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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

Attendance Poster On Classroom Wall

86 replies

Verbena37 · 16/11/2016 22:01

Totally fuming!
DS (yr7) has just told me his form tutor has put a ladder of attendance poster up on the classroom wall with stickers showing every child's attendedence!!

Surely this is breaking the data protection act?
Why would the school think this was in any way acceptable?

OP posts:

exLtEveDallas · 16/11/2016 22:18

At DDs primary there was a weekly attendance assembly. Every Friday the year with the best attendance won a 'step' on the attendance ladder. At the end of the year the class with the most 'steps' won a prize for each child.

3 years running DDs class didn't get a single step - most weeks they had the worst attendance, sometimes they did as well as third (7 Year groups), they never had a week of 100%, the best they did (IIRC) was about 90%. They all knew why.... and it wasn't the child with the chronic illness.

BratFarrarsPony · 16/11/2016 22:20

" ."Jimmy your attendance is 87% but I know you have a reason for it ". "

why on earth would you say that in front of the class?
I just dont get it.
It honestly seems that the most inconsiderate people are drawn to teaching , it really does...

Original poster

Verbena37 · 16/11/2016 22:22

i class it as data protection because it's giving a percentage figure
It is information that is published to only me at the end of each term (and no DS isn't off that often). For that reason, along with the fact it's divisive, I'm going to ask the teacher to remove it.

DD in yr 10 at same school doesn't have it.

OP posts:

ITCouldBeWorse · 16/11/2016 22:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Verbena37 · 16/11/2016 22:25

Very true brat. These people are supposed to be 'in loco parentis' every day for our children but I'm constantly finding at this secondary school that shaming the kids is how they get results.

They also positively shame......by plastering the kids pictures' on a board in the middle of the playground if they've done well.
DD hates the photo they have of her and doesn't want such overt praise. She just wants a well done every now and again.

OP posts:

PberryT · 16/11/2016 22:25

Because I have to! And the kids aren't stupid, they know Jimmy needs regular hospital visits, they know Jimmy has an ongoing condition. They are more sympathetic than you would think. Would you rather I said "Jimmy your attendance is 87%, bit rubbish but hey ho".

They also know that Daves mum lets him have a day off each time a new xbox game is out. And that Lizzies dad lets her have Fridays off if she feels like it.

Ironically the children with chronic illnesses often have decent attendance as they will try to get to school as much as possible.

Brat I'm reporting your post as a personal attack. You have no idea what kind of teacher I am.

Caprianna · 16/11/2016 22:27

If I did this at work I would be called in to see HR so I don't get why its ok to do for children who have even less control ober illness. People are different. Some have chronic health conditions, some get sick more easily and not everyone bounce back after just ine day off. I find it very strange that people who work with children think this is ok. Surely they should have empathy for the children in their care?

Wolfiefan · 16/11/2016 22:27

It may well be year group policy. You can ask for it to be removed but they may well refuse.
And positively shame? Bit of a contradiction.
So they can't point out when students could do better (some do have time off for a bit of a cold) or have done well. Schools can't win.

ITCouldBeWorse · 16/11/2016 22:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PberryT · 16/11/2016 22:28

On the flip side, for some pupils the only award they will get is 100% attendance. Why shouldn't they be rewarded for that?

BratFarrarsPony · 16/11/2016 22:28

" Would you rather I said "Jimmy your attendance is 87%, bit rubbish but hey ho".
No I would rather you didnt say anything.
And I have made no kind of 'personal attack'.
In my opinion a teacher who would do this is inconsiderate.
I am permitted an opinion I believe.

Original poster

Verbena37 · 16/11/2016 22:32

I used 'positively shaming' as I would use 'positively discriminate'.

OP posts:

Original poster

Verbena37 · 16/11/2016 22:33

Brat wasn't personally attacking you.....she was saying that 'some teachers'.....not to you personally.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 16/11/2016 22:33

So teachers can't praise the good or try and encourage even better?
Bloody glad I'm not a teacher.

PberryT · 16/11/2016 22:34

So Brat, as a teacher my schools policy is to read out attendance figures.

I go against this and I get disciplined.

BUT in your eyes that's OK? I handle the figures as sensitively as possible. I've already explained that kids know the score anyway. Obviously I'm just a shit teacher though. We can't do right for doing wrong.

ReallyTired · 16/11/2016 22:34

Frankly it's a miracle getting my son into school at all. He is a school refuser and school are glad that he is coming in at all. They have made alternative arrangements for him to register. if he can't face form time. He can choose to be in the Sen unit rather than be registered with his form.

Thankfully his teachers are sympathetic. They know that there is no easy answers to some very complex issues. I can't see how publicly drawing attention to attendence would help anyone.

Original poster

Verbena37 · 16/11/2016 22:35

Why shouldn't they be rewarded for that?

Err because there isn't anything skilful about it.....it's pure luck that they weren't ill enough to be off or have a med. appointment. You don't work hard at not getting ill. If you have flu you have it. You don't work hard to overcome it and go to school.....unless you're selfish and go anyway and spread it.

OP posts:

NicknameUsed · 16/11/2016 22:35

Being fortunate enough to enjoy good health is different from being good though isn't it Wolfiefan

exLtEveDallas · 16/11/2016 22:35

They also know that Daves mum lets him have a day off each time a new xbox game is out. And that Lizzies dad lets her have Fridays off if she feels like it

Yup. Or in DDs class it was Zoe* who was on Instagram posting selfies at midnight and telling them she'd see them on Monday "Haha to all the loosers (sic) doing maths 2moro"

Akire · 16/11/2016 22:37

Seems bit pointless once you have had a few days off for a bug or cold then you can never catch up. You can just see that you have lost! That would just make me more likely to stay home if I wasn't feeling well.

user1471427614 · 16/11/2016 22:37

This is not a data proctection issue and you will find this practice is standard in most schools, especially if they have a good of ofstead rating. It is part of the teaching contract to discuss attendence and I think you will find your child in year 10 should also have this, however their overworked tutor may not have managed to do this yet. You will also not be aware that this type of graph is a requirement for the investors in pupils award and has been implemented in all classrooms in my school recently.

Brat your comment is really unhelpful and my experience as a teacher over the past 14years have shown that the majority of teachers are considerate and care about there pupils, however you may know better than me. They may not agree with all the policy's but are required to comply with them

clary · 16/11/2016 22:37

Schools are judged on attendance tho. So they have to show Ofsted they are doing something.

And at secondary I have known plenty of students whose attendance is poor because of their own actions (ie not coming in).

IME the students who are actually ill with serious conditions have pretty good attendance as they try to get in. Attendance in my form has massively improved (in fact we won the pizza last term and they were really excited about it!) since a student who was never in on the last day of term and frequently had Fridays off, and whose attendance was in the 80s, left the school. I don't think they were ever ill by the way.

BratFarrarsPony · 16/11/2016 22:38

PBerry at no point have I said you are a shit teacher have I?
If it is your school's policy then I see your hands are tied. but you didnt mention that before.

Original poster

Verbena37 · 16/11/2016 22:39

PberryT you say it's school policy so you follow it.....how about, having seen our comments about it being very divisive/unfair/not inclusive etc, you go to the next SLT meeting and put forward the idea that they change the policy and don't shame the kids on the classroom wall.

OP posts:

PberryT · 16/11/2016 22:39

It's not just luck though. In the case of xbox /instagram kids attendance is a choice and they are choosing not to. So a reward for those that do attend is a good thing.

In my school anyone over 97% is rewarded which allows for the odd illness.

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