Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Primary education

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

Very disappointing school report- summer tutoring required!

35 replies

AYoung · 24/07/2012 17:48

My son finished school on Friday and I am still in a state of shock concerning his end of year report. He has just turned 9 and has always received impressive reports from his tutors, so I was really disappointed to learn that he is struggling with Maths, English and French. My husband is rather angry, and thinks that he hasn't been concentrating in school, but I am starting to think that there might be another reason. He has always been good at Maths, but the teacher he has had this year shouts rather a lot and has made him hate the subject. I went through some work with him over the weekend, and I was really surprised at how flustered and anxious he was getting. I really don't know whether his change in attitude is due to the teacher, but I want to help him in any way that I can.

My son is a very bright boy, and we had been thinking about entering him for King's College Wimbledon and St Paul's next year, but I am now wondering whether we might have to rethink. I want to give him the best chance to excel and I was wondering whether I should find a summer tutor for him. We live in Wimbledon, but I was hoping for some advice from locals (we're quite new to the area) as opposed to just phoning the nearest tutorial agency.

Any help would be appreciated!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
exoticfruits · 24/07/2012 17:57

It would appear that he has always had tutors from your OP and 'he has always received impressive reports from his tutors'. Do you not think that he is over anxious with the pressure that you are putting on him - does you DH think that getting angry is going to help?Hmm

Maybe he has got the point where he can only cope one to one and a class teacher is difficult. I would rethink - find a school to suit him and not make him fit the school.

AYoung · 24/07/2012 18:02

Thanks very much for your reply. I think that my original post was slightly unclear- by 'tutors', I meant his school teachers. My son has never had private tutors outside school, which is why it seems like so much of a minefield now.

OP posts:
TangoSierra · 24/07/2012 18:04

Is he in a state or independent school at present?

TheFallenMadonna · 24/07/2012 18:06

In what way is he struggling?

Frontpaw · 24/07/2012 18:08

Why not try him on the good old Bond 10 min tests - age appropriate ones (so the 8-9 not 11+) and see how he gets on? If he has lost his focus or confidence, it may be an ides just to try building that up again. Speak to his teacher next term to voice your worries.

AYoung · 24/07/2012 18:09

He is at an independent school currently. I'm most concerned about the change in his performance in Maths because that used to be his favourite (and strongest) subject. We used to play games in the car when he was younger with mental arithmetic, and now he gets very flustered and nearly cried over the weekend when I tried similar problems with him. My son is quite a sensitive child, and I know that his teacher this year has been rather austere, but can a teacher's character really affect a student's performance like this?

OP posts:
TangoSierra · 24/07/2012 18:11

Yes, the teacher can have a great effect on the childs learning. Will he have the same teaher next year?

Frontpaw · 24/07/2012 18:14

Poor guy! Is he going into Y6 then? Are there 11+ clubs or groups? He may enjoy being in a gang of other kids working with a more sympathetic teacher.

SunflowersSmile · 24/07/2012 18:14

Bless him- it sounds like he needs to relax and enjoy his summer. Perhaps with a new teacher next year things will improve. He sounds like he is getting a complex about maths etc and perhaps everyone needs to 'back off' over the summer.

TheFallenMadonna · 24/07/2012 18:16

He's just finished year 4? Will he need to do entrance exams next year, or in year 6?

Frontpaw · 24/07/2012 18:18

I would assume it would be 11+ in year 6, or is there a 10+ at CC?

AYoung · 24/07/2012 18:19

Thank you all for your replies! I'm just worried because it looks as though he will have the same teacher next year, and he really doesn't want me to work with him over the summer- probably because he wants me to take him to various sporting events! I was wondering whether I should actually get him assessed before going ahead with any tutoring? I don't want him to see someone as 'heavy' as an Educational Psychologist, but does anyone know of a tutor/similar who conducts these sorts of assessments?

OP posts:
prettydaisies · 24/07/2012 18:20

You also say that you're quite new to the area. Has he had to change schools? This could also have affected things. Sounds like he needs a boost in confidence. Could you do this?

SunflowersSmile · 24/07/2012 18:24

I am still of the 'back off' view- however does the report give you a clue about what he finds difficult? I really do think you need to be gentle with him on all this. Maybe a word with the teacher next year [don't concern your son with this at the moment as it sounds like it would stress him].

ewee · 24/07/2012 18:27

If he was performing well at maths & you can trace his reversal to his current teacher (and also from what you describe), he may be developing something called maths anxiety. Seems this is now recognised as a real condition where some people just freeze when confronted with maths-related tasks - nothing to do with natural aptitude.

