AIBU?
to be annoyed that Parents' Evening has been replaced
BadZelda · 09/07/2015 09:44
by 'a half-hour open evening where 'your child's report will be available for you to view'. (Primary) school has done this with one week's notice. In fact most parents that I've spoken to (including parent governors) were not aware that there won't be a Parents' evening at the end of this Summer term.
Personally, I think this is shocking - not just because the school will be failing to reach out to parents who are already disengaged from their child's education, but also because some of these children (e.g. Year 6) are moving on from Primary education, and it will be their parents' last opportunity to chat to their child's class teacher.
The school have presented it as 'trying something new'. Am I wrong to think it's a cop-out and sends a dangerous message of a school disengaging from the parent-teacher relationship?
Sighing · 09/07/2015 09:48
Do your DC attend the same school as mine?
We had this yesterday. To be honest a parent's evening at the end of the Summer term seems futile at primary. Far better to talk about things that need doing / focusing on after a few weeks at the start of each term. If parents don't know what to expect in the last report of the year then the school has failed to engage them / parents are not interested far before then.
Teabagbeforemilk · 09/07/2015 09:50
We only have one full parent consultation here. Usually around March/April.
The other two are as you describe. The teachers will make appointments with you inbetween this if they need to speak with you. Or a parent can make an appointment to see the teachers at any other time.
midnightvelvetPart2 · 09/07/2015 09:54
We have something similar to Teabag, a proper set appointment parents evening in February then an open evening next week. In the email we were invited to attend open evening if we are not happy with the school reports, i.e if you are happy with your child's progress then no need to come.
I don't mind this, I'd make an appt with the class teacher if I needed to & had to pop into school this morning before the start to have a quick chat with DS1's class teacher about some trouble he's having with another lad in his class.
I see your point about not reaching disengaged parents, but maybe such parents would not keep an appointment at a proper parents evening either.
LilyMayViolet · 09/07/2015 09:59
It depends how open the school is to speaking to parents the rest of the time. We have one full on parents evening, an open evening in the summer term during which parents can come a bit earlier and see the teacher on their own. However, we also have a completely open door policy so we see parents each and every day for chats in between. We communicate via email and telephone too. I think that's sufficient. If this school has a less open relationship on a day to day basis then I agree this seems a bit poor.
Teabagbeforemilk · 09/07/2015 10:02
And also when we did have appointments, mine was at 11am. They were 30 slots from 9.30am.
I was the first parent of the day to actually turn up. 3 children had parents that did not turn up or even attempt to rearrange their appointment. Nor did try let the teacher know.
Parents who don't engage, don't engage and probably wouldn't have even turned up.
SaucyJack · 09/07/2015 10:05
Our Primary school seems to have a policy of not saying anything vaguely interesting or contentious at PE anyway, so I can't see what difference it makes.
Just make up a tape saying X is doing really well, X is a valued member of the class, X has made so much progress this year and play it on a loop whilst flicking through their workbooks.
TeenAndTween · 09/07/2015 10:07
We've just had a report and parents evening. I disagree with those that say no point having a parents evening so late in the academic year.
I came way understanding what would be the priorities for me to work on with DD over the summer to make her set up for next year.
aintnothinbutagstring · 09/07/2015 10:13
We don't have a parents evening, we have an open evening where you can see your dc's work from the current year, say hi to the current teacher then pop in to see the next years teacher and let dc see new classroom so there's a bit of familiarity when they start in September. Works well for us. We also get an end of year report.
BadZelda · 09/07/2015 10:32
Actually an edit to my post: the evening is for an hour and a half, not just half an hour. For me it's the contrast. My kids are at two different primaries (long story) and one agreed appointment times weeks ago, whilst the other sent home a letter about the open evening last Thursday (It's today). Thanks to the posters who've given me a good perspective with info about how things happen in your schools. I agree, there may not be a need for a specific meeting if the child's doing well at school and seems happy. I am worried about those that slip between the cracks though, or struggle to understand how levels correspond to their child's rate of development. I'll go along and see anyway!
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