To think extra lessons for top students isn’t fair?

[Beepboobeep]

My DD’s state primary school has a “top maths club” and “great writers club” for the top performing students in yr 5 and 6 held outside of school hours. There is no charge for this - so it’s free childcare and free tutoring. You have to be invited. This has been running since the second week of the school year and is restarting on the first day of this half term.

By contrast, my dyslexic DD is in a group for those needing more support in writing, also outside of school hours. But they only managed 2 sessions last year and it hasn’t started back up this year. She gets ad hoc in school support; where it happens she misses other lessons that aren’t then caught up on, putting her further behind in the those.

I appreciate these children deserve challenging, but surely that could be done in class with different work and the teacher’s out of hours time, if available, used to help those struggling?

Is this even allowed in a state primary?

In my experience, the state school system offers very very little to bright, well-behaved DC (mostly girls) while a lot of energy, time & resource is directed towards those who are struggling and/or badly behaved (the two things are often connected).

Bright kids are expected just to get on with it, or that their parents will offer enrichment and extra challenge. They are generally overlooked because the assumption is that they'll be fine anyway, even if neglected.

Yes, just for ONCE it is, they already lose so much time due to others needing extra help and behaviour issues, the ones at the top always lose more than they gain, just for once, let them have something.

Yabu.

So why don't you get your DD some outside tutoring? You just sound quite envious and whiny.

OP does get her DD plenty of outside tutoring. I think we owe her the courtesy of reading her posts before offering spurious criticisms, and I say that with every sympathy for the little girls you write about. I was one of them.

teachers aren’t obliged to offer after school clubs. They are likely volunteering to share their passion for writing or maths. Most teachers get into the role because they like teaching and enjoy their speciality subjects.

we found touch typing practise helps with dylexia

My child is the only one out of a group of similar age young adults locally (1-2 years older/younger), is fully qualified in their field, working full time and therefore contributing to the economy. The others (6) are all grammar educated. 2 chose not to go to uni due to the costs, so working in a local shop, 1 hasn't gone due to mental health (and knowing that grammar I am not surprised), 1 works in a coffee shop part-time, and another in the local pub. All 6 on paper would be some of the brightest and the best, but growing the economy? No they are not.

Yes it is fair. Gifted kids should be encouraged. SEN provision is another issue. 🤷‍♀️

I find your perspective interesting. I come from a standpoint completely different to your own. I think it is amazing that the school is offering additional help for those too tire children. My children

I think it's great. But then I'm an elitist.

Do you mean, 'tier' ?

Equally, you haven't finished your sentence, 'My children' - what about them?

There isn't going to be a whole class of children who are 'Gifted and Talented' and if there is, we should look at how we are measuring that!

No it is not fair, and I say this as someone who has benefitted from G&T provisions as have my family.

Of course very able children should be taught appropriately, and I agree that too often they are sacrificed. That is wrong. However it is morally repugnant to suggest that they should be prioritised over less able children. The answer is to insist on appropriate teaching for every child.

It is not possible for the rather crude tests given in school meaningfully to capture the features of giftedness at a young age. Treating all children holistically is the best way to encourage the strengths of each.

I can well imagine teachers enjoy teaching able kids. Hence giving up their time.
Its frustrating as hell trying to explain stuff to anybody who just doesn't get it.

I've sat there bored out my tree with a kid struggling to read and an equally boring Biff & Chip book, it was painful. Funnily enough I have zero memory of reading with my youngest and is aa much better reader.

Brilliant, highly apropos comment.

What are you on about, I'm sure many children that aren't at the "top" at 9/10🙄 are impacted by behaviourial issues.

I can well imagine teachers enjoy teaching able kids. Hence giving up their time.
Its frustrating as hell trying to explain stuff to anybody who just doesn't get it.

I've sat there bored out my tree with a kid struggling to read and an equally boring Biff & Chip book, it was painful. Funnily enough I have zero memory of reading with my youngest and is aa much better reader.

Behaviour issues that are disruptive to the class I should add.

This.

Oh no the high achievers get one single thing. Once they start secondary they’ll use a fraction of the resource other children use and be mostly ignored for 5 years while pulling the schools stats up. Let them have a few hours of extra learning.

Fight your daughter’s fight on its own merit.

Bright and able kids deserve to be prioritised too. I imagine these kids get a lot less of the schools time during the school day.
The teachers probably enjoy these sessions.

If teachers choose to give their time for free they are being reasonable in choosing where to direct it.

When I taught at secondary my favourite but was after school additional lesson for A level students sitting Advanced Extension Award in my subject.

At our sons UK primary you could only attend the sports club for a particular sport if you were on the team. You could only join ensemble club if you were grade 3 or above.

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