First parents’ evening - and it’s virtual

I see. That's really good re SENCO. I think you need to find out from the school exactly how their setting works. Many schools don't use sets in any subjects except from Maths. Sometimes that doesn't happen till GCSE years too, much to the dismay of maths teachers.
Can you afford a tutor? What about doing some work at home? I know most state schools don't use text books which we found infuriating when trying to help DD as it was impossible to lre learn knowledge or go over what was confusing her. We ended up using textbooks and just reaching her ourself throughout the lockdowns as the online provision was useless. She has dyslexia and ADHD and we liked these:
Science also workbook available to go with it
English

Maths this series is for KS3. Starts with book 1 ends with book 7. I did it with my DD who has dyscalculia. You could probably start with book 2/3 if your DD is good at maths. It's brilliant in that it explains each topic and then you have questions for that. It also builds on each other.

Overall I found textbooks far better than revision guides at that age. Mainly because CGP is far too busy for my DD, and also because she didn't need revision, she needed to be taught and they gave us a systematic approach that was easy to follow. With revision books, you don't really know where to start if you haven't been taught it.
The textbooks all work on the model of reading two pages and answering the 5-7 questions at the bottom so really don't take long. If you do prefer revision guides, I strongly recommend Oaka books, although they are £££.

Don't stress about homework. It's often not very high quality and just busy work. If she doesn't get much homework now, use that free time to get her to do this sort of stuff, if you feel she's not being pushed.

Virtual meetings are better IME having done both however as PP have said 5 minutes is more normal time frame - and usually that's plenty.

Though there's always been at least one we've not seen due to teacher technical issues.

Our reports are colour code, a number and in GCSE years a letter (though again whether that if they sat now or at end of course varies) and then at most two words about attitude towards learning - and attendance figure is all we get.

Talking to teachers over the years what these number and colours mean is different between departments and even teachers - they used to link to Welsh Government national attainment levels in each key stage but don't seem to now.

Did have an issue with one child that supposedly all teachers had been informed of and when I checked none had and implications to it has to be gone through - 5 minutes was very tight.

Setting seems to vary - they don't do it for all subjects but they've always done it for maths, sometimes for English often not - start doing it by Y8/9 for science - but how much they do seems to be in constant flux - which if they have a noisy form group is a source of annoyance to our teens. Homework isn't a big thing though maths department are only one who set regularly - I found it doesn't help when they get to revision in Y11 as a couple of hours a day or hour and half seems like a huge amount all of a sudden.

It's been very different form Primary were we did have more of a clue what was going on - we've found we've had to rely on our kids themselves raising any issues with us and we're English Medium though it rare I've seen any exercise books as they like to keep them all in school (were they can and do lose them)

@OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide
Frankly, I would move out of Wales. Sounds dreadful. Of course they should set. They have info on attainment from y6. They should be doing their own assessments. They are basically doing the bare minimum. Ask what progress your DD is making. How they measure it and what they do if a child is not making progress from their starting point. In the case of your DD a high one. She’s being failed.

I found the virtual parents evenings completely pointless and a waste of time. Very rushed and only told me what I already knew. If there's serious problems the teachers email.
Regardless of diagnosis OP, I would recommend you request a meeting with SENCO now, as it can be a long wait, esp now as a lot are doing EHCP reviews and access arrangements for exams.

Setting and teachers shouting is not a discussion to be had with the class teacher, they will have very little to do with setting and won't take kindly to you complaining about their teaching style.

Those type of comments need to be made directly to the Head of Department who has the power to change her set to a teacher with a different teaching style (but I doubt they will) and to have a word with the class teacher re:shouting/projection.

Year 7 is a catch up year getting all the students from different schools to the same level and is meant to be relatively easy (although there should still be challenge) to help them settle in to Secondary school. Perhaps it would be better to inquire after an after school maths club or what provision they make for higher ability students.

Again, as others have said, parents evening isn't really the time to raise big concerns - 2 minutes is short but even five minutes isn't really long enough.

You can bring it up with the maths teacher and ask for a call or email to follow up, but it won't be resolved within two minutes.

