Have we got a starting Secondary School Support thread?

DH says its lots of saws and screwdrivers but they can't be locked away and says he's seen same in other secondaries. Didn't have them in my day just odd bunsen burner which got locked away. You would have thought they could lock door though but maybe a fire risk? Seems odd they allow the equipment though as there's always kids in schools with behaviour issues.

Pood DS with burst eardrum, doesn't say much for school if that's preferable.

I'm a little puzzled how 1 child refusing to go into lessons escalated in 206 people involved. DS was in a corridor and one classroom not too far away has what they call dangerous equipment in it - not entirely sure what that is - science equipment is regarded as dangerous as is design and technology equipment. Husband went round it before and said he was at what the kids have access to - have the impression its just out. The kids then I believe appeared in corridor when wanted to get to next lesson and where all sent onto field after a period of watching. As far as I can establish DS was just sitting on the floor screaming at times with hands over his ears and he is tiny - weighs about 5 stone. I would have thought there's a better way of dealing with it, issue seems to be dangerous equipment otherwise they either leave him or just get TA both of which are fine. I was wondering why they can't lock door - only thing is if kids are in there maybe its a fire risk though sure doors were locked in my day. Established from him it was a science test but that's as far as it got.

Penguin

That sounds ridiculous.1/4 the school couldn't get to lessons because 1 child sat by some dangerous equipment. Surely they must have dangerous equipment under lock and key anyway or if he wasn't distressed, could they have got him to agree he wouldn't go to French and find him somewhere safe to calm down.

And not letting your dd help sounds like shooting themselves in the foot. Surely if he's that distressed, unless he was likely to lash out at her, then anyone who would help would be a good idea.

Ds has had the last two days off with a burst ear drum. He was so happy to tell me his ear drum had burst as the GP says he shouldn't be at school if that happens so he was almost dancing with delight.
He told me tonight that he loves having bad ears.

Hope you had a lovely navity Dobbins

Not a girl Witchend though DS is changing and said its important to impress girls

DS came home with DH very distressed screaming then calmed down when DH left but wouldn't speak for 2 hours. Just getting back to normal now. Head spoke to me and said he had issue in tech were left class but TA got him back in then got upset in science they think about a test then refused to go into French, sat in corridor with hands over ears. As it was by were they store dangerous equipment 6 staff came and then as lessons stopped 200 or so kids appeared and DS started screaming. About 1/4 of school couldn't get to lessons.

DD wanted to help DS but teacher said no and said everyone must go onto field. Then kids started arguing DD should be able to help brother. Teacher said no. Then at least the 200 kids left but by this time he was quite distressed. Head said normally she would exclude a child for this but won't due to SEND but is unsure if school can cope and he may need a special school and she's worried as well as he's so distressed plus its disruptive. Said he could stay home Monday if he wants unofficially but said think he will be fine by Monday but maybe do less lessons so he's going into a quiet room on Monday. Doctors on Monday to start autism assessment and ed pscyh on 12th. Said he's very bright so would only consider mainstream with cabins for autism but can't get it without diagnosis. She seemed to think he would get EHCP.

Ds said he had secret santa too. Followed by "What is Secret Santa?" then disgust as he's got to buy for a girl.

oh no Penguins, I hope he's o.k. and can start afresh on Monday. This last part of term really can be the worst, particularly for my DC with ASD. Too much Christmas. Saying that, I've got DS4's nursery nativity this afternoon. Awww I do love a nursery nativity.

Spoke too soon about him getting better, just had a call from the Head. Argh. Annoying though as bet they are sending him home and keep marking it unauthorised when they suggested it.

Thanks Dobbins I wouldn't sign either. I try to never sign anything not happy with, only time I regret it is when I sign when I am not happy but then I e-mail in I am withdrawing my consent. Never found they can do anything. I had an illness last year they couldn't diagnose but us medic said lyme took the treatment and got better.

