Year 8 options - have a few questions for other parents or teachers of this year group - would really like some perspective before speaking with the school. Thanks!

[TroublesomeEx]

Hi

My son is currently in year 8. We haven't had a parents evening this academic year so we have no idea how he is doing other than his end of year assessment levels from yr7. He doesn't bring school books home from school (they don't have lockers so the teachers keep the books) - we don't even get chance to look in his books when he does homework because he doesn't really get any!

He gets the occasional online maths homework (he had some this week but this is the first lot he's had since September/October); his homework consists of "find out a little bit about..." in preparation for classwork but even then perhaps only once a month or so. He's had to do an assessment for a couple of subjects for homework - but neither was done in books but on the computer and printed out; and he gets a shopping list for cookery. The lack of homework is across all subjects. So we don't get to look inside his books for teachers comments, feedback on homework.

Firstly, is this common?

Secondly, he is choosing his options this year and we're a bit confused/befuddled/getting ahead of ourselves/justifiably concerned!

We have a parents info evening in the middle of Feb., there's an options workshop towards the end of Feb., and the final options have to be in the following week. Parents evening is not until 3 weeks after that.

So is this normal? I remember all the advice about choosing subjects you're good at and not the one's your friends are doing etc, but without any feedback/consultation with parents how on earth are we supposed to support him in his choices?!

I know what subjects he wants to do, and I am supportive of these, but don't know if the combinations he wants to do are possible, the implications for A Levels, how he is likely to do in them...

It's an outstanding state comprehensive in an affluent area with very supportive parents. To me, there just seems to be a disparity.

What are other people's experiences of this? thanks.

Folkgirl - an hours homework per night is certainly not the norm in our experience and I know our school is not alone on this. More like half an hour on some nights and virtually nothing on other nights.
I discovered that there are lots of things that the teachers suggest the pupils do e.g. online language websites, that most of the pupils disregard as they are "optional". Its good to get a list of them from the teachers and then coerce your son to doing them regularly.
My rule is that if ds has no homework then he has to do at least 20 mins on each of two of the suggested websites. I'm not very concerned about lack of homework itself but more that ds gets into the habit of sitting down each night for a short time. The homework will definitely come through in the following years.
One other tip - does your ds have any classmates with siblings in the older years? If so, maybe get in touch with their parents and ask if you can have a chat with them. They will have a ton of experience and it may help you understand how the school works and ends up with the great results.

would be interested to hear how you get on at the meetings etc.

I spoke with the mum of a year 9 child last year. She said that he didn't get much homework either and she was worried given the GCSE workload he'd face the following year!

I think my biggest fear is that the school does so well because of lots of pushy mums at home and my DS will lose out because he doesn't have one!!

I have 2 DDs, one in YR8 and one in YR9. Their school is changing this year from choosing options in YR9 to choosing in YR8. This means that over the next fortnight we will be making choices for both.

The reason the school gave for the change was the EBacc. All children with a certain CAT score or higher are encouraged to choose the EBacc subjects, and the school were afraid that, once this happened, they would have fewer children choosing the Design/Technology/Arts/Performing Arts subjects. These might then cease to be viable options. For this reason they choose earlier and thus have more time to dedicate to their choices - KS4 is YRs 9 - 11 and not just 10 & 11. I suppose the change means that they have time to do the subjects above as well as the EBacc subjects because they are not 'wasting time' on subjects they don't want to proceed with in YR9. To me, however, it seems a bit early to be dropping say, Geography, and I think they will need some support to make the right decisions.

Ours do 6 compulsory subjects (English x 2, Maths, Double Science, RS) and can choose an additional 5 subjects, one of which must be a language and one of History/Geography if they are to get the EBacc.

I have to say it's been a bit of a mystery to me, and we have things like 'Options Evening' in the calendar for ages without knowing what would happen on the night. It would be much easier if I had an older child as well!

We have had an opportunity to meet subject teachers for my YR9 DD and an options evening, which is more of a wander around classrooms looking at the syllabus I think (it hasn't happened yet) and then the same process again iin a fortnight for DD2. Options forms have to be at half term or thereabouts.

EBacc isn't for the children, though, it's an artificial measure of the school. Part of my DS's dilemma again as he's not good at languages but really good at Maths. His school doesn't force the DC to take a language, thank God, as he'd likely get a C or D. OK, a broad range of academic subjects are obviously preferable to 'noddy' subjects, but DS wants to do Geography, RE and Computing (not ICT) along with English, Maths, Triple Science and Engineering. Not broad enough for the EBacc!

Perhaps, as a deputy headteacher of a comprehensive school I can help? Firstly your DS sounds like a typical Year 8 boy who treats homework with disdain and gets what needs doing completed at school. They often do it in a cursory way because, at this age, they see it as a drudge. Boys have to see the relevance of the work, once in exam groups, with a specific goal (an exam and its result) they get motivated.
Secondly, your school is doing what all schools do. Detailed report with recommendations as to his ability to achieve. Options details. A chance to consult at school. The fact is your choice may be limited - partly if the school is choosing to adopt an EBacc component to the curriculum, this will reduce his choices. Also at this age, they have often decided already and will sulk and pout if they don't get their way! Plus, it is going to be him that completes the courses.
Thirdly, a reduced key Stage 3 is increasingly common and, for the reasons just outlined, a plus factor for boys. That said, check with the school how long he will study these courses. Will he take GCSEs in Year 10 or 11? If it's in 10, what will he study in 11? Some schools start AS Level then, or do a GCSE in a year (which helps if there is a course which he couldn't do now).
Fourthly, in a broader sense and a contentious issue. Schools provide homework for parents. It's what they think they want. Homework is fast becoming an archaic tradition rapidly replaced by modern technology. Because middle class parents had homework they want it for their children too because 'it's right'. There will be lots of ways children are expected to learn outside of the classroom; the days of complete page 36 Exercise A and B are dead and gone. Education has moved on.
Finally, I know its tempting and easy to say (I have two children!) but don;t worry so much. In Year 8 they are becoming adults with adult decisions. Some might say it's too early, but they will surprise you with the ease they will roll with all this. Hope this helps.

Does he have a planner that you sign each week? Homework should be written in there if soi & if none is written down then I would be questioning it - had a ny been set or has he not written it down?

Thanks Labrador for providing an insight!

I'm a primary teacher and I think I might just be panicking at the difference between primary and secondary education!! I certainly agree that a lot of homework is meaningless and arbitrary, but with a lack of everything it's all just a bit "argh!!!"

RedHelenB yes he does have a planner and his homework is written in there - there's just not much of it!!

Oh well, we shall see!