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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School Report Y5 Help!!

72 replies

Zozo1990 · 19/07/2023 23:49

Hello everyone,

Would like some advice from primary teachers, my DD finished school yesterday for summer and was provided with a school report. We've had two parents' evenings wherein the teacher was very positive and said my DD is working at expected levels and at greater depth in some aspects of maths and science in particular. She said she was expecting her to reach greater depth for maths at the end of the year.

I've got the report and it says, she's working at expected level for all subjects.

And for English she has ticked expected level and working towards. I don't understand which one it is? Why are both ticked off for English?

AIBU if I email the HT to clarify, and if she is below target, why did they not inform me earlier when in parents' meetings, the teacher has said she is doing really well. My partner and I have iterated several times to the teacher, please inform us of any gaps or struggles she has so that we may assist her at home. Furthermore, I've approached the teacher throughout the year to ask if my DD is doing okay, is there anything extra I can do for her over the holidays (half terms, Christmas, Easter) and she has always said no extra work needs to be done aside from standard spellings and multiplication practice for all children.

OP posts:
Quoria · 19/07/2023 23:55

She's at expected level - that's fine. She probably didn't quite make GD. Expected is a very broad range. The English thing is most likely a typo/mistake! You need to ask the teacher.

Quoria · 19/07/2023 23:55

She's at expected level - that's fine. She probably didn't quite make GD. Expected is a very broad range. The English thing is most likely a typo/mistake! You need to ask the teacher.

Quoria · 19/07/2023 23:55

She's at expected level - that's fine. She probably didn't quite make GD. Expected is a very broad range. The English thing is most likely a typo/mistake! You need to ask the teacher.

Original poster
Zozo1990 · 20/07/2023 00:18

Her report is good, btw, I'm really proud of her. I'm just a bit shocked as I was expecting greater depth for maths as that what the teacher said in parents' meeting before Easter. I just feel like they've handed a report on the last day of school and now parents are unable to raise any concerns they have. Is this how reports are normally done in other schools.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zozo1990 · 20/07/2023 00:20

And the rational side of me is saying who gives a crap, your DD is happy, healthy, bright and loving life. Why should this report matter at 8 years old! But I'm quite miffed, I'm just getting it off my chest here.

OP posts:
gherkeen · 20/07/2023 00:37

This happened to us once. The teacher explained to me that they have to tick every single box in every area to award each level and dc had just missed one box in the end of year tests. Dc feels under pressure with tests.

Expected is fantastic and if they said your child is likely greater depth at parents eve then they're doing well. Maybe like my dc they just couldn't tick that stupid box.

The following year my Dc got those greater depths. Then the following year didn't. Then the following year did. Look at the overall picture. Don't stress it. Be proud.

gherkeen · 20/07/2023 00:38

They should have given the report to you sooner and given you chance to discuss though. But I still wouldn't sweat it.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 20/07/2023 00:44

There's probably elements that she is working towards but is overall at expected levels? Eg: expected is completely nails 6/8 of the topics ; Exceeds is 8/8
Confusing message though I agree.

If it bothers you, email the school and ask for feedback. I'm not a teacher but have two children one of which has just finished Yr5. Baffled your child is 8 yrs old in yr 5 though?

Original poster
Zozo1990 · 20/07/2023 00:46

Supposed to say 9 years old, sorry it was a typo.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zozo1990 · 20/07/2023 00:49

The school is closed now so not sure if HT will respond to emails. It's so annoying especially as I'm always that annoying parent who is always asking for updates on their child's progression for this precise reason, I don't want to be told at the end of the year they are not where they should be expected. I want to work with my child to get them where they should be. I'm just pissed off if she is below expected, then they should have told me before.

OP posts:
Radiodread · 20/07/2023 00:49

You’ve said it yourself, your daughter is healthy, happy, full of life and bright. You don’t need to stress about this over the summer. It can wait till September and even then it’s not an urgent concern unless you’re going for 11+ superselectives. Me, and both my kids were considered pretty average till 12 or 13 , but have all done pretty well academically since.

Original poster
Zozo1990 · 20/07/2023 00:57

Radiodread · 20/07/2023 00:49

You’ve said it yourself, your daughter is healthy, happy, full of life and bright. You don’t need to stress about this over the summer. It can wait till September and even then it’s not an urgent concern unless you’re going for 11+ superselectives. Me, and both my kids were considered pretty average till 12 or 13 , but have all done pretty well academically since.

I agree, she's still developing and all children develop differently. My partner and I are very academic and I've tried so hard to not be a pushy parent as I want my children to enjoy learning so I hope I'm not coming across as a pushy parent. I have taken her out for a treat to celebrate end of year.

And, yes, I wanted her to do the 11+ that's why I'm a bit disappointed.

