Bright 10yr old bored at school!

[Stargazey]

My DD has approx. 18 months left at primary school and for the past 2 yrs has been totally bored. She had always been top of the class (not bragging, honestly, it's just a fact! and perhaps a handicap) and is just not being stretched at all. I have tried talking to the school who have offered no help or suggestions but seem to give the impression that they take it as a personal slight on their abilities. After several pointless conversations with them we decided to wash our hands of them and write the next 18 mths off in the hope that when she goes to secondary school it will be better. But she is SO bored and unhappy and 18 mths is like a life time to a 10 yr old I really don't know how we're going to get through it and am concerned at the negative impact it will have in the meantime. Any suggestions please, anyone? Thank you

I was bored in school at a lot at that age. I guess I think it's really sad that you've had meetings with the school and feel that you have to completely write them off. One more try, maybe, if you could bring in some suggestions that you think they might actually be willing to try? As for me, what I would have liked is even just to have permission to read a novel in class when I was bored. I know - not a great solution - but if you really can't move schools, and you really don't have confidence that they will be more proactive, it might be worth supplying something for her to do yourself. Hopefully someone with better ideas will be along soon!

Can she not both do the work she has been set and expand on it? Surely she gets asked to write stories, can she not illustrate and bind them too, so that they fulfil the request of her teacher but give your daughter some personal joy and achievement too. Can you augment her education with websites, educational drop-in centres, private tuition, home tuition or some combination of the above. Can she not study the lives of famous Britons with you, like Dickens, Shakespeare, Chaucer, Cromwell and visit historic sites with you out of school and spend time in school embellishing projects from these outings? Can you not use the school as a support for her education which essentially you carry out as a family?

Thank you 'afussyphase' and 'learnandsay' for your comments, I am sure she is not alone. We do do an awful lot of what you suggest which she enjoys immensely, we're NT members and go to museums and galleries, and have also made bound projects but I think the novelty has worn off as she doesn't feel the teachers take any notice anyway. I tried suggesting this a few months ago when they did the Tudors (other periods of history ARE available!!) but she wouldn't be convinced, I think the damage has been done and she feels that when school is over for the day, that's it, apart from maths homework (that's all they get - no literacy) she doesn't want to know.

Are you thinking of trying for a grammar or an academic indie at secondary? If so you could plan extra work for her 1) to stretch her 2) might get into a more academic school. If money is an issue majority of indies offer means tested bursaries which might motivate her.

is it possible she doesn't seem bored in class and is in fact telling you this because she knows it gets you jumping up and down and makes you sympathetic for her?? Just a suggestion.

Well what does she do at home? Does she read? Write her own stories? Do MAths Puzzles, including Sudoku?
School is only a few hours, she can do a lot on enrichment out of school. It is especially good if they don't give them lots of homework, as it is likely any given would be mundane and boring too.
Tell her to get on with school and to produce the best work she can there (and there can be a world of difference between a bright pupil's work and a struggling one, for instance on "life in a Tudor Kitchen").
Going into school and telling teachers that your child is bore or a genius tends to annoy them; even more so if you try to tell them their job (btw Tudor is part of the National Curriculum so maybe send your criticism to the government instead). She can endeavour to work to a higher level in school, and then out of school she can follow her own interests, and it isn't all about you designing her nice projects, let her take charge of her own learning, it might surprise you.

How big is the school? What NC levels is she at?