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Gifted and talented

Talk to other parents about parenting a gifted child on this forum.

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Original poster

report card

20 replies

darleneconnor · 12/11/2010 21:43

This is an AIBU but I dont want to put in that section, for obvious reasons.

AIBU to expect my DS's report card to make some acknowledgement of his academic abilities?

They know he's the smartest child in the school but all he got in his report was a "he is a very capable pupil".

The report focusses on the bad (his poor teamworking) without giving any praise for his talents.

I need to show these reports to the (much better) school I want him to move to next year so now I'm really worried this will ruin his chances.

I'm seriously considering homeschooling now. He hasn't learned anything there this year.

OP posts:

vegasmum · 12/11/2010 21:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

magicmummy1 · 12/11/2010 21:53

Of course the report should reflect his strengths as well as his weaknesses - that should go for any child. But it did say that he was a very capable pupil.

They're hardly going to say that he is the smartest child in the school, even if he is. What exactly do you think they should
have said.

How old is he? Were there no NC levels or anything to reflect his academic performance?

magicmummy1 · 12/11/2010 21:53

vegasmum, I did wonder.

Original poster

darleneconnor · 12/11/2010 22:01

vegas- that's why I didnt post in AIBU.

magic- 'very capable' just sounds quite 'blah' to me, I mean they could say that about anyone, couldn't they?

I dont think it would have hurt to use a word like 'gifted' 'exceptional' 'bright'
'proficient' 'talented' etc.

He is 8, we are in Scotland so no NC.

OP posts:

magicmummy1 · 12/11/2010 22:05

Does the school actually think he is "gifted"? I mean, have they said it to you before? And if they did, what difference would it actually make to have him labelled in this way? To him, or to you?

What makes you think he is the brightest child in the school? This seems a very odd thing for any teacher to have said.

Ingles2 · 12/11/2010 22:07

What makes you think he is gifted?
Have the school said he is gifted?
Hw old is he?

minimathsmouse · 12/11/2010 22:09

I chose to homeschool to overcome a similar situation. Before you leap though are you really sure he hasn't learnt anything all year?

Original poster

darleneconnor · 12/11/2010 22:30

He has picked up some 'facts' on the Romans but that's it.

No progress at all in Maths or English. His report completly ommitted Science because 'they haven't done it yet'.

He has learned how to make a mosaic.

I'm not getting into a debate on his giftedness.

OP posts:

magicmummy1 · 12/11/2010 22:37

OK, we don't really want debate his giftedness, but we can't possibly answer the question in your OP if we don't know what the school actually thinks about his abilities. Obviously, this will have a major bearing in what they write on his report card.

You have said that they "know" he is the smartest child in the school, but as I said earlier, I struggle to believe that any teacher would have said something like that. I am therefore wondering if you perhaps think he is the smartest child in the school (and he might well be), and assume that the school must therefore know about this.

I still don't really get why it matters. If you know he is exceptional, why does it need to be written on his report card? Surely this other school that you are considering will not accept or reject your son purely on the basis of his teacher's choice of vocabulary?

My dd has been described by both of her teachers as "gifted" but I would be perfectly happy with a comment of "very capable" on her report. She is very capable!

piscesmoon · 12/11/2010 22:37

Did you ask them to be specific? What levels is he at for Maths and Literacy?

Capable tells me that he is a clever DC and I would have been very surprised if they had used a word 'like 'gifted' 'exceptional' 'bright'
'proficient' 'talented' etc.' Are you actually sure that he is?

Are you doing anything to help him cooperate with others?

magicmummy1 · 12/11/2010 22:39

Incidentally, I don't know much about the curriculum in Scotland, but it seems a bit weird that they "haven't done science yet". Is this what it says on the report?

Why has he not progressed at all in maths or English? Is he not interested?

MollieO · 12/11/2010 22:40

Isn't the G&T section exactly for debating whether a dc is gifted.

I'm wondering whether ds is G&T. He is 6. Last week he was behind in reading, spelling and maths. A long way behind. I asked for an Ed Psych referral (which I'm waiting on). This week the SENCO said he has caught up and is exactly where he should be. Such incredible improvement within a week surely qualifies him for being G&T!

minimathsmouse · 12/11/2010 22:41

No science? Have you spoken to the school about your concerns?

If you need a good report for the new school, then Homeschooling overcomes this. We have a gifted boy, with a good school report, however it mentions his dislike of team working and impatience with less able children within the group.

Schools are quite obsessed with social skills! and the better school will not be any less so.

However if they select on the basis of ability your son might find it easier to team work with other more able children.

activate · 12/11/2010 22:45

as you can't comment on his abilities maybe you should focus on his poor behaviour

there's no point being intelligent if you can't actually get on with people or deal with teachers

at 8 his social skills and behaviour should be a cause for your concern - don't hide in his perceived giftedness

ShrinkingViolet · 12/11/2010 22:51

it's perfectly possible that they haven't covered the "science topic/s" for this year yet, seeing as we've only had just over one half term. Have they been doing history or geography topics instead?

FWIW neither DD1 or DD2 have ever had "gifted" or similar in their reports, despite both being G&T - their schools have had seperate feedback for that; reports cover what they've actually been doing/have achieved during the term/year.

"very capable" in report-speak means "This child is on our G&T lists".

OTOH I've pulled a DC out of school in part because "I'm not doing any learning Mummy", but there were a lot of other reasons (mainly school refusing to accept there was a serious amount of low-level bullying going on, and the class teacher telling "come back and see me if (DD2) gets really miserable").

cat64 · 12/11/2010 22:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

vegasmum · 12/11/2010 22:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

piscesmoon · 13/11/2010 08:28

I agree with cat-is it a selective school if you need to show 'exceptional'? If so they will have their own tests and interview so I shouldn't worry.

'Schools are quite obsessed with social skills! and the better school will not be any less so. '

And rightly so! It is no good being very clever if you can't get on with anyone and are going to be miserable. You can't live in a bubble.

FreudianSlimmery · 13/11/2010 08:36

I sympathise with the report problem - they really are, in some schools, just a box-ticking exercise. My twin DSDs have had identical reports when they were in separate classes and have totally different abilities! nothing like the detailed, personal reports I remember getting.

The homeschooling is a different issue really, maybe you should start another thread on the home ed board :)

cubscout · 13/11/2010 17:04

My ds is on the G&T register at school and I have individual meetings with his class teacher every year to discuss how they will approach maths. He is working above level 6 (year 4 primary). Whilst individual teachers and SENCO have no problem actually using the term 'gifted', it has never been on his report. Again, they use phrases like 'exceptionally able'.

It's just report speak. Don't sweat about it

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