Aibu to wonder about primary school reports?

[Thingsthatgo]

This isn’t a stealth brag. Both of my DCs can be a right PITA, and I know that they both have their strengths and weaknesses.
Their primary school reports always make them out to be perfect angels, who are borderline geniuses, and I am fairly sure this isn’t the case. Aibu to expect reports to have some resemblance to reality? Otherwise what is the point? I have asked around parents from other primary schools, and it seems it’s standard nowadays.

Reports are a government requirement hence you get one!

They should in best practise give annual percentage attendance and if YR,1,2 or 6
They are obliged to report the National test scores. (EYFS, Phonics, KS1 SATS and KS2 SATS.
Year 4 are getting the times table test too.

Covid aside of course !

I'm not a teacher - I work in admin and send the reports. I correct A LOT of grammar, gender and names every single year and curse the teachers

@whatarewetalkingabout

I see what you mean BeingATwatItsABingThing. For me it's important that the report doesn't come off as the teacher being negative about the child, sounding annoyed or frustrated by the child. But yes of course any issues should be reported, but in a professional way and in the spirit of the teacher wanting to work with the child and help the child.

The majority of teachers will write a report that is constructive and not a personal attack on the child. It’s hard as a parent to be objective though and not misread any criticism as a teacher just disliking the child. No teacher goes into the job with anything other than helping children at the forefront of their mind. We genuinely care about them all.

My child got top marks for effort and is apparently working at expected level. This contradicts with what the ta tells me about 'realistic expectations' for her given her ASD / EHCP. It really doesn't help me figure out what level of help she needs for secondary. I am going to have to talk to the senco again but so far, she has been pretty useless
on the advice front .

I actually complained my sons was too positive this year. Hes been assessed for dyslexia, asd and has language impairment. His report said how good he was at xyz and answered correctly etc. Same child who cant write a sentence and was moved back 2 years in literacy work 🙈

I think a lot of people struggle finding constructive comments "negative". Not me. I want to know if DS frustration at not being able to do it first time is getting in the way of him learning. I want to know if impatience means he's not following instructions properly. I want to know if his attention drifting means he's missing extra details. I want to know if he's really struggling with fractions. These are all things we can work on positively at home.

I also think it needs to made clearer where progress that is good for the child is meaning they are attaining at an average level. That can be said positively, but too many reports give the impression a child is exceptional/bright where really they are a good solid average!

@QueeniesCroft Who do you delegate this stuff to? And how come you only skim read the reports?

The relationship the teacher has with the pupil and parents can make a massive difference in how the tone of the report is interpreted. It can come across as helpful and constructive, or critical and dismissive. Maybe sometimes parents can be defensive about their dc, but sometimes teachers can be quite unfair and really give a child a hard year.

@movingon22

The relationship the teacher has with the pupil and parents can make a massive difference in how the tone of the report is interpreted. It can come across as helpful and constructive, or critical and dismissive. Maybe sometimes parents can be defensive about their dc, but sometimes teachers can be quite unfair and really give a child a hard year.

I agree that there is the odd teacher who is unfair to a child Most teachers, as usual are not like this But you know, they're not perfect I'm certainly not a fan of the teacher my child has this year for various reasons and that would colour my interpreting of the report I haven't had ours yet but I've not had any previous problems with reports anyway

I'm writing my first reports as a primary school teacher which I am really enjoying - I'm sure I won't feel quite the same in a few years but it feels like a lovely process to review the year and the achievements of each child. I feel quite misty-eyed about passing them onto the next class so I expect my reports will be fairly glowing all round. I will be honest though if it is constructive - e.g. making recommendations for their learning or behaviour in the next year group.

Throughout the year we've provided feedback and targets for ongoing work, whereas the reports are exactly that - a review of the year. The parents will receive result bands from their end of year assessments as well as my comments.

It has been a genuine pleasure to get to know each child, whatever the day-to-day challenges have been. I truly believe in all of them and I want them to leave my class knowing that.

It takes me 40-60 hours to write my reports depending on the class size. There’s no hidden messages in mine. I’m pretty blunt, giving strengths and next steps. No surprises either as I like to have that conversation direct a long time before report time. If I say they’ve been a pleasure to teach, they have. It’s not a compliment I give lightly.

[quote Rainallnight]@QueeniesCroft Who do you delegate this stuff to? And how come you only skim read the reports?[/quote]
I only skim read the reports because most of it just isn't that interesting, and I only read them at all because I need to be aware of what awful thing the headteacher is planning next.
In this particular school, the children of a certain group of parents (married, Catholic, Gaelic-speaking) do reasonably well. The children who aren't in all three of those groups (like mine) suffer for it. Complaining is likely to mean a referral to social services and there is only one other school within 20 miles (which is run by the same headteacher!).

Sorry, forgot to say, I delegate it to the children's father. One parent might need to go, but both certainly don't.

One thing I found interesting about lockdown was the revelation that many children who are extremely well behaved in school are not so angelic for their parents. Those video lessons were pretty surprising for me! So I wouldn't assume they've embellished the truth on really good reports.

Also, if your child isn't a joy to have in class, I'm not sure the end of year report is the most appropriate way to let the parents know.

DDs report says shes great at geography.

She doesn't know where Barcelona or Sydney are. And doesn't care. (She loathes geography).

I think the teachers are trying to be nice this year, understandably, it's been a tough year for teachers and pupils.

@dameofdilemma

DDs report says shes great at geography.

She doesn't know where Barcelona or Sydney are. And doesn't care. (She loathes geography).

I think the teachers are trying to be nice this year, understandably, it's been a tough year for teachers and pupils.

You know there is more to Geography than knowing where countries are, right? You can also be good at a subject and loathe it at the same time.

I have received my DD’s report today and it is glowing as usual, I wouldn’t expect anything less, it always is and if I compared it to her school friends I bet they’re pretty similar. Not because my child is an angel but just because they are always like this. It was such a revelation when my ds went to high school and we got a more truthful report. It helped me pick up on his weaknesses.