To think teacher is trying to put DC off

[Boogiewoogieanddance]

Not sure if we ABU as parents that don't want to see DD isn't excelling but this just doesn't sit right with me.

Kids are preparing for the transfer test. We aren't pushy but ours showed an interest in doing it. At parent teacher meeting teacher advised DD doesn't do it as she thinks it would be bad for her confidence as she is toward bottom of the class and to take the choice off her. We had this conversation with her and she got upset and really wanted to give it a go. That's fine, we'll support her and help where we can, if she wants to stop prepping at any time she can.

My issue is with the practice papers and how the teacher writes the score. She puts the child percentage and then beside it the class average and where the child placed in class. Eg 45% CA75% 27TH/27.

Surely this could be information sent to the parents to review rather than writing on the child's paper for them to take home? I just think if her main concern is DDs confidence plaster over the paper she is bottom of the class isn't great. She is our eldest though so not sure if this is the norm.

@Countmeout not particularly, I would say it's pretty middle of the road and has children from lots of different backgrounds. Its a great school from what we have seen and very dedicated and well structured. We did ask and had a couple of meetings about it and gave it all alot of thought. She kept saying about her confidence but honestly I think it would be worse to not even give her a chance if she is so keen to try and prepare for it. I mentioned before that she can be so compliant and go along with things easily so for her to turn around and argue her point with us is very positive, so I think so then deny her the opportunity would be worse for her confidence.

Well @Boogiewoogieanddance its very early days and you can see how things go. Your daughter may change her mind about doing it once things get going which is obviously absolutely fine.
To go back to your original point about writing the scores on the papers in that format I think if you speak to the teacher she /he could either reflect on it and change or say she’s always done it that way and that is how it goes. Maybe she is trying to give you some idea how things sit for your daughter and hoping you reflect on your decision as she’s already had a number of discussions with you about it.
To put early scores on tests in some sort of context the high flying children were scoring 100% in the first wee tests last year (about 1/5 of the class ) . Not my class but I was aware of what was going on through having someone close doing it. Sorry that’s a bit vague but you get the gist.

@Boogiewoogieanddance if your child is motivated to do this test and do well then surely knowing how she is actually doing will help her be motivated to work hard and improve? I'd be grateful that the teacher is being so honest - often it's very hard to get accurate information.

I'd praise your daughter's ambition and help her all you can.

I think the teacher is totally being VUR! What a cruel thing to do, tell the parents if they insist, but no need to write it for anyone to see, awful way to treat your class 😡

For me it would be terribly demoralising. I was crap at school without being told I am last in the group!

I find the whole thing quite depressing. When I was in the equivalent of year 6 we would have a test on Friday and that would determine where you sat on Monday. I thought the early might have moved on.

In addition, I had one high academic flyer all the way through (now at Uni) and one who grew slowly (very average and slightly below in some area) and didn't fully flourish until half way year 10. Exceeded teacher expectations in gcse and is flying at A levels. I wish we wouldn't box children in so early.