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Secondary education

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Original poster

To think teachers' kids have all the advantages

136 replies

thepogues · 27/06/2022 12:19

Bit tongue-in-cheek but a significant grain of truth.

Wherever my kids have been in classes (whether at primary or secondary), the kids of teachers always seem to do unusually well. Of course, some kids will be naturally super bright but statistically you'd assume their IQ/potential to be spread (bell curve and all that) plus, anecdotally (though I've known lots) most, anecdotally, do not appear more sparky or intelligent than their peers. But perhaps they work harder as they all seem to excel, particularly in terms of home work tasks but also when it comes to certain exams.

What is the reason for this? Is it because the teacher parents (or grandparents/relatives, for that matter), know how to teach or is it because they are able to find out about upcoming tests/similar tests or because they know the ins and outs of what is required to achieve certain grades (in line with the curriculum). Or both?

Would love to hear your views/comments.

OP posts:
ChocolateHippo · 27/06/2022 19:34

It may be unavoidable sometimes, but it's not great to send your children to the school that you teach in. It may make life easier logistically but at what cost to the children involved?

Twizbe · 27/06/2022 19:26

@worriedaboutmoney2022 that's not always practical is it?

There was only 1 secondary school in the town I lived in. My worked there and we went there. No other choice but private which we couldn't afford.

cushionpillow · 27/06/2022 19:10

I have 4DC, but give them no additional work. They all have good inbuilt work ethics anyway, read a lot and discuss together.

They have differing strengths and weaknesses, like all people. Nothing at all to do with their mothers profession.

MrsHamlet · 27/06/2022 19:10

If they have to be in the same school they should definately not be in their clas and if there's only a one form entry they shouldn't be there
Where would you have them go to school if not the school in their village?

Burnshersmurfs · 27/06/2022 19:07

I was a teacher for the majority of my children’s lives (recently shifted to another role in education). My children are both academically able and doing well- but not in ‘my’ subject area, specifically. I’ve generally found the children of teachers to be very teachable. I think the reasons are at least partly:
I leave them to get on with it and allow them a lot of autonomy. I think experience working with kids enables good communication and a light-touch parenting style that works well,
they respect teachers and are able to form good relationships with adults in school,
They see my work ethic, interest in my subject matter and enthusiasm for learning.

worriedaboutmoney2022 · 27/06/2022 18:51

manysummersago · 27/06/2022 14:20

I am not really a fan of having teachers have their own children in the school they teach in and certainly not the class.

They might have academic advantages but socially it’s awful.

I agree
One of the teachers has a child in my daughters year and at parties etc it's massively awkward for everyone else and she looks uncomfortable too

If they have to be in the same school they should definately not be in their clas and if there's only a one form entry they shouldn't be there

Cheesies · 27/06/2022 18:42

BendingSpoons · 27/06/2022 14:19

As a sweeping generalisation, teachers probably:

  • Value education so encourage their DC to work hard, along with things like reading to them from a young age.
  • Have an idea how to motivate/teach their kids at home, plus have an awareness of how schools work. Of course this will depend on age and subject, but some of it will be transferable
  • Have friends/colleagues they can ask for advice in areas outside their remit.

But I don't think this is all exclusive to teachers. Other professionals can do similar, with slightly less awareness of exactly how schools run.

This.

I’m a teacher and my children have always been more able. I naturally used my teaching knowledge to encourage them to engage in books from birth. Again, quite instinctively, I used my knowledge to develop their curiosity in play etc. it happened naturally, I didn’t consciously decide to ‘teach them’ anything before they started school- it was just how I’d been trained to interact with children. They could read and write before they started school.

It’s not solely teachers though. The valuing education is key. It’s also about opportunities a life experiences that have been provided. We’ve had a new family start our school last week. Mum is a dentist and I correctly predicted that all three children would be more able.

cafedesreves · 27/06/2022 18:37

Hoppinggreen · 27/06/2022 15:00

They also have parents who work very long hours for less pay that other people who work similar hours.
They also have parents that probably cant attend any school events during school hours and may not be able to do regular drop offs and pick ups.
So its not all good

This depends on the school. I earn 61k and work 8-4 maximum. I also have 18 weeks off with DS a year.

mamaduckbone · 27/06/2022 18:36

SoftwareDev · 27/06/2022 14:37

My son is a high flyer - always has been. However I don't "teach" him at home.

