Teacher kids seem to outperform - insights?

[waddauthink]

I'm intrigued by the fact that most of the kids we know who have either teachers as parents or in the family - or were home educated - seem to outperform and go on to achieve the highest at A-level and beyond.

Many are very bright in their own right but if I were to plot a graph, I would assume that a normal bell curve would be still hold for kids/grandkids of teachers so there must be something else than just intelligence.

From my very large network (still anecdotal, I know), these kids seem to be the one that wins academic, all-round prizes and essay competitions. Although, I have to say, when I've read some of the essays (they were shared by school), I would question how much of that was down to the kids themselves - they were like written by an academic professor!

I do know from a friend whose mother helps with her kids - ex grammar school teacher; this grandmother definitely 'helps' her grandkids with homework more than most parents, I'd say.

Of course, being a teacher probably means you are able to instil a love of learning but I think there is something else that is also at play. Obviously I'm aware of the 'growth mindset' and try to instil this but it's only a small part.

These kids are often extremely hard working and diligent so that must play a significant part. Some of them are definitely the naturally most bright (I know it's difficult to judge but you can form an opinion) but still seem to get the very high marks.

I can imagine knowing your way around mark schemes and the AO1 or whatever they are called, and schemes of work and topics/topic tests must help but is there anything else?

Genuinely, it would be very helpful for non-teacher parents to know and I wonder whether it shouldn't be the main focus of education - to find and share the 'magic juice'/behaviours that leads to these types of mindsets.

So, if you are a teacher or have a teacher relative who spends time with your children - what do they do to help i.e. how do they discuss homework, what to focus on, how to approach tests/exams and coursework?

Would love to know too if perhaps kids of school teachers (or interaction with a grandparent etc who is a teacher) is correlated with a larger proportion going to top 10 universities than the general population?

TIA.

Having educated parents engaged with education is one of the most significant variables that predict educational outcomes. So it's it a surprise that the children of teachers tend to perform better than average - so do the children of doctors, dentists and lawyers.

You seem to be implying that teachers are busy doing their children's homework for them so they can win prizes?

1. No one outside your school gives school prizes a second thought. The parent isn't sitting their GCSE and A-level exams for them which is ultimately the only thing that really counts.

1. It's also in my experience unlikely teachers would bother doing their children's homework for them since they know full well that this doesn't actually help a child learn. They are much more likely to encourage their child to take responsibility for their own work and their own improvement since they know this is the biggest factor in success in later life. They also know that school prizes don't mean anything in life.

They help with homework by making the habits of success part of normal life - providing time and space to sit down and focus and the discipline to sit there and finish the work to the best for the child's abilities.

My head teacher mother would have hauled me over the coals if I'd ever not completed my homework to the best of my abilities and probably killed me if I'd just not done it at all.
She didn't do it for me but she looked at it and would make me redo it if my handwriting was dreadful for example. So I learnt to do it properly first time round!

I am primary and take a great interest in the eyfs and learning through play. I’ve read books to my children every day, practised fine and gross motor skills through play and tried to provide a range of sensory experiences.

I know how to teach phonics and reading, I know exactly what skills they need starting school, I know the primary curriculum and the methods used to teach maths etc nowadays. So I would say DS has had a good start to school and enjoys learning.

As he moves up towards secondary my knowledge is much less so I do worry I won’t be able to help him as much with the actual content especially in essay based subjects like English (I have a-levels in maths and economics and business studies). However I do intend to try to help him set up good routines with homework, check it’s been done and take an active interest in his school work.

My teacher mother gave me zero help with homework or revision or anything else school related. I was expected to be independent and get good results and behave well. If my school report and/or exam results demonstrated any deviation from that, there would have been hell to pay.

However, a respect for the value and importance of education was certainly instilled in me and I’m aware that some parents don’t seem to do that, these days at least. There seems to be far too much focus on taking kids out of school during term time for holidays etc. And how kids can’t possibly do chores at him or have a part time job because ‘they need to study’. I did my homework, I did my chores and as soon as I was old enough, I got a part time job (as a waitress). It was non-negotiable. Was this because my mother was a teacher? I suspect not.