DD told me DS has secret santa. Tried to ask him about it and got told he can't tell me anything as its secret. Got to sleep but got woken up by really loudly howling cat, she hates when no one is awake and wants cuddles. Vet now thinks she maybe getting blood clots so got more tests which are £500, ouch. Apparently DS got grumpy in maths yesterday, may have been as DH was away, getting himself worried DH wouldn't arrive back at exactly agreed time. DH back now with chocolate. Cat was howling when he was away at lunch as he returns at lunch with food for me which cat eats all meat from. Quite impressed she knew time.

No one deserves being stuck on a German vocab loop cedar!

Glad DD's grades Have improved penguins. It's great DS is improving, English is very hit and miss with DS1. Hope you can catch up on work and get some rest when DH gets home.

Attendance meeting was fine, man was pleasant enough. It did start late which i may have mentioned was interesting for an attendance meeting! He could see I'd done everything they would expect and could see why I was unimpressed as the school have never responded to me. I also mentioned all the PE stuff.

I did refuse to sign their agreement form as it said I'd agree to only keep him off with the school's list of acceptable illnesses. I said as DS2 has unknown illness, when he gets something the school deem minor it wipes him out. Attendance man said it's taken from NHS advice. I pointed out that was based on a usually well child, which DS2 is currently not. I also pointed out letter was only addressed to me and why was DH not included (He's DS2s dad so has PR like me).

Apparently they'll send me stuff in the post so I'll see what happens about not signing the form.

Good luck with meeting tomorrow, so OTT and all you need I imagine. DS's latest attendance has now gone up to over 90% but it was below before as they sent him home

DH is in Switzerland and DD wouldn't go to sleep until 3am, I wasn't even replying, she was just talking non stop to herself. I did get her to do an ADHD quiz and she said she got strong probability but added she didn't think medicine would benefit her. I said it was more for everyone else's benefit though wouldn't want her on meds. So tired today. School say DS is improving though apparently refused to do English assessment, argh. DDs grades have been put up a fair bit - 6 GCSE subjects are now at excelling and other at surpassing or achieving so getting there. Told me she got a negative behaviour point for talking in class though teacher had asked her to read board out to her friend who can't see well, presumably didn't mean whilst teacher talking though.

Got replies from his two old best friends to say they can come to his party which is great for DS. Not until early January but need to sort now. Migraine gone thanks but another work project in so 4 at once and getting very little sleep. At least DH back tonight - messaged me to say he'ld been to Xmas markets, out for a fondue and drinking in a bar so sounds like a tough job.

DD got stuck in a loop with her German vocab homework which she has to do online but the programme kept glitching and then jumping forward before she'd had time to type anything in. Trouble is, get one word wrong and you have to do the whole lot again. After this happened several times she was furious and I have sympathy. Still, she should at least remember the word for a floppy disk in German now.

Hope your meeting goes well DobbinsVeil. Sounds ridiculously complicated.

Glad you've got the Ed Psych appt soon Penguins. at his pasta negotiating skills. Hope the migraine shifts asap.

witchend Did the homework get done? English is always the source of angst here. Well done to DS on his good report.

I've got the meeting about DS2's attendance tomorrow. I've got the GP letter, hospital letter confirming paediatric appt and I'm going to take photos of the planner on my phone, which is where I was told to write about what has been going on. Plus the emails, which have had zero response from the school! It's an outside company so not any of the school staff.

Glad he got a good report Witchend DS has been telling me he has a new policy of only working with girls and his Asian friend as boys are silly at this age 😂 He said in French the back row was told to join people elsewhere and he "threw himself" with 2 girls and they came second. He said one question was what is video game in French, DS said I didn't know but it was important to appear clever so I said I know its video in my best French accent and I was right. 😱 Apparently all the girls bar two are more sensible than the boys. DS of course being super sensible 😎

negiotated plain pasta for 50p saying all other school meals are robbing people. Sounds like my dad when we were young buying ice creams. "20p! What do you mean that's 20p? That's four shillings! I'd expect to keep the shop for that too..."

Ds has bought home his first report. Not too bad except art which he's not good at (nor are the rest of the family) and he clearly has not put effort in. He's done well in maths and IT (no surprise there) and coasted in the rest.

He's currently loudly bemoaning the meanest in setting English homework. Apparently it's the worst homework ever. They haven't explained anything, they're expecting far too much of any child, and they even only gave them too short a time to do it in (6 days). This has been now going on for 2.5 hours and I lost sympathy after about 25 minutes... It's due in tomorrow and he's out at rehearsal in half an hour.

