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Original poster

Can schools refuse to show school work to parents

53 replies

shouldhavetakenmorenotice · 30/03/2023 08:46

DD informed me that her teacher said she wasn't allowed to show me her PSHE school book during an end of term stat and share.

I contacted the school to understand if DD had misunderstood almost two weeks ago. I've heard nothing.

I can't find anything clear on the schools website.

Are primary schools allowed to do this? I'm not concerned about the content, I'm more worried about the principle. Especially given the cover of the Times today.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 30/03/2023 08:47

Have you got nothing better to do?

MichelleScarn · 30/03/2023 08:48

Hoppinggreen · 30/03/2023 08:47

Have you got nothing better to do?

Than be worried that school are telling her child to not tell their parent what they're learning?

Eranzer · 30/03/2023 08:53

I agree, it's the principle. Could you see her other books, just not PSHE? Have you asked her why her teacher said that?

Hoppinggreen · 30/03/2023 08:54

Well first of all it’s very unlikely a teacher actually said this.
You either trust a school to teach your child or you don’t and it sounds like OP does but is pursuing a “Principle”

JackHackettsMac · 30/03/2023 08:56

Just remind them of their obligations under GDPR and request them to provide the workbook for your scrutiny.

Eranzer · 30/03/2023 08:56

Hoppinggreen · 30/03/2023 08:54

Well first of all it’s very unlikely a teacher actually said this.
You either trust a school to teach your child or you don’t and it sounds like OP does but is pursuing a “Principle”

Agreed it sounds like it must be a misunderstanding. If it's not, it's good that OP is looking into it.

ladykale · 30/03/2023 08:59

Hoppinggreen · 30/03/2023 08:47

Have you got nothing better to do?

What a bizarre when a parent wants to know what her primary school child is being taught! Of course you should have the right to know OP!

PinkyU · 30/03/2023 09:02

What are you concerned about? It would very unlikely that the teacher has said not to show a work book, perhaps your child didn’t want to show you? What age is your dc?

Nimbostratus100 · 30/03/2023 09:03

maybe it is not available due to being at home for marking or similar? And you will be able to ask to see it another time?

Timealonewhatsthat · 30/03/2023 09:04

I’m not sure about schools showing parents work but I do know that home educating parents do not have to show any examples of work to the LA they just have to describe the work in their yearly report but are under no obligation to provide samples of work so maybe it’s the same with schools and parents ?

Nailsandthesea · 30/03/2023 09:05

What? Why do you need to see it?

maybe the teacher was marking it? Maybe not books get taken home? Maybe a million reasons?

Hoppinggreen · 30/03/2023 09:07

Nailsandthesea · 30/03/2023 09:05

What? Why do you need to see it?

maybe the teacher was marking it? Maybe not books get taken home? Maybe a million reasons?

“On Principle” apparently

underneaththeash · 30/03/2023 09:08

Are you sure they even have one? None of my three children did written work in PHSE.

Original poster
shouldhavetakenmorenotice · 30/03/2023 09:08

Hoppinggreen · 30/03/2023 08:47

Have you got nothing better to do?

No

OP posts:
Oopswediditagain2023 · 30/03/2023 09:13

Are you sure she hasn't misunderstood? Ie you might be referring to a work book, but she might be referring to a text book that they keep in school all the time? At my kid's primary they have old text books that they aren't allowed to remove from the classroom

Original poster
shouldhavetakenmorenotice · 30/03/2023 09:14

To clarify my original post - I've emailed the school to see if this is a misunderstanding. DD is eight.

If there isn't a book or the book is being marked or any of the rest of it that's perfectly reasonable.

The gap in communication does make me wonder. The teacher is usually quick to respond. I understand it's end of term though and they might be busy.

If DD has reported this accurately it's a concern, not because I'm worried about the content of the book and everything to do with the safeguarding principle.

The fact that this isn't mentioned on the website makes me think DD got the wrong end of the stick, but I want reassurance that I can see any of my primary school child's work if I want to.

OP posts:
greenthumb13 · 30/03/2023 09:15

My child often gets the wrong end of the stick. Just clarify before jumping to conclusions

Original poster
shouldhavetakenmorenotice · 30/03/2023 09:16

JackHackettsMac · 30/03/2023 08:56

Just remind them of their obligations under GDPR and request them to provide the workbook for your scrutiny.

That's what I want to know - does GDPR give guidance. That's why I put this in legal matters and not AIBU

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 30/03/2023 09:16

shouldhavetakenmorenotice · 30/03/2023 09:08

No

Show quote history

The school probably has

MynameisJune · 30/03/2023 09:18

Here’s a novel idea, pick the phone up and call the school.

Original poster
shouldhavetakenmorenotice · 30/03/2023 09:18

@Hoppinggreen - you sound like part of the problem

OP posts:
7Worfs · 30/03/2023 09:19

Considering there is no national curriculum for PHSE and schools can get materials from 3rd parties with dubious agendas, I’d say you absolutely need to see the materials.

Soapboxqueen · 30/03/2023 09:21

Afaik there isn't anything specific about school work. You can request access to their 'educational record' but that seems to be more about grades, communications about a child within school etc. I've no idea if this could be stretched to mean school books.

Most schools hand out books at the end of the year but that's mostly about getting rid of them. Sometimes work is retained by the school for ofsted etc

Obviously there could be a few reasons why the teacher couldn't put the books out for parents; they weren't marked, they were be scrutinised by another member of staff, the cat was sick in them, there's literally nothing on them 🤷🏻

However, I would be concerned if I wasn't allowed to know what was in the books.

I'd keep on at the school. Give them a ring and say you'd like to get to the bottom of what's happened. Be persistent.

7Worfs · 30/03/2023 09:22

If you have safeguarding concerns (I would, in your shoes), I’d go to the FWR board - many threads about similar issues.

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 30/03/2023 09:24

I would call the school to follow up, as they haven't responded.

Be prepared for them to say they can't show you the book because it's commercially sensitive (meaning they use bought in PSHE materials).

Posters on the feminism sex and gender board will have more expertise on this. The Times has been running a lot of articles on this topic as well. There is a fairly substantial risk that the school are teaching a whole load of crap about gender that contravenes DfE guidance.

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