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Original poster

Just been hauled into HT office !!!!!! I'm so mad !

215 replies

alisonmc · 15/03/2007 09:29

Hi all,
I hate my DS school! At my DS school I am probably the only parent that actively tries to help DS with his work. We read every night, he likes doing sums and other spelling activities...........so what is the problem - here goes:
a) We as parents "we are working against the school" by showing DS different methods of addition and subtraction, etc (see previous posts);
b) HT is worried about DS socially "does he do any activities outside school, has he got any friends, etc, are we putting too much pressure on him" - felt like saying FO!
c) HT is "very cross that I have obtained past SATs papers and DS has done them - well I might add!"
d) HT had DS in office on Monday for an incident "but was sorted out at the time, so no need to tell you about it" - until today that is !!!!
e) HT wants a meeting with DH & myself "to put us back on the right track!"

How ludicrous can this be ? There are thousands of children that get no help or support with their work, have severe home lives, etc - but a child who has loving and caring parents, great social life and home life is getting all this........

I am absolutely livid !

OP posts:
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foxinsocks · 15/03/2007 13:06

it almost certainly won't be a level 2 question

ScummyMummy · 15/03/2007 13:07

I couldn't do that mentally. Well, maybe if I my life depended on it but i'd wet my pants with the stress. If I was 7 I'd start wearing a casio calculator watch.

Enid · 15/03/2007 13:07

being herded to loads of clubs is NOT down time

mooching about the house doing admin or reading or fighting with your siblings or running around in the garden is down time

homemama · 15/03/2007 13:07

Actually, Enid, that's very close to a question on the Year4 practice SATS paper. Even then it's on the written paper with space for working out rather than in the mental test.

Enid · 15/03/2007 13:08

phew

Original poster
alisonmc · 15/03/2007 13:08

I have just spoken to the HT regarding a meeting and advised that DH was not happy either with the comments made to me this morning. Strangely, her diary is very full for the next week or so - I wonder why ?

Yes, that sum was taken directly from a level 2 SATs paper that my son did earlier this year. Needless to say he got the answer wrong because he COULD NOT do the sum in the way he had been taught !

OP posts:
lulumama · 15/03/2007 13:09

if that is a year 2 SAT question, DS is doomed !

zippitippitoes · 15/03/2007 13:10

256+97+68

how would you do this?

I would add 100 to 256 and take three off 253

then add 70 and get 323 and take 2 off =321

is that the answer or the method?

homemama · 15/03/2007 13:11

Do you mean a Y2 SATs paper? Just for the record, children get marks for showing their working but this working can take any form they like.

I'm sorry, I'm very surprised that a HT would 'haul' you into their office, read the riot act, demand a meeting to sort the situation then say they aren't free for weeks. [hmmm]

ScummyMummy · 15/03/2007 13:11

Well I'd be stunned if my nearly 8 year olds could do it and they did fine in their sats last year, apparently. Without casio calculator watches. So don't worry, lulumama.

foxinsocks · 15/03/2007 13:12

I'm sorry alison, I think you're talking rubbish.

After your last thread, I had a quick look at the SATS papers in the bookshop and they had things like

24 - what = 14 and ordering numbers..

hardest sum I saw on the level 2 paper was adding 48 and 27. The majority of it was basic addition, subtraction and a TINY amount of multiplying and division.

Nothing like that question was on it other than in the back bit for a higher level and G&T.

cornsilk · 15/03/2007 13:12

256+97+68
For this question you could add 100 instead of 97 and adjust by 3.
Some of the questions are very difficult on the SATS papers. Some children are gifted mathematicians from a young age and can easily pick up different techniques and apply them mentally. Some chidren find them very difficult. Children aren't expected to get every question right. Mistakes made on SATS papers are analysed so that teachers can pick up on the areas that a child is struggling with.

homemama · 15/03/2007 13:13

They get points for both, Zippi though the answer is 421

TheWillowTree · 15/03/2007 13:13

Just a quick point on methods in maths - not every child can understand all methods however good they are.

If i did not understand something in maths I NEEDED to be shown a diffrent way to get over the hurdle in my mind. No amount of showing me the same way again and again would work.

