Secondary teachers - do we bring the relevant kid to Parents' Evening?

[TheTurnOfTheScrew]

First year seven parents' evening imminent. The letter home says "if your child comes please ensure they are in full uniform" but makes no other reference as to whether the pupil's presence is desirable or not.

I assume better to have the kid there, if for no other reason than to act as an aide memoir as to whom they're supposed to be discussing, but am keen to know what the general preference is.

[donquixotedelamancha]

Yes. Bring them.

[qwerty098765]

Yes

[Looneytune253]

Yes I would. It helps you to find the relevant teacher too if the child can point them out

[NorthernSpirit]

Yes, you should bring them. They aren’t babies in secondary school and should be present and hear the feedback.

[TheTurnOfTheScrew]

great, thank you all. . I assumed so but the letter was oddly neutral on the matter.

[Starlight456]

I took my year 7 . Yes I took him it is important for him to hear feedback, also a couple of ideas given to him there to resolve issues

[ContinuityError]

Is this an English thing? Nobody took their children to parents evenings in either primary or high school where we were in Scotland?

[rosesandcashmere]

We never went when I was younger either

[NoWordForFluffy]

We were never taken at secondary either. Times must have changed.

[MyNameIsCharlesII]

I’ve never taken mine to parents evening and I’d say most parents don’t judging by what I’ve seen whilst waiting.

[TeenTimesTwo]

Expectation at DDs' school is that the child comes:
a) it helps the teacher remember which child they are talking about
b) it helps the child start taking ownership for their learning
c) it is good for a child to be praised in front of the parent
d) if there are 'issues' it helps for the child to know that school and parent are on the same page

(Very occasionally I've needed a frank discussion with SENCO/pastoral/year leader and I have managed to do that without DC by doing it at the end and sending them and DH home early.)

[TeenTimesTwo]

e) The child can find the required teacher faster as they know what they look like.

[iMatter]

My kids' school expect the pupils to be there and it's very unusual if they're not.

[Blobby10]

I never took any of mine to their parents evenings - they didn't want to go anyway and I felt able to get a more honest view from the teacher without him/her worrying about upsetting my "little darling"!! Plus the times were crazy and I would often dive in to see a teacher who didn't have anyone with them whilst waiting to see another teacher who had a queue of parents there - teachers said they didn't mind as it got them finished earlier!

[Punxsutawney]

I have had two at two different secondary schools and they have both been expected to attend all parents evening, not in uniform though. Never took them at primary but definitely at secondary age. I actually think it's important for them to be there when you are discussing things like gcses. Youngest Ds has sen and we have had plenty of meetings during the school day without him but I expect he to be with us for the annual parents evening.

[legolimb]

DS' school expected the pupils to attend with parents.

No school uniform rule though.