If you've got concerns about her class across the board, the best person to raise it with is probably her head of year or the SENCo. For more minor stuff, the form tutor should be your point of contact.

I do think what you describe is normal - some of her teachers will teach 150+ students. It's not the same relationship as you have with a primary school. And secondaries are too big to have an open door policy with parents (plus increasingly this is seen as a safeguarding issue). Presumably you've had a report telling you how she is doing.

I do understand it's a big adjustment, but you've chosen to send her to a school where you don't speak the language well.

What sort of communication are you expecting?

2 minutes sounds ridiculous.
We have ten minutes which is long enough if there is an issue and if everything is great you can finish a bit earlier.

@OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide virtual parents evenings are very normal. Two minutes is unusually short, but better than nothing. If you want a detailed chat, ask for it at another time. But when you write to the school, be polite and thankful, even if you don't feel it - teachers are up against it at the moment and sensitive to rude, demanding or over-entitled parents expecting more than teachers are reasonably able to give. Try to stay in their good books by offering praise as well as constructive feedback.

We get 4 min. Plenty.
Don't ask questions.
Just listen carefully to the two mins.
Note key comments re 'Focus' and progress.
Then use this to book a mtg re ADHD and support.
Our DD has ADHD

I think 2 mins will be tight...

However I would think about your priorities... so you seem to suggest maths is an issue... email the maths teacher - school with have a generic address and your daughter will be abke to provide teachers name - outline that you are concerned she's not being pushed and could they address that with you at parents evening. Keep it brief.

If you have similar concerns in English do the same there. Beyond that I woukd sit back and listen very carefully to what is said. By now these teachers should know your child and what their strengths/weaknesses are. Certainly in key subjects. (Perhaps not in subjects under rotation - design areas perhaps?).

Use that as a starting point to book an appointment with her tutor. They are the pastoral starting point at secondary - they should be able to address wider concerns beyond the 2 minute update and be part of the ongoing conversation.

The SENDCO is also a good resource. Clearly they already have a measure of your child by making these referrals. They are your key point of contact going forward... bit I'd hang off until you have the specialists report as that will open doors.

I know it's frustrating... and feels like your daughter has lost the year. But she will shine.

The virtual system is so much better than the old waiting in line for the teacher days. Don’t use it to raise anything outside the remit though, ask for sep meeting/teacher email

I would email the teacher separately, either asking your question or asking for a phone call if you feel that’s needed. Most teachers are happy to give you ten minutes, and welcome engaged parents, but a parents evening slot isn’t the right time.

Ive done face to face, pre covid, and online parents evenings for ds and the virtual ones were worse than useless. A massive waste of everyones time. The face to face ones were much better, very helpful and informative.

Ours online were 4 mins and they were ridiculously short and we were abruptly cut off mid sentence in each one, 2 minute sessions are a piss take, the school should just email the parents and say we have no interest in talking to you all so we are not going to bother.

Our school gave these annual parents information evenings where they emphasised how important it is for parents to take an active interest in and support their childs education and how it benefits the child and the school blah blah blah. Then essentially remove the one single day a year you get to actually discuss your childs progress with their teachers and ask for advice. Ridiculous and there is no excuse for schools doing this. Rant over.

In your situation though I would contact the school and ask for the appointment(s) you need.

They won't change whether they set or jot because you ask them to. But you can ask for and expect extension work. She finishes quickly - does she also finish in a rush, possibly needing to to back and look over her answers? (Tricky with ADHD). Some schools will set after the first year.
They are also not going to not raise their voices with disruptive pupils because you ask.

2 minutes seems very short. 5 minutes would be standard ime.

Virtual for secondary should work well. Even in person it needs to stick to timings - DD's secondary had a bell ring after 4 min yes to remind you to wind up, then at 5 minutes to signal time to move on. No one could linger linger. Least virtual means it's easier to sort!

However, if you need to discuss further issues beyond listening to the teacher give a view of their current learning and progress you really need to book additional time, normally on a different date. It's really can't be covered in a general parents evening session. You'd be better speaking with the SENCo or year group lead I think.