That said, being a teacher I couldn't help but be constantly aware of certain points e.g. the importance of installing a love of reading from a young age. I read to him pretty much every day and have done since he was a baby.

He is a naturally logical thinker and is able to understand new concepts quickly and has a fantastic memory - he will remember a fact after hearing it just the once. These natural traits fit in perfectly with academics.

I do encourage him to pursue his interests (trains 4 times per week in his favourite sport and loves reading certain authors) however I don't "push" him academically. I don't want to be one of those parents that pushes their children to breaking point. I simply instil the importance of education and explain that he should make the most of it.

That sounds exactly like my son, and your approach is very similar to mine too.

Original poster
thepogues · 27/06/2022 18:32

HouseofGamers · 27/06/2022 17:14

My mum was a teacher (history and english) in the school I was in for two years. I was taught by her for at least one year. It was horrible, she would pretend I didn’t exist so that she wasn’t accused of favouritism. She never marked my exams, but I was bullied because of her. She was known as a no nonsense tough teacher so pupils took that out on me. I didn’t tell her (more to do with our relationship than anything else tbh). I was naturally quite academic but more science based and did well at school. My brother was much more practical and hated academia, but did well in his chosen career once he found a good path to go down. I can’t remember mum being much help with studying etc but I was definitely expected to go to university and study hard.

It must have been very difficult. Have to say, I'm not sure I would have liked being in the same school as my teacher parent either!

OP posts:
Original poster
thepogues · 27/06/2022 18:29

thepogues · 27/06/2022 18:29

This is interesting. You say 'a surprising number of teachers' kids'. More than for other occupational groups? Maybe it's not that surprising if the kids were somehow getting the peripheral 'support' and then they're struggling when left on their own? Just a thought...

Show quote history

Or the kids feel they need to live up to the high standards expected?

OP posts:
Original poster
thepogues · 27/06/2022 18:29

SuperTea · 27/06/2022 15:51

I work in a PRU and we get a surprising number of teachers' kids.

Most of the teachers I know admit parenting or even tutoring your own kids is nothing like teaching other people's. Teachers obviously know how to support their kids best with academic work when the children are compliant, but they face the same issues as the rest of us when it's not going so well. Which some find really hard to deal with because they're supposed to be experts..

This is interesting. You say 'a surprising number of teachers' kids'. More than for other occupational groups? Maybe it's not that surprising if the kids were somehow getting the peripheral 'support' and then they're struggling when left on their own? Just a thought...

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Dobbysgotthesocks · 27/06/2022 18:28

SleepingStandingUp · 27/06/2022 17:51

Yes I think teachers kids have the advantage of having parents that know how to get information into brains, understand the ins and out of schools and exams etc plus have considerable chunks of the school holidays off with them to focus on enrichment activities. I wish I'd thought of that when I decided to NOT do my PGCE. I've looked at teaching now but it seems impossible with three small kids

My overriding memories of school holidays were being dragged into school and made to help sort supplies of stationary, or rip down stuff of school notice boards. We spent a lot of time with our parent who was still doing a lot of jobs in sl the school holidays.
When we weren't doing that we would often be home whilst our parent rested because they were burnt out.
School holidays were also for cleaning and clearing the house. All things that got neglected in term time due to the crazy hours they worked.
People dramatically underestimate just how much work teachers do.

Original poster
thepogues · 27/06/2022 18:25

MissVantaBlack · 27/06/2022 17:35

Interesting. The most intelligent people I know all seem to have teacher parents (usually primary), so I have wondered about this too. It doesn't seem to be just down to genetics, since the parents in question seem to be of average rather than extreme intelligence. I think it's down to the environment they create for their children early on. They seem to ask lots of questions: not just "What did you do at school today?", but "It's raining! Here's your umbrella. What would you use to make an umbrella, if you were designing one?" type questions, to make the child think. And dinner table conversation, news, general knowledge, reading...I think they build a framework of understanding of the world, and also a curiosity about the what, where, why, how questions of life, in their children.

