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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Teacher Reply Over Summer

353 replies

hairnightmare17 · 21/07/2018 11:08

Son is in secondary school.

We received school reports on Monday. One grade on there is different to what my son said he achieved. It was a terrible mark for an important subject and he would need work on it over the summer if it is correct, since he is going into year 11.

I tend to believe my son didn't get that mark but without a reply from the teachers I won't know for sure. I have queried it by email twice this week, no reply. Attempted to call, to no avail. School broke up yesterday.

Is it worth emailing again? Is it likely I would receive a response over the summer break.

OP posts:
MaisyPops · 22/07/2018 18:12

Nofunkingworriesmate
The teacher told the class that their report data is based on X test.
The report has the grade for X test.
The child has said the grade is for X test.
The OP wants to know why the report is what it is (and contacted the school after not getting a reply within 24 hours, which would instantly see that go to the bottom of my to do list)

Generally there's 3-4 weeks between data going on the system and reports going out to students.

Common sense says whatever topic the student got a 4 in they should probably revise.
If they are capable of a 7 or 8 but are lazy then they need to stop being lazy and do a spot of work.
If they are a 7/8 student then it's not beyond them to get a revision guide and use a tiny bit of initiative.

Pengggwn · 22/07/2018 18:18

Why would they send out such a late report based on old data? This does not make sense.

What happens is this. The school Forward Plan or calendar is put together with an assessment point every half-term. In order to assess them you have to have taught them, so you can't do it at the start of the half-term (as they won't have learned anything, and besides, the teachers will only just have entered their last set of data and will be trying to, you know, plan some lessons. So you aim to assess in, say, week 4 of a 7 week half-term and put the marks out to parents in week 5, leaving time for queries. Sounds sensible, right? Actually, no. Firstly, three weeks of teaching in the final half-term of the year isn't very much at all. There are assemblies, trips, speaking exams, Drama performances, sports events etc. Hardly anything gets done. So the assessments happen in a rush at the end of week 4.

Now it becomes fun. Let's say Y7, 8, 9 and 10 all need to be assessed. Y10 students in core subjects need to do two papers for GCSE and, on reflection, it's decided Y9 should do that too, because it's 'good experience' for them and gives us 'a more accurate idea of their attainment'. Okay. That gives some teachers (those who teach core subjects and have, for example, a Y9 and two Y10 classes) 180 papers to mark in a week. So, to prevent teachers walking out in even greater numbers than is the case at the moment, the deadline is moved to week 6.

Deadline met. Should be sorted, yes? Um, no. Time needs to be built in to moderate the papers and make sure the grades are accurate (this isn't really what happens, because time, but a token few days are built in). Reports are now due to go out week 7.

Etc.

It is a farce. You can get predict what a student will get in their GCSE by conducting a rushed assessment, but that is exactly what this will have been.

Pengggwn · 22/07/2018 18:19

Sorry: cannot predict.

manicmij · 22/07/2018 18:31

How can someone sit an exam and be given a result based on previous exams. What's the point of the latest exam then. Are admin staff off too? If not surely they will be able to access results as they are all fed into system. Good luck trying to get an outcome.

GinPink · 22/07/2018 18:37

Will admit I've not read whole thread.

What subject? Could you download a past paper and set him a test yourself based on what he's done so far and mark it? Then you have some clue?

I'm a teacher happy to give further guidance if helpful.

manicinsomniac · 22/07/2018 18:38

I haven't read the whole thread but it's worth trying again if you haven't heard back in a few days.

I check my work emails every couple of days at least as I often need to be on the email account to contact colleagues anyway. If I'm actually on holiday then I won't check if I don't have WiFi.

Our school office is open the first 2 weeks and the last week of the holiday and the head/deputies cover a week of August each so there's often someone around. They forward emails to teaching staff if they aren't sent to our direct accounts and will phone about anything urgent. Most of us pop into work at least a few times.

It;s unlikely that you won't be able to get any information from anybody for the whole summer.

MaisyPops · 22/07/2018 18:38

How can someone sit an exam and be given a result based on previous exams.
They haven't been given a result based on previous exams.
Class sit exam A
Get grade for exam
Reports are due
Teacher inputs data based on exam A
Teacher tells class that reports are based on exam A
Teacher carries on teaching because it's term time and we don't just stop as soon as the 3rd term reports are in (otherwise I could have stopped teaching my KS3 classes in June!)
Class sit exam B
Class get results of exam B

Simple.

What's the point of the latest exam then
You mean other than for the teacher to have taught the content to them and assessed their understanding of the content and to inform future planning and to give feedback to the students and to enable the pupils (as reasonably bright GCSE students) to make decisions about their own revision?
None. No point at all.

Not everything is done because of a report. I did extended writing with my Y10s in the final week. We went through it as a class and they gave peer feedback to see if they'd acted on their target from last time. It was valuable learning. It's no less valuable because it's the final week or because I'm not grading it oe because it's not for a report. It's basic teaching.

Pengggwn · 22/07/2018 18:39

You mean other than for the teacher to have taught the content to them and assessed their understanding of the content and to inform future planning and to give feedback to the students and to enable the pupils (as reasonably bright GCSE students) to make decisions about their own revision?
None. No point at all.