My parents were both teachers, and I would say that I was a "school-shaped" child - loved almost everything about it, felt comfortable from the off, succeeded pretty easily. They were able to give me great support which helped. My sister has exactly the same parents and got exactly the same support, yet found it all awfully hard.

FWIW, I'm now a lawyer and SOOOOO many lawyers have teacher parents. It's super-common.

As a child of teacher parents, I'll admit to an ignoble sense of sibling rivalry with some of the kids they would mention at home. "Vicky/Dominic/Faisal is so bright, really fascinating to listen to him/her chatting about dolphins/steam engines/orienteering..."

I think I felt I had to go the extra mile to attract their attention and approval.

A substantial proportion of learning is relational. Children of teachers tend to, from the start, feel positive about and respect teachers, value their input and interact comfortably and confidently with them.

Having educated parents who value education is very important.

Exactly.

Wow, that's really interesting.

Teachers are likely to be female and degree educated, and maternal education level is a good predictor of success.

Interesting observations, thanks.

I think a lot of it is true although the final point about you being expected to always submit your very best work and having to redo it until it was, is probably a big part of this. I'm not sure all parents - including degree/post-grad teachers, including meds/dentists etc - would necessarily insist on that, at least in the early years.

I suppose for non-teacher parents, even if you try to get as involved as you can be, analysing mark schemes and subject specifications (e.g. GCSEs/A-level) takes time and, even if people are bright and successful, they may not have the time or bandwidth to do this or at least as quickly or naturally as if you are in education already.

Also, I suspect a lot of parents focus on what their children achieved, e.g. in a test, teachers will perhaps more actively look for the gaps in learning, working towards filling those gaps.

On the essays, I'm certain the same applied, perhaps these kids were asked to redo, redo, redo until they were perfect. But I have to say, in this instance, ANYONE reading these essays would not have guessed they were written by 15-year-olds who although bright, are not necessarily excelling in English (parents of these kids are secondary teachers).

Prizes DO matter for those children wanting to go to top unis / Oxbridge. In fact, it is often mentioned that students should include mentions of supra-curricular (e.g. taking part in essay competitions) in their personal statements.

I was a teacher.

plenty of my friends had kids who struggled.

personally I put in a lot of effort particularly in the early years with reading and homework and helping them so my kids did ok. My son barely passed English gcse with the help of a tutor though.

I don’t think it’s anything to do with parents’ education, rather the example they show of an interest in learning. I’d guess a teacher talks about what she’s done in a day/ will do and her child will see enthusiasm and curiosity. Add to that they can give them tips and pointers and a what not to do sort of thing too!

Teachers really don't spend their time doing their children's homework and writing their essays. I teach MFL, dh history. Ds is doing maths, physics and computing - I don't even understand when he talks about it! I'm only an expert in my own subjects. I would be no better that an intelligent non-teacher parent at helping with homework in most subjects. I've literally never done my dc's homework. Tbh they didn't need me to.

Fwiw I've taught plenty of very middle-of-the-road kids with teacher parents and some total nightmares tbh. Why do teachers' kids often do really well? A combination of the things mentioned so far. Intelligent, educated parents who are savvy about how school works (including what is and isn't important).

Interesting - just saw a freedom of info request about top 15 occupations of offer holders at Oxford. Top of the list? Teachers (8-9%)!

Of course, being a teacher probably means you are able to instil a love of learning but I think there is something else that is also at play. Obviously I'm aware of the 'growth mindset' and try to instil this but it's only a small part.

This was the main aspect for me as an teacher with an Early Years specialism. I spent time supporting their interests, their problem solving skills, their independence, curiosity, focus and creative thinking.
( Early Years, Characteristics of Effective Learning)

This started with the toys I chose with them ( small world, construction ( lego, duplo, KNex) those toys that are flexible, that can be changed and adapted. Try and fail, evaluate and improve.
Lots of outdoor play, forest school type activity, again to establish those characteristics.
Lots of working with others, including local clubs to develop their sense of community.
Reading, books chosen to match their interests. Music played at home and lots of family board games.
Talk and a shared understanding, playing together, eating together.

