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Original poster

10 things you probably would not expect about primary schools

425 replies

meredeux · 18/04/2012 12:18

Come and help me make a list for all those parents out there who are about to send their children to school for the first time. What did know one tell you but you learned through experience?

Here is my first one:
YOU (the parent) will teach your child to read. The school will provide reading books and someone (probably not the teacher) will listen to your child for a few minutes at a time in the first couple of years maybe once a week but your child will learn to read because you will teach them that (using the school's reading books which the teacher will issue).

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Original poster
meredeux · 20/04/2012 09:26

All I, as a parent, want to get from parents night is:-

  1. How is my child doing in the main subjects (please don't tell me that (s)he's not in the bottom 20% and leave it at that because its not illuminating enough)
  2. Are there any issues?
  3. Is his/ her behaviour good?
  4. Is there anything you would like me to work on with him/her at home?

What's so difficult about that?

OP posts:
Original poster
meredeux · 20/04/2012 09:33

If teachers really did take responsibility for teaching children to read, then the children would be able to read. But 1/5th don't reach level 4 (which is not very high at all)

"according to chief schools inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw......
Reading standards had not improved since 2005, he said, and one in five 11-year-olds did not make the grade."

PS IMO This is not the teacher's fault... its successive governments' fault for cramming too much other stuff into schools and civil servants for obsessing about collecting statistics, rather than let the teachers do what they went to teaching college to learn to do.

OP posts:
Chandon · 20/04/2012 09:36

dikkertjedap,

sadly my experience mirrors yours (and the OP's).

I just wish I had KNOWN! So I would have been prepared IYSWIM. I naively thought the DC would learn to read and write at school. With DS2 I was wise to this, but we are still playing catch up with poor DS1....

DH calls school "State funded child care".

Original poster
meredeux · 20/04/2012 09:37

sorry forgot to post the reference for the quote above www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17368311

OP posts:
seeker · 20/04/2012 09:37

"All I, as a parent, want to get from parents night is:-

  1. How is my child doing in the main subjects (please don't tell me that (s)he's not in the bottom 20% and leave it at that because its not illuminating enough)
  2. Are there any issues?
  3. Is his/ her behaviour good?
  4. Is there anything you would like me to work on with him/her at home?

What's so difficult about that?
Nothing. Ask the questions and you should get the answers. If you don't, go to the Head.

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 20/04/2012 09:40

margoandjjerry - yes re the cash money - lots of pound coins for the moment they are walking out the door an casually remind you that there is a 'voluntary' contributiom to be made today fr the latest charitable fad.
Aso, you will get through a whole cheque book every September for clubs etc.

Original poster
meredeux · 20/04/2012 09:48

seeker - I am guessing you are a teacher?

For me, a typical experience goes like this:-
arrive 10 mins before appointed time and go through the books that are left out. Then contemplate the queue and try to work out when you will get into to see the teacher, as they are invariably running late. Then when you do get into the class, the teacher apologises for the late-running (though as a parent I can see that it is not her fault) and then she talks about NC levels for a bit. If I want to ask questions, she refers to the NC levels again ("expected level of progress" is an over-used phrase) and then my time is up.

OP posts:
seeker · 20/04/2012 09:55

I'm not a teacher.

If the teacher refers to NC levels, then you have a very clear idea of where your child is in relation to other children of the same age. Not sure what you're looking for?

And if you don't ask the questions you want answers to, then you can't really expect to get the answers you want!

And if you're not satisfied with the parents evening - which are usually a bit of a bun fight- make a separate appointment.

MrsTruper · 20/04/2012 10:01

Do not expect the school to bring out the full potential of your child. If you want a good education for your child expect to top up at home (and I don't just mean standard homework and reading.)

LittleFrieda · 20/04/2012 10:02

There's a massive difference in the information delivered during parents' evening at a state school, versus parents' evening at an independent school. And not just because Independent school teachers speak English.

