.. to expect better standards from my DCs Headmaster & his PA?

[TitchyCooPark]

AIBU when EVERY letter he sends out to Parents either has spelling or grammatical errors or sometimes both. Basic errors that neither he or his PA are picking up on, for example, the wrong date, time or location for a meeting.

Before the Easter holidays, the wrong revision information was attached to an email that he sent out. An entire Year Group revised the wrong material for three major exams that count towards their GCSE award. They returned to school last week and three days notice of the right material to revise...

Yesterday, every parent (for 3000 pupils) was sent an email attaching their child's "Individual Behaviour Report". However, they were all sent out showing Zeros right across the board, so something obviously went horrifically wrong there.

It just smacks of laziness in my opinion, or this just the norm for most schools nowadays?

I have a Parents Evening this evening with DS2 (Year 8) and quite frankly if any of the teachers pull her up on double-checking her work before handing it in I am going to be able to hold my tongue.

TCP x

Our school newsletter is riddled with errors, and DS1's (literacy ) homework came home with "You're homework this week is...."

Makes me so cross!

Start marking it with a red pen and a sarky comment and sending it back to them?

I think occasional technical glitches can be forgiven, but spelling and grammar cannot. You write it on the computer. There is a spelling and grammar check on word and most word processing programs.

Misinformation is really poor, especially when it can affect grades.

Other than this, how do you feel about the school?

There is no reason to assume that a Headmaster or "his PA" (whatever that is) is particularly well educated so YAB a little U about the grammar and spelling but YANBU about the revision fiasco.

I can grit my teeth over spelling/grammar errors (though DS's teacher appears not to have discovered punctuation at all ) but continual errors of information would drive me batshit.

What do you mean by the headmaster might not be well educated? He must at least have a degree.

I'm stunned that you think a head shouldn't be well educated Trevaron!!! No wonder teachers are held in such low regard .

It's appalling that letters home from school are littered with grammatical errors - very sloppy and unimpressive.

However well educated a headteacher must be, he/she might still be dyslexic (as was the head of the school I was a governor at).
That doesn't excuse someone not proof-reading it though.
Things done in haste probably. Not enough time/staff to double-check everything.

Surely if you're dyslexic and need to write formal letters, common sense would mean you'd get someone to check the spelling and grammar for you

It would NEVER happen at my school.

Omg. Chill and have a drink

"his PA", sorry I mean his Personal Assistant.

TCP x

Omg. Chill and have a drink

DH's head is terrible for this. He has been known to put errors back in that have been edited out. It does not reflect well on the school imo.

celticghurl If you think people should "chill", what would you advise those children who now only have 3 days to revise the correct work due to one of these cock-ups?

You can't ignore every mistake, not when they could have such an adverse affect on someone's future.

No excuse. People who educate our children should have a good grasp of the basics!

It's sloppy. None of the schools I have taught in would be so careless. A school should lead by example !

A PA or Personal Assistant is what people used to call a Senior Secretary. They 'should' be very good at organising & have a high standard of literacy & pc/typing skills.

KnittingRocks

I agree, a Head Teacher should be well educated, but unfortunately it can't be taken for granted that every Head actually is well educated.

Picturesinthefirelight

Thanks for the explanation (what a delightful name)! :)

Do you think the head of a secondary school sets revision topics? Seriously?

I would be going in to speak to them about it. I would be expressing my concern that it shows the school in a poor light.

But I would like to think we should assume every HT is well educated and be disappointed when we come across one who isn't, shouldn't we?

We had a letter home from school about cycle skills the other day. T said to let the school know if you needed to lend a helmet...