OP posts:
Radiodread · 20/07/2023 01:20

I think that course of action is probably still the same though, even compared to if she had been deemed “exceeding”? Most kids entered for and who are successful at 11+ are tutored, and most intelligent, above average kids with tutoring and parental support will get into regular grammars?

also, make sure you really closely loook at the grammar before putting your eggs in that basket. They really aren’t all that …

Radiodread · 20/07/2023 01:20

*the course of action…

Aloneinthevillage · 20/07/2023 01:39

The few dc i know who did 11+ were tutored from the beginning of year 5. I think you may have left it a bit late to go for that. I only know two dc who went unprepared and these were gifted dc.
My own dd is y5. She was also working at exceeding for all her previous years but has dropped to expected this time. Its not unusual for dc to average out as things get tougher and hormones kick in. In thr grand scheme of things having gone to university no one cares if you exceeded age related expectations in y5. Of course its important to do well throughout education and your dd is doing well. Nothing indicates she won't be able to follow her desired education and career path. Most people are average at most things. Im sure your dd is stronger at some stuff than others and visa versa.
I was told at parents evening my dd had slipped this year. I was a bit confused when i got the report saying she met age expected. I eas expecting her to be working towards or well below going by what they said. Must be a very broad target.

Aloneinthevillage · 20/07/2023 01:40

Sorry i meant they were tutored. Most are tutored. I only know two who were not.

greenspaces4peace · 20/07/2023 02:24

generally my trio's enthusiasm for school in general dropped (in the case of my youngest off a cliff) after easter holiday. never really getting back into the swing of school. the two boys were often described as gazing out the window and daydreaming come the sunny weather.

Original poster
Zozo1990 · 20/07/2023 07:42

I'm miffed because I have always asked the teacher to inform me where my child is struggling. She's always said DD is doing fine. No homework is ever given.

And I agree, fair enough, it's a good report and what bearings does that have on her future? Nothing. She's the youngest in the class too, Aug 28th. In Reception, I had to work hard to catch her up to her cohort as she literally turned 4 and started school a few days later, bless her.

OP posts:
OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 20/07/2023 07:47

Zozo1990 · 20/07/2023 07:42

I'm miffed because I have always asked the teacher to inform me where my child is struggling. She's always said DD is doing fine. No homework is ever given.

And I agree, fair enough, it's a good report and what bearings does that have on her future? Nothing. She's the youngest in the class too, Aug 28th. In Reception, I had to work hard to catch her up to her cohort as she literally turned 4 and started school a few days later, bless her.

How is she struggling if she is at expected level? You need to take a step back and realise she is at the expected level for her age.

whydoidothistomyself · 20/07/2023 07:49

Not reaching greater depth isn’t struggling.

Basketballqueen · 20/07/2023 07:52

She’s fine - read more with her and encourage her to read. That’s all she needs at this age to help with grammar, spelling, reading and writing

whydoidothistomyself · 20/07/2023 07:52

Also it doesn’t work like this anyway - a child can’t be meeting and working towards unless my three years of teaching Year 5 have taught me nothing. Obviously they might not tick every single criteria of meeting but it’s still an overall picture that is basically told to parents as one or the other. I imagine that it’s a mistake that the teacher missed.

Basketballqueen · 20/07/2023 07:53

The grading will be Age related, but still being the youngest will have an affect for a few more years. By 12 or 13 it evens out

Sceptre86 · 20/07/2023 08:00

We had similar with our ds's report but he is 5. That he is working at expected level for everything. At his parents evening we were told that he was doing really well in maths in particular and was confident, engaging etc. Instead it said he was doing particularly well in English. I felt like it had been written about another child. We had also asked at his parents evening if there was anything we could support him with and we're told no but surely I'd a child is doing well in one are we should be supporting in others?

I feel that they expect a bare minimum from parents nowadays so if you are enthusiastic or offer to support your child it comes across as being 'pushy'. Our report was also given on the last day of term so we couldn't even discuss it. It just felt like a copy and paste job. I intended to feedback to school when it starts up again and I suggest you do the same.

BillaBongGirl · 20/07/2023 08:01

You’ve asked the teacher if your DD is “doing ok” and whether she had any “gaps or struggles”.

The teacher has honestly told you your DD us doing ok and isn’t struggling. Her end of year report reflects that your DD is working at the expected level- which is definitely “ok” and shows no “gaps or struggles.”

I have no idea why you are upset? Is “ok” to you, top of the class? What would you even say to the Head about this? I see no grounds for complaint at all.

In addition teachers are not responsible for getting your child above expected levels so no idea why you are asking the teacher what more you can do? If you want your child to work ahead, then you teach them or you hire a tutor. Teachers are paid to get as many children in their class to the expected level. That’s the sum of their job. They cannot lavish extra attention on brighter kids to get them above that without harming the kids that need a bit extra to get to the expected level.

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