The mind boggles! Grin

SoftSheen · 22/07/2018 19:09

Your son is 15 and old enough to take some responsibility for his own learning. Tell him that you are willing to provide extra help for the subject he (may have) done badly in, and reiterate its importance. Then leave it up to him.

Obi73 · 22/07/2018 19:50

Email the Head and copy the teacher in - they’ll soon reply. Especially if you mark it as confidential and request a read receipt from both of them.

MCamp10 · 22/07/2018 19:50

Stop getting so stressed about it. Exams aren’t anything like as important as teachers would have you believe. If your son has “lied” as you put it, you need to look at what has driven him to it. Anxiety about your response to a low mark? Feeling under pressure to achieve? If he’s got a low mark it suggests it’s a subject he’s not good at or maybe doesn’t like. What’s wrong with that? What is he good at and what does he enjoy? If a child is not truthful to his parents it often says more about them than it does about him/her.

Pengggwn · 22/07/2018 19:52

Email the Head and copy the teacher in - they’ll soon reply. Especially if you mark it as confidential and request a read receipt from both of them.

That would make me even less likely to reply. And I wouldn't send a read receipt.

hungrypanda2008 · 22/07/2018 19:57

I understand why you would want to know. I suspect your son is right. When the report was done (possibly 3 weeks previous) it was based on the last exam result. His new exam result is better but wasn't marked in time for the report. I would say as u did, he didn't work for the last test or the topic is an area of weakness or both. There is a possibility that the 4 was a general overall mark which would be a concern but from what your son has said, this is not the case. Is there a predicted grade on there too? We do one throughout yr 10 and 11. A lot of teachers will answer emails over the summer time and being as this is for clarification, it is quite straightforward to answer. If you don't get an answer now I'd ask son to work on the topic he got the 4 for and chase up what areas be needs to work on in Sept.

MaisyPops · 22/07/2018 19:59

Email the Head and copy the teacher in - they’ll soon reply. Especially if you mark it as confidential and request a read receipt from both of them.
Haha!
Bullshit.
I wouldn't send a read receipt and would reply to only the head asking them to deal with the total arsehole who thinks they can bully staff to get their own way.

Then our head would probably pull the parent in for a meeting and tell said arrogant arsehole that stunts like that are not appreciated in our school.
(We've also had blackouts on specific parents who've been horrendous to staff. One nominated point of contact who has the authority to decide what does/doesn't get to staff).

Downtheroadfirstonleft · 22/07/2018 20:31

Gosh teachers are a moany lot.

MaisyPops · 22/07/2018 20:46

Gosh teachers are a moany lot.
Nah. We just object to people contacting us once, then again in 24 houra because they haven't had a reply, then bitching about our holidays.

We think it's hilarious and infuriating that people actually advise emailing us and ccing the head in so they can get their own way.

We take issue with people who don't teach informing us on the demands of our job, being told about all this free time we apparnetly have.

Even before I entered teaching people in my first career whined about jobsworths who liked to tell us how to so our jobs and dickheads who'd try to power play to get their own way. Unsurprisingly, that type of behaviour makes people complain.

The vast majority of teachers are more than reasonable. The vast majority of parents are more than reasonable. The vast majority of students are hard working, well behaved and want to do well.

Obi73 · 22/07/2018 21:02

Think you’re missing the point of the thread; she’s stressing about her child and their future. A quick reassuring email takes no time at all - we’ve all got the time to post on here giving our point of view. Quick email telling them it’ll be a priority in September would be appreciated and if not then tough, that’s as good as it gets this time of year.

MaisyPops · 22/07/2018 21:06

obi
It's not ideal and I do aim to reply to parents as soon as I can, but the last week is busy, the child has already explained the report and common sense says that between y10 and 11 it's worth brushing up on topics you've not done as well as you can on (especially if laziness is the reason).

There's an obvious way forward and it doesn't require an email.to do it.

Pengggwn · 22/07/2018 21:11

A quick reassuring email takes no time at all - we’ve all got the time to post on here giving our point of view.

This is my personal holiday time and I will do what I like with it. We all have time to sunbathe and mow the lawn when we are on holiday too. Is that selfish? Should we all be sending 'quick reassuring emails' to anyone who gets in touch when we are not working?

Bizarre.

BettyG66 · 22/07/2018 21:17

Most reports are cut and pasted - my daughter was referred to as 'he'.

Pengggwn · 22/07/2018 21:20

Most reports are cut and pasted - my daughter was referred to as 'he'.

That's just efficient. When you are writing 100+ reports or comments, it makes sense for them to share a framework or structure, with different comments for each child. The fact that I might use that structure and occasionally neglect to change a pronoun doesn't negate the comments, does it? Bit careless, but not 'cut and pasted'.

TheFallenMadonna · 22/07/2018 21:25

The first email was sent when we were working.

KindergartenKop · 22/07/2018 21:27

Also, the report was just data, not a cut and pasted comment. You can't cut and paste data, otherwise everyone would just put a 9 in every box and be out of the door by 3 30pm.

BoneyBackJefferson · 22/07/2018 21:33

TheFallenMadonna
The first email was sent when we were working.

It was but there are two teachers, is it a part time job share?
Is it a class share?
Is the lead teacher in?

Even so the OP's DS has given her enough information.

TheFallenMadonna · 22/07/2018 21:37

OP emailed both teachers. Seriously, a reply to this is not a big ask at all. Not with 4 days to go before the end of term. Would you really not have responded??

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