To ask for the work

[TheFrozenCanal]

I need some quick advice.

My daughter is moving schools mid year, this week actually. I have asked if we can have her work back, exercise books, or whatever there may be, but was told they would be keeping it to "show ofsted"

I would really like to have the work. I wasn't shown it at parents' evening so have no idea what they've been doing. Also, I'm sentimental and would like it as a souvenir for her, as well as in case the new school would like to see it.

My question is, aibu to ask for it? I've been a teacher and would always give books back if asked, but I haven't been a headteacher.

Does anyone have experience of this? Where do I stand and who does the book "belong" to. Obviously the school paid for it out of their budget, but the budget was allocated on the basis of DD being a pupil there. Not sure what to do, but I do remember as a teacher preparing for Ofsted, we photocopied some work to show in addition to the books of current pupils.

For information, the other children's books will all be at school during any future inspection as the books do not normally come home.

:-)

Why would Ofsted want to see the books of a pupil who had left?

As an example of work done at the school

Not a hill I would choose to die on but hey ho.
If the school doesn’t usually send the books home then I think you are being unreasonable. I would have said ask if you can collect them at the end of the year. Look on the school website and national curriculum to find out what she has been doing. The new school will not ask to see her books they will do their own assessments.

Surely they should be seeing the work of a current pupil, not one who has left.

That's what I thought. Or just photocopy the book, or scan it..?

No, but this is about as confrontational as I can get 🫣
There is no information on the school website and the NC is vague. I just want to see and hopefully keep her work.

Hae you wondered if they have been shredded/ recycled?

Well she hasn't finished yet.
In my experience schools don't always recycle, and a book would jam the shredder.

It could be that you have given teachers enough time to mark them.before you want to.take it away. These things take time?

Then ask them to photocopy the books? Then they can keep the original. They may decide that's too much work and just give them to you.

What's the point? She's leaving so it doesn't matter to this school. It's more important for the new school to check her understanding surely?

Hopefully this is the one to go for. Fingers crossed!

Yes that's what I thought, no need to mark.

How old is she?

Five

Ask to see her books, then when you go to see them, say you're taking them to get them photocopied, then just take them.

If they chase you to return then, make copies. If they don't bother, then just keep them.

When my son was in reception last year we went in one afternoon to look at his work. The teacher told us it was a shame we couldn’t take it home but it had to be kept at the school for a period of time. I can’t remember why but I wasn’t that bothered about taking it home so probably didn’t ask questions.

My child's school sends home all workbooks at the end of each year.

Yes because they have plenty of time for that!

That was the point of her post; perhaps you misread it