What would you think if…

[Mountainnmolehill]

your DC (aged 9) asked their teacher what more they needed to do to get A grades in their report, and the teacher effectively told them they weren’t capable of getting A grades.

Back story is that DC has had plenty of As in previous years and always been amongst top in class.

I’d have a meeting with the teacher. I’d be disappointed as if was not a misinterpretation of what the teacher said/meant.

I'd think it was disgusting. How dare the teacher speak to a child like that and put restrictions on them. So judgmental. Your DC is a child and teacher should be filling with confidence. They've asked for feedback and advice and should be given it. I personally would be speaking to the head if it were me

I'd want to clarify with the teacher.

I'd worry that my nine year old was so fixated on grades and be concerned that it was in part my fault.

I'd speak to the school about their system of grading nine year olds and sharing those grades (and presumably predicted grades) with the children.

I'd talk to the teacher myself to get it clear what was actually said and to get an idea of whether my child is actually under-achieving or whether they've got caught up in some grade nonsense unnecessarily.

You need to speak to the teacher.
Are they being graded just for academic work, or is it also things like attitude and behaviour?

@clpsmum Not all children are capable of getting top grades and IMO it would be wrong for a teacher to say they could. There are ways of saying without being nasty, but giving a child false expectations can also be damaging.

Me too.

Sorry - I should have said that I clarified with the teacher and they said the same to me.

It has really troubled DC, so I want to get a sense of whether this is healthy expectation management or a really negative un-aspirational (if that is even a word!) thing to say.

DC is not fixated on grades at all, she obviously noticed that her grades had gone down and asked the teacher how to improve.

I mean why not just answer honestly without telling a child they aren't capable?

"To get an A someone needs to do X, Y, Z"

Surely they have some guide they mark from so 🤷‍♀️

Frankly, I wouldn't want my primary age child in a grade centred environment. I'm assuming this is either a private school or not in the UK?