Yes, I have seen similar amongst parents and grandparents (very involved in grandkids) who are teachers.

OP posts:
Original poster
thepogues · 27/06/2022 18:24

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 27/06/2022 17:39

I think one thing that stands out for me is that they value the education. Also know how to help if their dc is struggling. Also like PP said, statistically, if you have educated mother, you do well, so mother with degree may do better.

True but most of the parents I know are all educated, including many with post-docs. In fact, many more 'educated' than some of the teachers I know. And they all value education, reading etc etc. I think knowing what is expected for grades and being able to help in primary is key; especially as there is so much that rides on how the kids do in primary for their confidence/setting and future school choices.

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Dobbysgotthesocks · 27/06/2022 18:23

Child of a teacher here.

Neither me nor my siblings were exceptionally high flyers. We did ok - well but no better than our peers who also had professional parents.

We certainly were not coached or tutored by our teacher parent. They would not have had time. My teacher parent spent most of their evenings and weekends marking and doing preparation work for school. My non teaching parent had a great deal more time and was the one who generally helped with schoolwork/ ferried us around etc.

Original poster
thepogues · 27/06/2022 18:20

SleepingStandingUp · 27/06/2022 17:51

Yes I think teachers kids have the advantage of having parents that know how to get information into brains, understand the ins and out of schools and exams etc plus have considerable chunks of the school holidays off with them to focus on enrichment activities. I wish I'd thought of that when I decided to NOT do my PGCE. I've looked at teaching now but it seems impossible with three small kids

Yup. Most FT working parents only have 1-2 weeks hols at a time and so unless they choose paid-for (expensive) enrichment courses, there is definitely that.

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Original poster
thepogues · 27/06/2022 18:18

BeyondMyWits · 27/06/2022 17:16

Dad was a Chemistry teacher, not at my school.

Education was valued in our house. But more than that he taught me exam technique, how even if you haven't a clue on a question, you can get marks, how to read marking schemes, how to see what is being looked for, key words and phrases, how to brain dump onto paper if you are running out of time. I did much, much better in exams than I should have based on subject knowledge alone.

Thank you, this is helpful and makes sense. I'm sure we can all print out various online tests and specifications but this knowledge is really key. I remember not knowing what a teacher friend was talking about when she was mentioning that her DS was using the PEE technique and had been encouraging it since Y2/3. This was in Y6 and although my DC had by then mentioned they used it at school, it was something that only came up very late in primary.

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manysummersago · 27/06/2022 18:09

I remember - you have twin toddlers? I salute you.

Fairislefandango · 27/06/2022 18:09

They seem to ask lots of questions: not just "What did you do at school today?", but "It's raining! Here's your umbrella. What would you use to make an umbrella, if you were designing one?" type questions, to make the child think.

Really?! That sounds a bit... performative. Doesn't sound like the teachers I know! I think just talking to your kids about stuff that interests you/them is enough. There is no need to turn conversations into an academic exercise. I think people often massively underestimate the kind of conversation their dc are capable of though.

SleepingStandingUp · 27/06/2022 18:00

manysummersago · 27/06/2022 17:59

It’s not impossible @SleepingStandingUp !

The ECT stuff is a bit ridiculous though.

I've got two who aren't even in school yet tho, the cost of ful like child care for them and wrap around for the eldest is massively prohibitive

Libertybear80 · 27/06/2022 18:00

It's called 'Educational Capital' and the theorist is Pierre Bordieux.

Yep I'm an educationalist.

manysummersago · 27/06/2022 17:59

It’s not impossible @SleepingStandingUp !

The ECT stuff is a bit ridiculous though.

CandyLeBonBon · 27/06/2022 17:58

I'm amused that people think teachers have time for 'enrichment' activities from parents who are teachers - ime they were far too busy with school work, trips, parents evenings and extracurricula activities to have much time to devote to their own kids!!

SleepingStandingUp · 27/06/2022 17:51

Yes I think teachers kids have the advantage of having parents that know how to get information into brains, understand the ins and out of schools and exams etc plus have considerable chunks of the school holidays off with them to focus on enrichment activities. I wish I'd thought of that when I decided to NOT do my PGCE. I've looked at teaching now but it seems impossible with three small kids