At my reception-age son's (state school) first ever consultation they said he was working within 10. All I could say was "how extraordinary" because he can add, subtract and divide confidently with huge numbers. He asks questions like "how long would it take to count to a googol?". Numbers are a very big part of who he is, and they've somehow missed it. It makes me sad because they don't know him AT ALL.

Yet at my sons' independent school, they tell me things about them that I don't know. They know their strengths and weaknesses and know them exceptionally well.

My older sons' state primary school was excellent too. But back in those days they didn't talk to you in that foreign tick-box National Curriculum way. they talked to me about MY children.

Original poster
meredeux · 20/04/2012 10:04

no seeker, telling me that my child is a level 3 really is not illuminating, unless he's in year 1 or 2 or 5 or 6!

OP posts:
seeker · 20/04/2012 10:07

So what don you want to be told?

You should be told 3 and a subset, by the way.

seeker · 20/04/2012 10:11

"And not just because Independent school teachers speak English".

I can'r believe I just read that. There has been some offensive bollocks spouted on this thread, but that just takes my breath away.

Original poster
meredeux · 20/04/2012 10:40

"And not just because Independent school teachers speak English".

Did you mean as opposed to teachers who have poor English (even though they are native speakers) and make basic spelling mistakes? (I know there is a glaring one in my OP BTW!)

OP posts:
Original poster
meredeux · 20/04/2012 10:41

seeker - please feel free to look away if you find the thread offensive

OP posts:
LittleFrieda · 20/04/2012 10:41

seeker - You really are the princess of taking offence. I meant as opposed to speaking National CUrriculum, as I said up thread. Grin

Original poster
meredeux · 20/04/2012 10:47

What would I like to be told... let's use maths as an example... I'd like to be told that he has a firm grasp of his times tables and can add and subtract any magnitude of whole numbers, so the next thing is to learn how to divide a single digit number into a three digit number and to work on his geometry a bit more as he's not as strong on the properties of 3D shapes.

OP posts:
seeker · 20/04/2012 10:49

Ok. I think a thread where people spout ignorant nonsense about the schools that 93% of the population send their children is foolish and will be very alarming to many people. The are bad things about any school. Saying that because x school does this all similar schools do the same is just silly. And irresponsible. And people have said some very silly things on this thread.

Original poster
meredeux · 20/04/2012 10:51

especially you, seeker

OP posts:
seeker · 20/04/2012 10:52

Well, maredeux, if you know what nationa. curriculum level he's working at, then you'll be able to answer that question. Ask for a copy of the framework, and bob's your uncle.

If you don't ask, you won't get the answers. Teachers aren't psychic.

Original poster
meredeux · 20/04/2012 11:00

Why do we have primary schools in the UK? Is it to educate children in English and maths with a little science, maybe some French (or German or Spanish), some History, some basic Geography, simple art, a little music and some PE ? Or provide childcare? Or some other reason?

If its the first reason, then that's what they should do and, I suspect, that's what parents of 4 year old are thinking that they will get from the school that their child goes to.

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sherbetpips · 20/04/2012 11:01

They are not allowed to cuddle and comfort kids. I am well aware why but when he was in infants I saw my little guy several times want to give teacher a hug and she would have to recoil away. He couldnt care less in Juniors now!

You will also have to do several homework projects that are impossible for a 4 year old to do!

sherbetpips · 20/04/2012 11:02

hmm this thread seems to have upset a few teachers!

seeker · 20/04/2012 11:03

It's obviously the first. And that is what the vast majority of children in the country get. Notice I did not say all. There are crap schools in all sectors.

LittleFrieda · 20/04/2012 11:04

I actually don't want my child's teacher to waste my annual 10 minutes 1:1 with her to look down a list and tell me that he's working securely within 10 and can name and identify 3D shapes or whatever. (I already know these things about my child, and more.) I want her to tell me what he's like in school and comment on how I might help him at home to hold his pen better or whether he is disorganised getting changed for PE or lonely at playtime.

Young hildren learn very unevenly, so concentrating on levels is utterly stupid.