How to ask for more challenging work?

[dalziel1]

DS is in year 7 at an outstanding comprehensive. He says he isn't really being challenged in any of subjects like English, maths, science, MFL, geography, history, ICT etc but the ones which are streamed (or is it setted?) are better than those where he's in a mixed ability class.

The teachers do differentiate but DS rarely has to put much effort in even for the most challenging objectives.

Other parents tell me that their children are averaging three hours homework per night, whereas DS maybe does an hour per week (but he still does everything - I check).

The problem is that he's getting bored in class and it makes him feel frustrated when things get repeated over and over. Out of school, he's not bothered at all if there is no challenging work for him as it just means more time doing the things he enjoys. So, the answer is not to leave him to decide whether he fancies doing a bit of extra work at home on one of the websites for which the school has bought licences.

I know I should bring this up with the school, but my question is how do I do this without sounding a) critical that they aren't challenging him and b) like the pushy mother from hell.

I would try to involve my 11yo in such decisions. Not his decision alone, but his life to live.

ditto lljkk. But remember that its my 11 year old who started this by initiating a conversation about how he's not being challenged and he wishes he would be!

I've already spoken to the English teacher (and maths) at parent's night about how DS feels that he could be challenged more. Ds was right there next to me, so I'm not sure what could come out now.

Maths response was that he should log onto mangahigh in his spare time. He did a bit last week, but that's not the point as he wants to be better challenged in school.

The english reponse was what i said below. viz there's a limit given the spread of abilities, it will be better next year and DS has to tell the teacher in front of the class if he wants to be challenged further.

I wonder what the school will do when your son starts becoming disruptive in lessons because he's getting bored? Because that's what tends to happen in the situation as you describe it. Or he stops working altogether.

Either way, I think you need to make clear to the school that you expect him to be given sufficient work that he doesn't get used to not working - speaking from personal experience!

Read this discussion with interest as reminded me of my experience at school also at comp. We were unstreamed for all subjects in year 7 and until year 9 for English! I didn't become disruptive but can remember being mind-numbingly bored.

Unfortunately what can happen is that you become complacent and think you are much cleverer than you actually are! I had a real shock when I moved in 6th form and realised how far behind everyone else I was. I never really recovered from this poor start and ended up struggling badly at university simply because the groundwork that should have been done at school was just not there!

It turns out that DS does not want me to contact school as he thinks any consequent change will result in the whole class getting more challenging work.

He says that although there is extension work set, its no more difficult than the other work.
He thinks that the other children will look for who is responsible for their work getting more difficult, and, by a process of elimination of the other highly able children, they will work out it is him and blame him.

Although DS doesn't know it, I've decided to give the teacher another chance - but this time its in writing - and I have emailed him this morning about DS feeling unchallenged and how we need to get to the bottom of it as English is too important to ignore.

Not sure if anyone is still reading this thread, but I have a question.

I emailed the English teacher last week voicing my concerns and asking him for help on a way forward and since then I've been awaiting his reply, which has never come. He hasn't even acknowledged my email.

However, he did speak to DS in class yesterday about one aspect of the work which should help challenge DS a little. Also, maybe its coincidence, but he's also shown the class 8 lines of original Shakespearean text, so I can't say that they've never seen a word of it now.

So, what do I do now? Take the view that he's taken my points on board, or consider that he's done just enough to make me look like an idiot if were to I contact anyone else in the school with my concerns?

I am a teacher (Science not English!) but i would email the Head of English and enclose a copy of the email to your DS's teacher- drop the massive hint by implication that he/she has not replied. Explicitly state that you are not happy and you would like DS to be given extension work at every opportunity. We have had a family join my school recently and parents have asked specifically for DC to be challenged, especially in science , maths etc. It is an indy but think like a paying parent- you are not happy with the education being provided.
Hope that helps- if this doesn't work, you need to higher up- SMT.