AIBU to expect more from primary school

[instantquest]

The school motto is about achieving but every time we go to parents evening we are told everything is fine, there's nothing we need to do or work on with our DDs. They are both middle of the road - we would like to help at home to help them up but there seems to be a distinct lack of enthusiasm around this and almost like it would be out of place to talk about it! I'm wondering why this is?

It also seems quite taboo among parents at the school to talk about achieving and if for example tutoring was mentioned it would be probably be met with eye rolling or confusion.

One of our DDs (Year 4) started off well but has nose dived a bit, the reports have steadily got worse and her abilities in music/art aren't being recognised, it's blindingly obvious to us these are her strengths but they are getting completely missed. I've spoken to teachers about it but all I get is well I'm sure she'll continue to do well next year, it's not really acknowledged.

How would you recommend broaching it with school again?

If you expect more from school, you need to put more effort in yourselves in the first place? Do the report not say anything about targets etc? It's quite easy to find the resources to help at home if you know what to work on, especially dc is doing good and not struggling. Music and art, does she show passion during lessons? My dc is very artistic, and put so much effort in to his work. It was always recognised by teachers.

I would let them know you are still concerned and ask what you can do at home to support her learning.

This is what you think about in the middle of the school holidays? Another thread complaining about how schools/teachers are failing.

Wow.

Don’t get your primary children tutors!

I’m a secondary teacher, whenever I speak to parents who want to get their children tutors, or think they should be doing better or think they’re not being pushed enough etc. I ask them to think about their mental health. Do you really want your children constantly being pushed and pushed, or if they’re happy and doing well and enjoying school would you rather they are mentally well balanced. By all means in their GCSE years push them to do their very best, but not in year 4!

If you think her talents are in art and music, does she have music lessons out of school? Attend extra art groups? Etc. What more do you want school to do for her?

@BlessYourCottonSocks

This is what you think about in the middle of the school holidays? Another thread complaining about how schools/teachers are failing.

Wow.

I think that’s a bit harsh.

OP I would wait and let your DDs settle into their new classes in Sept and then raise it with their new teachers. It does sound like it’s a bit of a school culture though - is it a school where they struggle to maintain children on track so all their efforts are focused on that? If so, I’m not suggesting it’s a bad school, it can happen for a variety of reasons that can be out of the school’s control completely.

I am a primary school teacher btw.

As terrible as this will sound, Music and Art at primary school are often squeezed out by all the core subject teaching. If they are taught fairly regularly, it's often not by a teacher who is confident in those subjects. So yes, every chance your daughter's strength in these subjects is being missed. Unfortunately, that's how the government want schools to be these days.

If you have the means, classes outside of school are the way.

For music talent to shine, one of the fellow parent in my school started tradition of music concert in our school. Her dd was learning a musical instrument but nowhere to show case her talent. So the mum went above and beyond and arranged with music teachers/pta/slt in school to have concert. That went well, and became the regular thing. Maybe you can try that too?

Op we have a similar attitude in our school. Her music however would probably be recognised in our school as we have a good music teacher.

As pp said maybe give it one term but then think about tutors.
A good Tutor won't push your child op and will simply be Mrs Simpson who comes round for an hour on a Tuesday.
It's not good for a child's mental health to be failing at school and going under the radar. With a good tutor your buying a bespoke education. Go for it op!!