Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Loads of parents are moaning about parents'evenings

98 replies

veryweirdteacher · 15/10/2010 16:50

Are they a waste of time?

Do you ever find out anything you didn't know?
And my DH has to come home early so he can come long- or babysit.

As a teacher I used to find them a waste of time as well.

Does anyone, out of interest, know a school that doesn't have parents' nights? Not that I am looking, but just curious.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

StarExpat · 16/10/2010 19:15

As I said I would be happy to have the meetings either before school or during school (lunch or during my planning time as I have to do more at home after ds in bed anyway). Not after school. If I was in a British school with 30 students and they didn't give whole days for this (like the 2 day off for kids where we are booked up to meet with each parent) - then yes, I would agree. That's too much! I was only speaking from my situation.

StarExpat · 16/10/2010 19:22

If I were...

GhoulishNightsSpookyNights · 16/10/2010 20:18

Feenie No it wasn't originally about times but it was something that came up in the discussion I believe, as these things do.

Mrz It genuinely doesn't bother me, I've never been to a parent's evening that has run to time and most people seem to accept that as normal.

Yes, make a further appointment if it is clearly something requiring a longer meeting but is it not easier, and saving the teacher and parents involved time in the long run, to try and go through things there and then?

I'm not picking a fight here! Just wondering if we're all in that much of a hurry we can't be a little flexible sometimes.

Feenie · 16/10/2010 20:26

That's the bit that confused me - no one on this thread said that they couldn't.

GhoulishNightsSpookyNights · 16/10/2010 20:30

Got my knickers in a twist over nothing then!

Apologies for confusing the issue

As you were

Feenie · 16/10/2010 21:12

No bother

mnistooaddictive · 17/10/2010 07:34

Clam- secondary teachers do not send classes home at lunchtime. I have worked at many schools and none of them have sent classes home early on the 7 days a year we have parents evenings. We teach a full day, do 3 - 4 hours parents evening getting home at 10 then teach the next day.

Feenie · 17/10/2010 07:40

I think some do - one of our local high schools definitely does.

mnistooaddictive · 17/10/2010 07:59

The exception rather than the rule!

clam · 17/10/2010 08:56

My DC's one does, as does the school up the road from where I teach. We therefore get dozens of past pupils coming down to visit us, which is nice in a way, but effectively means we're supervising their kids while they're not.

To clarify, however, I'm mainly talking about evenings where the schools are open to prospective parents. They close at lunchtime, and the kids go in late the following morning.

Goblinchild · 17/10/2010 09:00

My son's secondary sends students home at lunchtimes for Parents' evenings and shuts for the day when it's Open Day/evening.
They then invite selected pupils back to take part in demonstration lessons.
Boy was very chuffed to be asked this year, it's usually only the virtuous who are chosen.

Gorionine · 17/10/2010 09:08

My DD, secondary closed for the afternoon when it was open evening. Parents evening is this Tuesday and she has not mentionned having the afternoon off on that day (yet, will probaly spurt it on me Tuesday morning!)

mrz · 17/10/2010 09:21

GhoulishNightsSpookyNights I wish all parents weren't bothered but some really don't feel (probably quiet rightly) they can spend the whole evening waiting for their turn and I have heard rumblings and the occasional argument

mnistooaddictive · 17/10/2010 09:21

I have known it for open evening but this is different as it is once a year as opposed to 7 or more parents evenings. The time was for us to put up displays and tidy rather than prepare what to say to parents. It was a desperate measure from a poor school trying to put on an act.

mrz · 17/10/2010 09:22

Secondary schools here often effectively close for the day - target setting in year groups in the morning /parents meetings in the afternoon

clam · 17/10/2010 09:30

I hate to say this........ but am going to anyway.... shouldn't the displays be fit to be seen by visitors at any time? Why do they need an extra afternoon to put them up?
Primary schools don't have that luxury, and I guess it's because there are many more childcare implications with us electing to close for a day/afternoon. I can just hear the outcry from WOTH parents.

StarExpat · 17/10/2010 09:34

Mrsz mine are long so don't typically run over but one year one did run over, which made everyone 8 mins behind so it also affected other teachers with siblings of students in my class. I keep to time or schedule more time another day, now.

mrz · 17/10/2010 09:41

GhoulishNightsSpookyNights Sat 16-Oct-10 20:18:12Yes, make a further appointment if it is clearly something requiring a longer meeting but is it not easier, and saving the teacher and parents involved time in the long run, to try and go through things there and then?
I'm not picking a fight here! Just wondering if we're all in that much of a hurry we can't be a little flexible sometimes.

I think teachers in general are very flexible (at all times) and yes if the issue can be sorted out there and then it is better but not at the expense of other parents. They have the right to see the teacher at roughly the time of their appointment.
Imagine you are parent number 30 with the last appointment of the evening and all the previous parents decided they wanted 25 mins instead of the allocated 10 ... oh dear Mrs GhoulishNightsSpookyNights we are running 5 hours late I hope you don't mind
Extreme I know ... but hope you see how it isn't only the teacher who is involved ??
What I personally do when arranging appointments is leave a 30 min gap half way through so that I can hopefully catch up and other parents aren't inconvenienced too much. I also try to ensure those parents I know from experience will want to talk longer have the last appointments

roundthebend4 · 17/10/2010 09:47

hmm ds year 9 his school shut for the day and was given slot to see his tutor , ours was 1,30 we got in at 1,50 was out by 1,54 really was waiste of tutors time and mine did not see any other teachers well othr than english teacher who wandered corridoor and said hi

clam · 17/10/2010 09:52

mrz those parents who will want to talk for longer are the last people I'm likely to put at the latest appointments! We'd be there all night.

Jux · 17/10/2010 09:54

We were always given a time at dd's primary. I'm not sure what happens at secondary as she's only just started and we haven't had one yet. I don't think they're a waste of time at all. It's a way of getting to know the teachers, of finding out what you can do to help and encourage your child, how they're doing generally, an opportunity to ask questions etc. I can't think why anyone would find them a waste of time.

mrz · 17/10/2010 10:18

clam normally the caretaker saves me asking if he can lock up

Feenie · 17/10/2010 10:19

God yes, you choose your last appointment people at your peril!

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread