To think secondary schools could scrap the tutor period?

[padthehallways]

I think most schools are like the one I work in, with a twenty / thirty minute tutor period either in the middle of the day or first thing. Once a week assembly.

Ours is currently first thing, and once a week we don’t have it and finish twenty minutes early.

Do we need it at all? Once a week assembly for each year group, so once a week in a bit earlier.

Maybe in my naive utopia I’m thinking it would reduce school traffic a bit with staggered starts, give teachers a bit more time (yes teacher bashers, we do need it) and reduce another layer of stress.

Perhaps I’m being naive.

Staggered starts are a nightmare for families with more than one child though.

And aren’t tutor periods time for discussing issues and reinforcing messages? I was at school in the dark ages, but even then we would have discussions about social issues of the day, etc.

Its pastoral care. Tutors tend to get know the pupils in their form a little better, their role is important as they will be the ones who notice the warning signs of problems

Tutor time is good for passing on information that can't wait a week though.

Yabu

It doesn’t all have to be about subject learning. I would rather that my dcs had more contact with their tutors, especially as they’re still going through the shit of the pandemic. It is hard for them expected to carry on as normal yet they’re seeing huge numbers of peers around them come down with covid. It’s unsettling.

Tutor time is about the pastoral side of things and when done well is vitally important.

Ds school has just had a massive tragedy and form time was a key time to ensure that all students where coping, to discuss things as a group (and on a more 1-1 basis if needed) and to ensure students where in a position to do the rest of the day (and if not help them more)

Having the form tutor roll gives them a key contract which is important in relationship building.

I think the tutor period is necessary.
My Yr7 ds knows he sees his tutor every morning and can discuss any problems/issues and things he's unsure about with her.
It's where he gets his info about general school life and upcoming events etc.
I think it eases them into the day and is especially important for the younger kids and the eldest kids who are coming up to exams etc.
They also get to know their tutor over the years and the tutor gets to know them and can be better equipped to help them talk with other teachers etc should their be problems/issues as they know the child well as have essentially gone through school with them.
They are also a contact for parents somewhat.

Timetabling would be an utter nightmare for staggered starts.

We had 5 timetables during covid and the mental load for that alone was immense for staff.

Parents with dc in different years hated it too, and without extra playground supervision/breakfast club etc it would be a headache before and after school.

Kids need tutor time. It's essential for the mundane housekeeping - letters, school info, year notices, updates etc. Add in the pastoral stuff - credits and detention reminders, careers info, exam prep, plus support from staff and classmates, it's invaluable.

In secondary some kids are in with different classmates every period due to subjects and setting, form is the only constant for them and it is invaluable for setting behaviour expectations.

True re families with more than one child. I don’t know that messages need to be passed on only in tutor periods, though. With technology a whole school email can (and often does) easily pass things on.

I'm sorry OP but this just smacks of a teacher not really concerned about their pupils, more their own time and own preferences. In general school starts too late for a lot of parents (hence breakfast club) and finishes too early as it is. I'd be miffed if I had to change my work pattern because you couldn't be bothered to spend 1 on 1 time with your group of kids because it's better to catch up on other elements of your job. Sorry!

Staggered starts are an utter bastard. I have two kids at secondary who start and finish half an hour apart, then one at primary who starts and finishes somewhere in the middle. I have to leave one of my secondary aged kids waiting for half an hour in the morning, and the other in the afternoon.

Tutor periods are vital though, imo, especially at the moment. So many children need that pastoral care which that half an hour provides.

In our school, once they get to year 10, they swap forms on a termly basis and are placed with a form tutor who teaches one of their weakest GCSE subjects so they get extra lessons in that subject without having to attend extra curricular sessions.

no way! Tutor time is when I pick up any issues, talk to the students, develop relationships etc- they have long enough in a 'fend for yourself' college/ uni/work environment. Year 7 are still little! Also tutor time is when we do the fun stuff like Christmas party etc

But 11 year olds don’t really read their emails. If my DD didn’t have tutor time she’d never know anything.
Staggered starts or not helpful or sensible for most families.
Designated tutor contact time is important for proper pastoral care. Who’s checking up on these kids otherwise?

The high school here has staggered starts and it’s a pain.

It just makes the traffic bad for longer periods. It’s a pain for people with more than one kid and sone kids have to hang about for ages for school buses.

When I did German exchange visits the German school didn't have tutor time at all. They started school at 8am and went straight into their first lessons. I don't know how they organised pastoral care, but they didn't do it via tutor groups or tutor time. So there are other ways of doing it.

Tutor time is SO important though. If a kid has had something happen at home over the weekend, or the night before - the turtle is the first person they will see and can potentially talk to about any worries or problems they are having.

My son is in yr 7 - his tutor is invaluable for him - he is autistic and it helps him so much to have someone he sees twice a day consistently who he can ask the little questions he doesn’t know who else to ask - about a room change, or about the canteen or any other number of small things that are a big thing for him.

I think it’s important for every child that there is SOMEONE that they see everyday who knows what’s going on in their lives, outside of the academic - not just thinking in terms of their progress in a specific subject but how they are doing as individuals.

The tutor not the turtle!!!

I think tutor time is important from a pastoral point of view.

@Rinoachicken

The tutor not the turtle!!!

Turtle time would be even better!

I think tutor time is so important. Remembering back to my school days our home tutor was so consistent and supportive l, he really got us through it all and it was nice to see that core group of class mates every day.

I meant the teacher reading their emails, not students

this snacks of a teacher not really caring about their pupils

I knew we wouldn’t get past the first page before that or a similar accusation raised its head!

I quite fancy turtle time.

I have a year 10 tutor group. They don’t engage in or show any real interest in the tutor activities. The whole session is a bit of an unnecessary pain tbh.

Tutor time is very high for my daughter. Her tutor is the only person in the school that sees her daily and knows her well.

My daughter has SEN and it was her tutor that was the first person to pick up that she was starting to really struggle with mental health issues when the school reopened after lockdown and between us we were able to help her.

I know a school who have done this, they're known for fab pastoral care so it can work. In the schools I've been in it seems wasted time most of the time.

IMO it should be 15 minutes long not half an hour.

@Alittlenonsensenowandthen

I know a school who have done this, they're known for fab pastoral care so it can work. In the schools I've been in it seems wasted time most of the time.

That’s really interesting.

I think it can be similar to if your child has a good teacher they gel with in any subject.

I’ve had children confide in me who aren’t in my form and similarly I’ve had children who are in my form talk to another teacher. It just depends who they have a good relationship with. You can’t guarantee they will be with the form tutor although it is nice when it is.

Tutor time is massively important for my year 7 child - it’s the only constant teacher (for some subjects she has 3) that means she has a known person to go to with problems, who she trusts enough to share with. She’s raised several issues and got support already. I think the form tutor is a really vital part of year 7s being able to transition. It of course helps that she has a really nice tutor that is very committed to pastoral care of course