"The most important person in the house"

[Funkyslippers]

Fairly lighthearted post but DD1 came home from school yesterday. With GCSEs coming in the summer, mocks soon and lots of revision starting now, her head teacher declared to her year that "for the next few months, you are the most important person in your house". DD1 of course came home most delighted at that. AIBU to think her head teacher shouldn't have said something like that as she doesn't know the dynamic of people's families?

It’s a daft thing for a head teacher to say. She has no idea what’s going on in people’s houses. Plus, that a lot of pressure to be lumping on a sixteen year old.

I’d just laugh it off. I don’t think they meant for it to be taken completely seriously.

I think you’re over thinking it; I can see what the headteacher was trying to say. Even for families who are going through a lot the child going through exams needs to feel that they are important. I had exams at a time that my dad was very ill and even throughout that I was made to feel that my exams were the priority and I should focus on them.

I think it is a fair comment. She will need time and space to study. I think most families accept this and will try to fascilitate. For instance they don’t book family holidays in the run up even though other family members would like to (or as results come out) etc.

FFS. Don't teenagers already think that??!!

I think she just meant it’s an important few months for the pupils and that they (and their families) should hopefully be taking it seriously and giving space and priority to revision.
I wouldn’t over-think this.

For about a third of the kids we know (and for two of our three!) GCSE year coincided with an older sib’s A level year or degree finals.

For two of them it was a background to a parent’s life threatening illness.

Yep, naive and a bit thoughtless of the staff. No big deal though.

In terms of not going away on holiday, making sure siblings don’t disturb her studying, understanding she might be stressed etc then isn’t the Head right? And saying for the next few months shows understanding that other members of the family will have their turn on other occasions.

I think it is a ridiculous things to say. Much better to focus on ensuring the kids give sufficient of their time to study etc.

I think she’s just trying to give her some encouragement and put forward the notion that she might need some special attention and considerations. I wouldn’t get worked up.

GCSE's impact what college or a-levels they can take don't they? Which then effects their future job choices and the study habits they learn now are the ones they're gonna take forward with them into uni and set them up with a good work ethic for future jobs.

So no I don't think it's unreasonable for them to be the most important member of the house for a couple months if you want them to succeed and go far in life, it's the culmination of their school learning up until that moment.

Dont see it as a big deal

I'd lighten up.