My brother however, needed reinforcement of the same method several times until he understood it.

If alison's ds is like me he needs a different way to understand the concpet and probably now can understand the 'string' method (haven't a clue what that is thankfully) but just dismisses it as being long winded and cumbersome in fafvour of the method his brain prefers.

As for showing workings, that used to annoy me in school - why on earth should i waste my time writing out 10 steps when my brain used to do it in 8? So what if it would lose me 'marks' - if I got the right answer (surely the expected outcome for a problem?)

Original poster
alisonmc · 15/03/2007 13:15

I am not talking rubbish. DS teacher SHOWED us the SATS paper the class had taken at last weeks parents evening - I thought at the time the sum was too hard ! I was told that the papers they all did were Level 2. I can only go on what I saw and was told by DS teacher.

OP posts:
zippitippitoes · 15/03/2007 13:15

there you are I would get no marks unless I showed my working

lulumama · 15/03/2007 13:17

phew !

think the OP has the best of intentions re her son,but high , high expectations can be counterproductive, even with the brightest of children.you become defined by your academic ability and push yourself to do well, because it pleases the adults around you

my DS is 7, average, works hard, we do homework, we do a bit of extra reading and spelling, or we;ll be out somewhere, i;ll point at something, and ask him what it says... i want him to play, use his imagination, kick a ball around with his friends...plenty of time for pressure and stress and exam papers later , IMHO

SSShakeTheChi · 15/03/2007 13:19

I think, you know alison, what has really (and I think understandably) got your back up are these very arrogant comments: - the HT is "cross" with you for what you have been doing at home and wants to put you "back on the right track." I mean honestly, you are not naughty pupils at her school but adults. That kind of comment is exceedingly unhelpful and I would be on the warpath if I got spoken to in that way too. There are various ways of putting that basic message across which would have elicitated a different response from you.

I do feel it is your business how you choose to support the school's teaching at home, in particular if you have an academic background yourself, teaching experience and are generally dissatisfied with the academic attainment at that school. (Here again though I do think longer term, you need to look around for a school that is more in tune with your own aims).

Perhaps at this meeting, you will have the opportunity to raise concerns about the quality of teaching/amount of homework/facilities for encouraging good learners or whatever it is seems lacking at school.

Good luck. Take a deep breath, write a nasty letter and vent all your wrath. Then throw it away and write a list of things you'd like to discuss with the HT.

homemama · 15/03/2007 13:20

There is a difference between a level 2 question on a year6 SATs paper and a level 2 on a Year2 SATs paper.

Enid · 15/03/2007 13:21

I bet she didnt say 'cross'

alisons interpretation

also 'back on the right track' may have meant as far as your relationshiop with the school goes

cornsilk · 15/03/2007 13:24

Why did the teacher show you that question on parent's evening?

TheWillowTree · 15/03/2007 13:34

High expectations do not have to be defined by academic ability. I have very high expectations of my dc's but I am very careful to make sure I praise the effort and not the result.

So if dd has worked hard and tried her very best (but not maybe got the 'right' answer) i am much happier than, for example if she sailed through getting the answer 'right' with no real effort.

Original poster
alisonmc · 15/03/2007 14:13

HT did say "very cross" - and "put us back on the right track" in respect to DS learning - meaning their way ! It was like being back at school again !

We were shown examples of DS work, one of which happened to be a SATs paper that he took earlier in the year.

I have no expectations of my son - only that he tries his best and is a good kind boy. Whatever he achieves is marvellous as he is our only precious child (unfortunately we cannot have any more) so he is quite spoilt in terms of love and material things in addition to the support we give him in terms of his education. Just because I achieved academically and DH is a nurse does not mean we want him to follow our lead - just to be a happy boy will do us fine. If he wants to learn that is great too.

OP posts:
PrincessPeaHead · 15/03/2007 14:15

you have no expectations of your son yet you set him SAT papers to do at home?

In the emoticon of the great Codster

think I shall parp myself on this one

Tortington · 15/03/2007 14:22

i was once told to stop my children from reading the Hobbit - when they were in primary school - becuase it was too advanced

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