panic. For example, I have pupils who are supposed to be targeted a 9 at GCSE. Which means they need to be pretty exceptional. Except I have about 20% o the class with that target Hmm.

Also, many schools are feeling there way through this flighpath malarkey and I know I'm not 100% confident with it.

But at the same time. If I didn't set up intervention to show I hadn't tried to make those 'not' on target's catch up, I'd be in trouble.

Get him to do the work. But don't worry. Wait for his report. Or, if you think you need more clarification, an email would be fine. I'd expect that if I had sent that letter out.