not to need/ want to know how my children are doing in relation to their classmates? (parents evening)

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

I just want to know if they are acheiving their potential, what levels they will probably get, if they are in line with or above national averages. Surely that is what is relevant? Or am I unreasonable to feel uncomfortable asking where they are in the class?

fair enough find out where they are regarding national average etc etc - I always ask if DS is at the stage he should be at.

However, I cannot abide these people who want to know whether their little darlings are the cleverest in the class or who is cleverer than them etc., are they in the top set etc etc.

Do not ask the teacher that, it will make you sound like a massive dick!

The teacher wouldn't tell you anyway, surely? They don't do class placings anymore. They do separate tables according to ability, but don't tell parents which are the higher / lower ability (although the kids themselves can work it out immediately)

Yes that is exactly how I feel, if they are doing their best then where they are is where they should be, if they are slacking then they need to work harder even if they are in the top set or whatever.

I always want to know where mine are in the class (and I feel obnoxious as hell asking) - you can't interpret this stuff in a vacuum. I want to know how they're performing against their peers.

I couldn't give a shit, personally about how my kids are doing compared to others. I'm pretty happy with how they are doing as themselves. Each to their own, however.

I don't know how old your children are but as a primary school teacher I would never discuss how other children are doing during a parents evening. It is not good practice to make comparisons between children and a child's progress should only be compared to national average/levels. If a parent asks then I have to tactfully and vaugely refer to national averages. I prefer to discuss progress and work ethic personally!

When they leave school they won't only be competing for jobs with the other children from their class so YANBU, it's meaningless to know how they 'rank' among classmates.

Surely the classroom is a microcosm of the workplace.

My kids, in primary school, are noted as below, at or above class average on their report card.

As long as your children are doing the best that they can why do you care about them comparing to other kids.

As a TA I usually find it hilarious the lengths some parents will go to try and find out details of other children. No teacher worth her salt discusses other children.

However the teacher will tell you if your kid is reaching their targets.

Discussing how your child is performing against the class average is quite different from a teacher discussing "other children". I have a right to know, for example, what the average reading level is in my kid's class - if he's below average, I'll do remedial work with him at home and if he's above average, I will push him to read books at a higher level.

Class rankings are more common and useful in schools where the children are streamed.

If your child is second from bottom in the top set, there is a chance they will be transfered to a lower one, or held back a year.

I don't think they have that sort of system in the UK though, I suppose they might in some private schools.

Every teacher my children have ever had, have made a point of telling me where they are in the class and get quite shity when I tell them that I am not interested. All I am concerned about is whether they are doing their best and that is it! YANBU

I would really like the 'levels' to be much clearer ie: what do teachers mean by 5a/b/c - its all so complicated . I want to know if my DS is performing to the best of his ability. To be told he should be level 6a but is performing at 6c (example, have no idea what this all means) is just a load of words to me - isn't there some simple piece of paper we could be given with the grades on.

thinks back to school reports with A,B & C with fond memories

You don't need to ask your own Dc or one of their friends will let slip all the table arrangements, book bands and spelling groups soon enough.

Very minimal knowledge like X's mother is a maths teacher or Y's always last to finish or always in trouble is usually enough to sort it out.

However, obtuse the teachers are with their red, green and blue tables and their square, round and hexagonal spelling lists, the DC know the pecking order.

I never asked her to, but DD2 could have listed her class in order from Y3 and I doubt the teacher would have quibbled.

I do want to know how much child compares to the national averages but where they are in their class or school makes no odds.

I agree about levels Ragwort, I'd like the levels to be numbered by the school year they are expected to be working at that stage broken into 'lower', 'middle', and 'upper' so by the end of year 4 they are expected to be a 4-middle so if they are a 5-upper then they are beyond the expected level but if they are are a 3-upper they are not yet at the expected level.

ragwort the levelling system is stupid & we wish they'd make it easier too. It used to be just numbers & average children would move up 2 levels each key stage. That means an average child would be level 2 in year 2 & level 4 in year 6. Then letters were introduced so we could give a clearer idea how a child was progressing (so it didn't look like they'd learnt nothing if they were level 3 for 2 years running). So c means just got it, b is average & a is almost at the next level. To add to confusion, some schools also fine grade this with + or - so a child can be 3b+ for example. My best advice would be don't worry about it. Children do not progress at a steady rate, as the government are trying to force us to achieve. If your child is happy & works hard they will achieve their full potential & I firmly believe that's the most important thing. X