I have a friend who's daughter was in a similar position with maths. She found a tutor, somewhere in Kingston I think, who did broader assessments; she was quite impressed. I'll find out and PM you.

TheFallenMadonna · 24/07/2012 18:27

Assessed for what?

When you talk about a change in performance, what do you mean? Has he just lost his Maths mojo? Stalled in terms of levels? Struggled with new things? What does the teacher say?

TangoSierra · 24/07/2012 18:28

I agree with Sunflowers. Let it be for the summer. Speak to the teacher. Any sign of tutors at this stage when he is already feeling he is not good enough, is going to underline the fact that you and your dh think he is not good enough. Could be a receipe for disaster IMO

Tell the teacher that he has slipped this year and is upset about it. Ask if there is a clash of personalilities etc and that you are trying to find out why this has happened. Fingers crossed teacher will back off a bit, or even better it will be a different one.

Frontpaw · 24/07/2012 18:28

I would try the bond ten min papers as 'puzzle books' then you should get an idea. He is probably tired (as they get at the end of the year) and pushing now may be a little too much when all he wants is to relax!

AYoung · 24/07/2012 18:32

Ewee- that sounds perfect and I'd be really grateful if you could get back to me!

TheFallenMadonna- he's becoming flustered very easily and making careless mistakes where he used not to. He seems to be rushing his work just to get it out of the way, and may or may not show working. I'm shocked at how slapdash and messy he has let his work become, as it's very out of character. I'd like him to have an assessment whereby someone could judge his ability and see through any anxiety, if indeed that is his problem.

Obviously, I want my son to have a relaxing summer and we've got lots of nice things planned, but I just don't want to feel that by my doing nothing, I have let the problems get worse.

Prettydaisies- My son hasn't changed schools and he's still got the same friends- we've just moved from further out in Surrey.

OP posts:
SunflowersSmile · 24/07/2012 18:32

Let him relax. Let him play top trumps if he needs to be near numbers!
He sounds like he needs to chill.
However like Tango I do think you need to chat to his teacher next term [without him in the room if it would worry him].

ewee · 24/07/2012 18:35

Remember though, AYoung, that if he is anxious about doing maths, getting him assessed in that subject probably isn't going to help much - he'll just be anxious at that assessment!

I do sympathise with you, though. Yes, let him relax but equally, if there is an issue somewhere, I can understand that you might want to do something.

timetoask · 24/07/2012 18:39

In your OP you also mention english and french. Did you only receive an end of year report? My son received two reports, one end of december.

exoticfruits · 24/07/2012 19:24

but can a teacher's character really affect a student's performance like this?

Unfortunately it can. I had a terribly strict maths teacher at one point and I stopped asking him for any help. Sorry-I thought from tutors that you meant private tutors.
I agree that you need to chat to the teachers next term. Have you asked your DS what he thinks about a tutor?

lemonpie7 · 24/07/2012 22:41

You say he used to play number games in the car when he was younger, as an example of how much he used to enjoy maths.

sometimes children do well in a subject playing games with their parents, and learning at home. They learn a lot and enjoy it and show promise. At school they are ahead of theor peers and enjoy demonstrating their ready made knowledge and skills.

These children are not learning in lessons, they are simply practicing what they already know.

Sooner or later, the class moves onto something the parents HAVEN'T taught first. The child can then come a cropper, because although he may be good at learning 1:1 from parents, he may not have ever really learnt to learn in class situations in lessons.

In these circumastances the child becomes anxious, and drops down the class in subjects they previously excelled in.

All children of involved, caring, parents, who stimulte their children intellectually, are likely to find themselves in this situation sooner or later. Generally , the earlier the better, so they mess up in primary, not secondary.

If this is what has happened with your son, it is just a blip, at the transition between what he had learnt from you, and the leaning habits he now has to pick up at school. It might be worth spending some time setting him up to practice working independantly, with computer programmes or text books. This will help prepare him for next year.

I'm not saying son't employ a tutor, just that is a complwtly separate issue.

I hope you have a lovely summer holiday, and he starts next year feeling positive and empowered, however you end up doing ti.

exoticfruits · 25/07/2012 06:54

I think the problem is that he is flustered and anxious and he is probably picking it up from home. - especially from DH being 'rather angry'. How much does DH do with him? Does he play games like chess with him? I would relax with him over the summer and get him interacting with DH especially and having fun and get away from the fact that he supposed to 'perform'. Talk to the school next term.

Swipe left for the next trending thread