What's the issue with ballpoint pens (or not)?!

[AChickenCalledKorma]

DD2 is in year 6. They are allowed to bring their own pencil cases. But apparently pens must be "handwriting pens". No ballpoints. Not even the nice, flowing ink ones that write like a dream and are much longer-lasting than the fibre-tipped handwriting pens that seem to dry up within a week.

Just ... why? What's the issue? Especially for a child who has been writing legibly and fluently with a pen for about four years now!!

I know it's a small thing, but it's got under my skin and I don't want to go shopping for EVEN MORE new pens

I did some transition work with y6 teachers last year. I was GOBSMACKED when I saw their y6 literacy books. So neat! Such beautiful writing! But then the teachers admitted they have the time during a full day with a class to prompt about handwriting - I have an hour and I need them to get content on the page; I don't have time to worry about handwriting.

Purple pens drive me crackers. I am judged by SLT on if there is enough purple pen in my books showing students improving their work, but they provided 30 pens a year ago. Funnily enough, I'm running rather low, but they are not replaced. I bought 40 myself this weekend so I don't get in trouble on learning walks.

The teacher may have the class for the full day but the beautiful work will have been completed in a lesson lasting an hour or less. Our Y6 pupils have a subject teacher for English who sees them for an hour a day.
It's annoying as a teacher and parent that we put so much effort into presentation in primary and it goes out the window within weeks of beginning secondary. The hard work has been done in primary, all secondary teachers need to do is refuse to accept less and insist on high quality presentation for every piece of work.

DD1's secondary school has brought in a big focus on presentation. No doodling, lines drawn with rulers, work laid out neatly, everyone with a fully equipped pencil case. (No purple pens yet, though, thankfully!)

I must admit I had been getting quite irritated at the amount of time DD2 still spends in year 6 practicing her handwriting (which has been very neat and legible for about five years now), when she seems to spend barely any time practicing other stuff that seems a bit more vital. But I do seem the point about valuing good presentation. And I guess the habits translate to setting out typed work beautifully in due course?

DD's stationary list for Y6 runs to an entire, cramped page of A4. It includes a white board wipe, white board pens in three colours, fountain pen, 12 coloured pencils, 2 x plain pencils, the dreaded 'handwriting pen', fineliners, highlighter, rubber, ruler, pencil sharpener 'must have a sharpenings reservoir', - and then mentions a 'small' pencil case - as if it would all fit in!

Sounds familiar PettsWoodParadise. DD's list cost over £50 and she is only in the equivalent of foundation!

My pet hate is cursive writing done with a blunt pencil grrrrr. It just looks so messy. Give me a biro or handwriting pen any day.

Are state schools really asking parents to provide £50 of stationery?

DD doesn't go to a UK state school mrz.

Phew!

I didn't buy it all in 1 go as we kept getting further lists and add ons etc like we haven't got enough to do but go stationary shopping 10 times at the start of school year () I'll guestimate a good €70 to €80 per dc. And I have 4. Not to me tin putting up to €50 in the class kitty again per dc at start of school year.