Neither of mine get tired from school but we live 10 mins walk from school or 3m run for DS . DD gets tired but that's from her refusal to sleep. DS goes to bed about 9-10pm takes himself off and up around 7.30am. He loves his sleep. DD the song I'll sleep when I'm dead was written for, she's hyper 24/7.

Ed psych meeting for DS on 12th which is good. DH working in Switzerland next two days. Got a migrane that won't shift and umpteen work projects coming in at once, all very interesting but just want to sleep. DS told me had a geography test and he'ld been graded surpassing but said I only got 63% but if I had noticed there were 5 more questions I could have got 75% but how was I to know there were 5 more questions. Located his Squidcard, been lost a month, been asking him to go to school office or taked packed lunch, didn't want to do either so I messaged them today and they've had his card for a month. At least he has it back now, TA went to get it for him. He eats loads as soon as he gets home at 3.10pm but still. He never told me he had lost it, only discovered when checking balances. He's only spent £35 since start of term but has negiotated plain pasta for 50p saying all other school meals are robbing people. Just like DH.

1130 and 0700

Is anyone else's child really tired after school.?
Starting to worry about my son as he actually asked to go to bed early and normally he tries to push it to stay up later but recently he looks tired and is getting harder to get up in the morning.
What time are yours going to bed and getting up?

I have no idea how DS2's school do reporting, we don't have a parents evening until the summer term either. They used to use Go4Schools for reports but have apparently decided not to renew the licence so no one knows what is happening. Asides from the whole attendance thing I've had text messages from his French and History teacher with some feedback but that's it.

DS1's school send termly reports, all quite straight forward. I don't pay them too much attention as he's in the ASD base.

GCSE grades:
1,2,3 - G-D (can't remember the breakdown)
4 - low C
5 - high C , low B
6 - high B
7 - A
8 - high A, low A*
9 - top A*

For now the:
% getting 7+ is pegged to % getting A/A* in old system
% getting4+ is pegged to % getting C+ in old system

How can some schools be so rubbish at being clear what their reports mean? Our reports come with a half page description of what it means. (My youngest is y9).

We have
'Attitude level' (1- > 4)
'Current Attainment suggests on track for GCSE grades'
'Progress made from the start of year 7' (Excellent -> Some)

Your 'average' child would be on Attitude 2, 'Steady progress' with GCSE grade 4,5 which is expected standard for GCSE results).

They are very clear that progress ratings may go up and down, and that in KS3 the GCSE grades are more 'flightpath' than 'predictions'.

Departments have their own defined criteria or where pupils should be to be on track for what each year (from old NC levels but adapted in house for new GCSE requirements).

My suggestion is that if your report comes with no explanation then push back to the school. If enough parents ask, maybe they'll learn to provide clear info!

Ours have emerging, developing, achieving, surpassing, excelling - developing is average at start of year so presumably a C at GCSE when taken, well whatever number that is now guessing a 5? I think 7 is A. DD got developing in drama (didn't do it last year and went up to teacher and said I got 120 in sats and teacher said if they had inputted that she would be on surpassing). They are claiming her sats marks are lost, quite conveniently I suspect.

Ours is working at, so if they were to sit a gcse today they would get an 8 or whatever. Definitely double-check with school.

I'm pretty sure its GCSE target as that was how my DDs reports were 2 years ago in year 7 plus for computing he has a grade 8, science a 6 etc etc. We did get an email about 3 hours ago from the assistant head saying something has gone wrong with the reports and some columns had gotten mixed up so he is going to redo and resend - will hold off on panic until we get that!

NoLogic issue is you need to ask the schools as they can set their own scoring systems. If they're talking GCSEs then 5s are around a High C (which sounds musical )

Ds came out of school smiling for the first time for a while. I found out why when he got in. He sang "Two more weeks" until we were home. They have a lovely long Christmas holiday in return for very short lunch times, so they break up then.

If my child's report says end of ks3 a mix of 1, and 2 's and end of ks4 mainly 5's is that good/average or bad?