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Original poster

Year 7 Parents Evening - Unavailable slots for core subjects

406 replies

User32243535 · 09/02/2018 16:26

Sorry, but this might turn into a bit of a rant.

DC (Y7) attends what is meant to be a well respected grammar school. But at the moment, I am struggling to comprehend how they have developed such a lousy system for arranging parents evening appointments.

DC is our eldest child so we were not acquainted with this system before and didn't see it coming. Basically, we received a report and then according to the report, we were advised (via dc taking a sheet around to their teachers and booking a time slot) to arrange a meeting with the necessary teachers.

DC is a scatter brain and this hasn't helped with making the arrangements but on eventually contacting their teachers for Maths and English. dc was informed that there were no available slots left. Sorry, but Maths and English are core subjects and we care about our dc's education, I am fuming that we are not able to discuss these subjects with the relevant teachers (parents evening is held on just one evening).

DC doesn't have huge difficulties in these areas but reading the report there are one or two areas for improvement and I think it is important to discuss these two subjects in particular.

Anyone else experienced similar? The system of arranging slots on a piece of paper seems outdated from the outset. I e-mailed the head teacher regarding my concerns about dc not securing appointments a few days ago and I haven't received a response and I'm not able to discuss with anyone as the school office is now closed (dc has just informed me of the situation, which I believed would be resolved today.) Quite frankly not impressed with the schools communication either right now in regard to replying to my e-mail. Grrrrh...just so frustrated!

OP posts:
QueenoftheSilverDollar12 · 09/02/2018 19:53

@User32243535 you've obviously missed my previous couple of posts where I mentioned my interaction with some parents in my rôle as a teacher. Luckily, the vast majority of kids that I teach and their parents are lovely, cooperative and appreciative of our fantastic school and its staff. We don't get many who are a pain in the arse, luckily. Those ones make us chuckle.
A face to face conversation might be more effective than an email just trying to be helpful 😉

Original poster
User32243535 · 09/02/2018 19:51

At the moment Toomany, DC has managed to secure only one of the three appointments so I am in a dilemma as to whether to go along and show our faces (on the off chance of being seen by other teachers but because they are core subjects, probably won't get the opportunity) or forgetting the whole thing altogether. Rubbish system

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Toomanytealights · 09/02/2018 19:50

Alpaca I have twins. I feel your pain. Just had Year 9 pre options parents evening. He'll.on.earth. This was after racing over from my own school. McDs and gin were consumed on our return. GrinThink the kids would have knocked a glass back too if they could have.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 09/02/2018 19:49

We did similar to toomany

One particular year ds1 had one appointment

We managed to see 12 teachers...he was gutted that we didn't manage the last one, but we were knackered

I think with the 4 minute appointment, computer based system that this is much more difficult

newyearsameme80 · 09/02/2018 19:48

Have you joined the parent council OP? That could be a more appropriate vehicle for change.

Original poster
User32243535 · 09/02/2018 19:48

Sorry Queen, not intimidated enough yet to prevent e-mail from being sent (incidentally, you're not a teacher are you - that would be worrying)

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Toomanytealights · 09/02/2018 19:46

Op when I emailed re not being able to get an appointment the teacher said keep an eye on my table and pop over when it's free. Things never run on time and sometimes you are left twiddling your thumbs whilst another table is surrounded by waiting parents.

I did and got 5 minutes. This time my son didn't get an appointment in one subject,I emailed and he replied. Son popped over to get a test result as did many others and he sat us down and chatted to us anyway.

In my experience most teachers will do their best to encourage and accommodate keen parents. It's in their interest.

Original poster
User32243535 · 09/02/2018 19:45

Don't worry Toomany...it's not the stance I take, I find the satsuma analogy mildly amusing...beginning to chill a bit now (and have compiled said e-mail).
Any more pro's regarding the on-line booking system very welcome - obviously paperless but any benefits for school of using this system?

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bonbonours · 09/02/2018 19:44

Ours is online but got booked out really quickly. I agree that asking kids to take responsibility for it is ridiculous and will lead to them only seeing their favourite teachers and vest subjects.

