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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Secondary teachers - yr7 parents evening

23 replies

roisin · 04/07/2011 18:45

In December we just went to see the subjects where he has several lessons a week: Maths, English, Science and MFL. Plus music and Tech as he has particular interests there and does extra-curric stuff.

This is because these are the core/crucial subjects, but also because teachers of other subjects often have several yr7 classes, so have long queues at parents eve!

ds2 is very keen that we should go and see more teachers this time. Please tell me it's not really necessary! Is anyone going to "judge" me for not bothering to queue to see them?

(Btw He's high achieving, on target or above target for everything, and very high effort grades for all subjects.)

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inthesticks · 04/07/2011 19:42

I never went to Art, PE, RE or Music in Y7. As long as they are getting A for effort and Attitude that's enough.
Always go to English, Maths, Sciences, Geog, History and MFL and I always see the form tutor.

In year 9 it's different because you are looking at GCSE subjects.
DS1 in Y10 now and I saw every teacher, including RE.

Original poster
roisin · 04/07/2011 20:14

Why Geog and History, but not Music and Art?

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GnomeDePlume · 04/07/2011 20:43

While I'm a great believer in the core subjects why not go to the others? You may find that your DS has talents you know nothing about.

DialMforMummy · 04/07/2011 21:31

If he is keen, do it for him. It sounds like it's important to him.
Otherwise, yes, I'd say that if he is doing well, it is not really necessary.

Original poster
roisin · 05/07/2011 07:19

This is really not the answer I expected! Shock Hmm...
I may have to reconsider.

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LawrieMarlow · 05/07/2011 07:21

I'd say it sounds like there is no "need" for you to go, but your DS2 has asked you so he must want you to. So maybe you could?

bigTillyMint · 05/07/2011 07:29

We only had one "proper" parents evening this year (Y7) - we saw Maths, English, Science, French, Spanish, History, Geography, PE(special interest), and Drama(teacher was free!).
If DD had wanted us to see others, we would have stayed.

overthemill · 05/07/2011 07:43

i think you should go with him to all subjects - from yr 7 its hard to be as involved in school and he obviously wants you to do so. Educationally there may be no need but he wants you involved and is probably proud of his achievments at grown up school. yr 7 is hard transition for many. go and do him proud!

Amaretti · 05/07/2011 09:23

My DS is in year 7 and i saw everyone at parent's evening. Except PE. I know he isn't gifted at it, I know he tries hard and there was no one at the desk when I finished with everyone else! I think DS liked me knowing who the teachers were when he talked about school - which i shall enjoy as long as it lasts!

Original poster
roisin · 05/07/2011 16:22

Crikey: how dedicated you all are - I feel duly chastised.
I'm sure we'll skip a couple, but I'll tell him to sign up and make appointments for as many as he likes.

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bruffin · 05/07/2011 18:28

We find there is never any queues for art,music, pe etc so just drop by to see them as we are passing.

HSMM · 06/07/2011 08:50

My DD had to make appointments for us to see her teachers. I couldn't help thinking that the teachers who she 'couldn't get appointments for' were the ones she didn't want us to talk to for some reason . We did see the main core subjects and a couple of others, but I wanted to talk to her music and food tech teachers too.

Only 1 parents evening per year.

Scholes34 · 06/07/2011 12:27

Go, and take him with you. It's good for him for the teachers to be able to speak directly so he knows how he's doing and what's expected of him.

Malcontentinthemiddle · 06/07/2011 12:33

I didn't go to art etc after year 7 - because there are always queues and the appointment system goes to pot, I have concentrated on the subbjects she seemed likely to do at GCSE. For example, she never liked ProDesign, she wasn't going to do it, I wasn't concerned about her progress in it, and there just isn't time to see everyone. Sometimes she asked me to go and see a teacher she really liked, and I'd try, but I did prioritise the 'core' subjects, I must admit.

inthesticks · 06/07/2011 16:54

roisin -sorry just come back to this.
I know people will disagree but I don't attach any importance to music or art. Both my DS's are hopeless at music and art and hate them. My feeling was that as long as they were working hard I didn't need to see the teacher.

RE is a funny one. I feel very strongly that there should be no religious teaching in schools and yet both boys have enjoyed the moral and ethical discussions in RE.

OddBoots · 06/07/2011 16:58

Sounds like he is very proud of what he has done this year if he really wants you to see all the teachers.

Talker2010 · 07/07/2011 19:17

Frankly I cannot believe that he wants you to see everyone and you are even considering not doing so

Presumably in Y8 and Y9 when he is saying "I do not bother working in @@@@@@, I only try in the Core subjects" you will support him completely

Perhaps you could send a letter to the teachers of subjects that you place little value on so that they understand that they do not need to make any effort with your son ... they could cut down on their marking and preparation if a few people did this

Original poster
roisin · 07/07/2011 21:42

Ha ha ha! That made me ROFL Talker.
It's funny talking to strangers who have no idea of me, my kids, or their school.
It's not your fault, but you are way off beam. x

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Clary · 07/07/2011 22:47

roisin we went to see maths, english, history, geography, music (!), MFL, DT and art and drama (but that was mainly because teacher was free).

I would have seen more but food tech and PE teachers weren't there. TBH I wanted to see as many as poss because I am so worried about DS1 - quite the opposite to yr DS I suspect Grin - so I really wanted everyone to tell me how it was going.

Actually the person who gave me the most useful feedback was the music teacher! The English teacher was susprisingly enthusiastic (DS not a great reader/write) adn the maths teacher was disappointingly downbeat Sad

Anyway I would go and see as many as yr DS wants you to. But we won't judge you if you don't Wink

Clary · 07/07/2011 22:48

OOh and science too, gosh we were busy!

Original poster
roisin · 08/07/2011 18:32

Well, so far he's only managed to make 2 appointments and the P.Eve is Wed.

I'll let you all know how many we manage to see.

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Original poster
roisin · 12/07/2011 17:17

5 appointments made so far ...

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Original poster
roisin · 13/07/2011 18:52

We saw 11 teachers and it only took 75 mins, so not bad going.
Apart from core, there were quite a few staff we'd not met before, so that was a positive thing to do.

I was very impressed by lots of the teachers and their passion for their subjects.

For the record we did not go and see IT, PE or Dance.

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