To not go to ds2's Parents' Night ?

[willowthecat]

I'm in Scotland and ds2 is 17 and in S6 - He did his Highers last year in S5 and did well so all good there. He doesn't want us to go to the S6 parents' night as he thinks it's babyish for someone his age to have mum and dad chatting to the teacher. However he is still studying some subjects that could help his Uni applications which he is doing now. One of them is taught in a Uni style - of less teaching and more expectation of doing your own research and he is or was struggling to adapt. He says he knows he has to do more work on his own and we can't help by going to parents' night. What would you do ?

100% go by his response he is hiding something and doesn't want you speaking to his teacher

No explain to him that whilst he's at school, you will engage with the school in relation to his education because that's what parents do. That includes s6.

It also sounds like there is a bit of a problem so you might get to the bottom of how best to support him.

Aren't they more of a 3 way conversation at that age?

I know why you would say that but it's a teacher we've known for a few years and I've had emails from him recently saying how well he is doing and what a great lad he is etc and that he would like him to volunteer to coach younger pupils so I don't think there is anything awful lurking to find out about . I might just arrange to meet him

I convinced my mum not to bother going to parents evening at a similar age as all was going well and it was just pointless. (All actually was going well, I wasn't hiding anything!) However if you think there will be constructive feedback then I would go.

I'd go.
I agree with pps.

I also live in Scotland with a DS2 in S6 who is applying for university. I've always attended parents' nights, until this year. Teachers were actively encouraging S6 pupils to tell their parents not to attend so they would have more time for meetings with parents of pupils in S5.

Yes I can see that untitled01 - As S5 is so important, and thankfully we've got past that hurdle, it seems not that necessary to take up time in S6 - We missed out on some parents' nights due to Covid and so it might be more about us to go this last time but I think I will make some contact with the one class teacher that might raise issues

I’d definitely go to the parents night. I’d be telling son that while he is still at school then it’s my duty to engage with teachers who give up their precious evenings to support and guide our child and their families.

I don't agree with parents' evenings for post-16 education - the students should be being encouraged to take responsibility for their own further education.