aibu to think this is bad for my dc's school to put this in their newsletter?

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it was all lovely until the end bit, not numbers and letters! that's their grades they're talking about!!! and the head wrote that.

aibu?

Fabulous comment.

You sound like the type of parent us educators know and love

Where is this school and how do I get in?

Pretty standard stuff. So long as they do not Thame the same attitude behind the scenes (I.e. Don't bother trying to help struggling pupils because their best is good enough) then I don't see any problem

Sadly, help for struggling children is being abandoned due to funding cuts. My dsis has 15 years teaching experience, recently qualified dyslexia specialist and her role has been cut. The head cried when she told my sister she'd have to be a class teacher or leave. It's a sad state of affairs where the government increase pressure on kids but make it harder for many children to achieve the expected standard.

Surely the main goal is for children to be enthusiastic about learning, working hard and achieving their potential, whatever that might be?

I think YABU

Looks brilliant to me. Just the sort of thing I want to read from a head.

I don't get why you are so fussed by it?

I think its lovely and agree that numbers and letters dont matter much, as long as the child is making progress

I expect we'll see this in DM tomorrow: MN mums say grades don't matter.

Not necessarily a bad thing if it leads to gov rethinking their attitude to education, except for the pointless tinkering they'll indulge in. Want good education for your kids? Go private or grammar. Let the dregs send their kids to state schools, we need more cannon fodder.

They're running state ed down, just like they're running down the NHS.

I can't see the problem with it - you've been given the information to know where broadly your child is against national expectations and have also been given the message that all you can ask is for people to work hard and do their best. The HT didn't say that grades weren't important rather than there are other things which are more important. Sure, if you're heading for a top RG university without needing to work all that hard then grades are the be all and end all but if you aren't but are working hard then perseverance and doing your best need to be recognised and celebrated.

I don't think enough help is given to struggling children, and this is the schools way if say 'never mind'

that's lovely and you are being VU

If it in anyway helps your very disturbing view. It is shown to produce better learners and support attainment if students are rewarded and praised for effort over achievement. It is called an encouraging atmosphere. You should try it

My daughter is 6 and has just joined Yr 2. In her end of term report I was informed she'd be continuing Yr1 work for some areas this term and the words that were used were very similar to these. I am pleased they are supporting her and accommodating her need for extra help and don't see this as an issue. This is a lovely message. Work hard, do your best, join in but don't measure yourself at the end of the day by a grade. Success in life is not all about academic achievement. One of the brightest girls I know quit her high powered executive job to be a yoga teacher - she is happier than ever.

For those who are less academically inclined there is always the fear of ridicule - this is a nice way to set the tone and hopefully head off some of that for them.

I don't think enough help is given to struggling children

This isn't the school's fault. What can they do? Parents are always moaning, but there are very limited funds, constantly dropping. And this isn't going to change with the government people keep voting in.

I think there is a danger with some schools that the focus is not on the grades. It's all soft and fluffy until crunch time at exams and then wham! Well you never did expect her to pass did you....

I can honestly say that I went through school with one of my DDs (who has some learning problems) and all the parents consultations were positive such that if I hadn't have been as aware as I was I would have thought Oxbridge was on the cards.

What pupil even reads school newsletters?

I agree with the head completely.

Yes, YABU. There are other things more important than grades/results in a school such as raising moral, considerate members of society.

Lovely message to get across to children. Well done to the school for taking this approach

It's FINE

YADBU OP shame on you

It is just as valuable to work really hard to the best of your potential and achieve low grades tan high grades.

Not everyone CAN get high grades.

I think the Head has the right attitude. Speaking as both a parent and a secondary school teacher.

Well grades aren't the be all and end all.

My first impression was that it's worded a bit clumsily... children who read the newsletter may read it literally, as in they will read it to mean letters (literacy) and numbers (numeracy) don't matter.

YANBU op
He should never tell them that it's most important to try your best.
He should have had photos of those who are not achieving - with a Dunce cone on their heads - name and shame.