I didn't get an app to with dad's maths teacher and its her worst subject so I emailed the office and they managed to get me an appointment with another teacher who also teaches her maths. They said for anybody we couldn't see they would request email feedback. We managed to sneak a quick word with a few other teachers when they were free for a moment. It was a scrum though.

I get that they can't see everyone but 2 hours that we had seems mad. At our junior they had appointments between 2 and 7 (obviously teachers had breaks within that).

Also it would be better if they told parents only to book teachers if subjects they are thinking of doing at gcse, or where they have particular worries. The first people online obviously booked every single teacher which us probably unnecessary.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 09/02/2018 19:43

alpaca

My friend has triplets Grin

She has a spreadsheet

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 09/02/2018 19:43

It was literally an open back (side) door

We did get busted by the english teacher but she thought it was funny

Grin
AlpacaLypse · 09/02/2018 19:42

I had twins at the same school. Parents Evenings, especially when they started studying different subjects in KS4 were truly horrific. When we finally got home it would be fish and chips followed by wine/gin/beer/whisky.

I appreciate it's pretty awful for the teachers too though. Enough of my friends have gone into the profession for me to know just how bonkers hard they work during term time (and half the holidays too).

QueenoftheSilverDollar12 · 09/02/2018 19:41

You could always phone and make an appointment to speak face to face with the Person in Charge of Parents Meetings for maximum impact and so they can put a face to the name for future reference.

Toomanytealights · 09/02/2018 19:40

Wow regarding appointments with parents as worthless as cheap fruit,why bother having parents evenings at all.Hmm

Original poster
User32243535 · 09/02/2018 19:40

Meant to say...don't try re the satsuma thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
User32243535 · 09/02/2018 19:37

Still might be possible to talk to the CEO at the end of the day...satsumas or no satsumas it's not impossible unless you try.

Refus...are you really THOSE parents...ohh, tell me more about the back door technique...wondering now if we could blag our way in (lol).

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QueenoftheSilverDollar12 · 09/02/2018 19:34

Their response to you will be fully professional @User32243535. 😉

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 09/02/2018 19:32

At parents evening yesterday we snuck in the back door

Thereby bypassing the huge queue

We are indeed THOSE parents

noblegiraffe · 09/02/2018 19:31

Yeah it’d be like emailing the CEO of Asda to say your local branch had run out of satsumas.

Original poster
User32243535 · 09/02/2018 19:30

Good point Queen but at least with a name/position attached there is some accountability attached. I assume the head teacher would want it therefore, to be dealt with professionally?

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MinnieMousse · 09/02/2018 19:30

I don't have secondary-age children but am taking notes! I'm really surprised that not everyone can get a parents' evening appointment and children have to make the appointments. I was too shy in Y7 to speak to most of my teachers so I don't know how I'd have gone about asking them for a parents' evening appointment.

QueenoftheSilverDollar12 · 09/02/2018 19:28

I hate to disappoint you @User32243535 but it won't be the headteacher who deals with your email - it'll be delegated to the Depute or whoever has whole School responsibility for parents meetings.....

Original poster
User32243535 · 09/02/2018 19:27

Wow Rufus...could I possibly be THAT parent...famous (or infamous) at last!

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Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 09/02/2018 19:21

Our school has parent meetings for suggestions for impovements etc

I am now imagining all the parents not suggesting anything in case they become THAT parent Grin

Original poster
User32243535 · 09/02/2018 19:21

No Queen, my complaint will not be written in a similar manner to this post, rant now over, I am now more than capable of presenting a rational argument for change (using some salient points raised in this thread). It is addressed to the head teacher, I therefore expect it not to become staffroom entertainment but dealt with and responded to in a professional manner. I would not deny that it would be to my advantage should the appointment allocations change to an on-line appointment system but I am not going to go about it aggressively or demanding change, merely pointing out the advantages.
Anyone else care to comment on the advantages of an on-line booking system that have so far not been mentioned?

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