Children from each year group taken out of class for session - why?

[theyetijumpedoverthemoon]

Pure curiosity on my part - one day this week DS and one child from each of the other classes in the school (except Reception) was taken to another classroom for what sounds like a Q&A session. DS didn't give loads of detail, but one question was "why is it important to have a good vocabulary?" The teacher then recorded their responses on her computer. This also happened earlier this year.

Curious to know what it was... possibly an ability thing as we've been told DS stands out, also the reason I don't want to put his teacher on the spot (no mention has been made this time or the last). Any ideas?

Children get taken out of classes like this for lots of reasons. This sounds like they are getting an overview of literacy teaching within the school, we often do them for a child's point of view on school behaviour, bullying, food selection in the canteen, practise asking students questions OFSTED might ask on an inspection visit etc to see if they know why they learn what they learn.

In terms of him being selected it is probably because the teacher knew he would clearly answer the question. Obviously there is often an overlap of good oracy skills and academic ability but for the purpose of the task a very bright but shy student would probably not be appropriate.

@Singleandproud thank you, I wasn't aware of sessions like this. Think you might have hit the nail on the head, the teacher running the session looks to be one of the school literacy leads

Quite often they take children that ofsted would pick to talk to, so anyone that stands out, e.g particularly high ability, FSM, LAC, poor attendance to prepare them for ofsted asking those questions

Sounds like they’re gathering a collection of ‘student voice’ feedback. Something Ofsted seem to value.

Subject leaders often do this for feedback purposes or “student voice”, it can highlight what is and isn’t working in terms of teaching.

My dc have all done this at various points. They are varying abilities and behaviour so I don't think it's always picked by that.
It's been for:
Ofsted
Student teacher research
Other research
Trying to find out what happened in a situation they'd witnessed in a subtle way (I found out later a child had accused a teacher of hitting them)

Thanks all, hadn't come across this before. DS seemed to enjoy it, anyway

It's assessment time. All the children have literacy assessments which are sent off to the govt for monitoring

Could also be governor visits. I’m a governor and we often do pupil forums when we visit school, we ask them all sorts of questions.

Yes, mine has done this for governors visits. She was told she was picked because she is talkative.

Erm..
No they don't!

He is a real bookworm so it would be seriously gaming the system if they used him to represent literacy in the class