I'm not a big believer in homework. I helped them to be organised for homework (desk space, independent learning and scheduled time) towards the end of year 6 ready for secondary. Lucky enough that mobile phone/online access was only coming into play as they hit their teens, and I limited access from then. They didn't have their own phones.

Mine are older now, 11+ selective grammar, a mix of A/A* at GCSE and Alevel, first and masters degrees ( RG and a conservatiore). Both have followed their talents and interests into their working life.

I’m a teacher. My ds was bone idle. Scraped through GCSE and A level. Went to crap town uni.

Pulled himself round to go to a redbrick MA. He was very clever, but nothing l said or did made a difference to his work rate.

I disagree. A teacher learns to explain in simple clear terms, and make sure it goes in and stays in. You can only really do this properly if you know how.

Most of the kids who went to Oxbridge from my school had parents who were teachers. The kids didn’t get the best exam results and weren’t the most intelligent so I think they were unfairly favoured, possibly by the school or the parents having influence with admisssions/colleges. I’m not bitter 😃

I teach at a university and I have never done homework for my children. I do try to encourage them to do homework but no more than the average invented parent.

I have though encouraged them to critically evaluate everything. Also debating and putting across your point has been an important focus at meal times. As they have grown older I discuss things which might frustrate me that students do such as not referencing their work. These probably all equip them more for university level study than the average teenager.

I am teacher - here are the things I think help my (of course wonderful) average academically excel:

• Read to my children every night from almost age 0 - 13 - huge range of books over the years, exposing them to different worlds and vocabulary that was built over time
• Lockdown really helped both of my children come on in leaps and bounds - we had daily school the whole way through that I led using all my homegrown philosophy ideas of ‘how to teach’ eg lots of movement and active learning alongside silent work using (almost defunct now but I think they are very beneficial) worksheets.
• Early intervention for emotional issues - no waiting for CAMHS - we went straight for private counseling for an issue for older child
• Tutors - I am getting my son an English tutor so he has a full year with them before he takes his GCSE to support a weakness
• Choice of schools - both primary and Secondary schools are incredible. I would have homeschooled over sending my children to the nearby rubbish school.

So I guess it’s a proactive approach to education.

Also re: homework- they do it themselves but we have had a longstanding routine of doing it on a Sunday afternoon. The older one has to do it a bit more often now but there is a discipline to getting it done.

Do you mean occupations of the parents of offer holders? Or eventual occupations of people who had offers from Oxford. Anecdotally, the mother of the current Cambridge offer-holder in my Y13 class is a teacher. Primary though - not necessarily much help with the girl 's A Level subjects. The student is incredibly bright and very, very driven (a bit too much so imo). The vast majority of Oxbridge applicants I've taught did not have teacher parents. Neither did I or any of my friends.

I’m a primary teacher, and I hugely value reading to my children, and exploring books with them. It’s so important, and fewer and fewer parents do it. My oldest DD in Y2 is bright and hard working, but honestly that’s just the way she is! I feed her curiosity by going to the library, taking her places and talking to her a lot. Her younger sister (not long turned 4) has absolutely no interest in learning how to write her name (my oldest DD could do that at just turned 4), but she loves books, being outdoors and music. I have two days a week with her before she starts school, and we do a lot of things based on her interests. Both my DDs get screen time, but DD1 is not allowed to play some of the games
her friends are, such as Minecraft, Roblox and Fortnite. I also don’t let her watch TikTok. If I could give any parent advice, it is to read and talk to your child/children, and keep them away from platforms like TikTok as long as possible. Also, do not buy them a phone while they’re still little. Some of DD’s 6 and 7 year old friends have phones, and honestly there’s no need.

Yes, occupations of offer holders.