DD told ‘underachieving’

[Verbena37]

Hi,
Just got an email from school following dd getting a Level 6 for chemistry. It states that my dd must attend an afterschool revision session (and then one every other week after that) as her level 6 is classed as underachieving, compared to her target grade of Level 9.

Firstly, her target grade of Level 9, I explained to the teacher, didn’t really bother us...in that all of her target grades are 8 or 9 (mostly 9) and they were given those grades in year 9/10 based on SATS.

So a Level 6 is a B in old money....how is that underachieving??

Dd has been suffering with a long term unknown illness since September, which school know about and unless dd specifically states that she wants to go to the sessions, I don’t feel like pushing her. She is stressed enough and finding each day hard due to being poorly.

I need addition, the chemistry teacher (who is also somehow head of science) checks the answers with the 2 brightest kids in the class and regularly gets information incorrect! DD corrected him the other day on something even I knew the answer to and I’m rubbish at chemistry.

I’m not sure how him teaching even more rubbish lessons, is going to help anymore than her revision guides will.

The email stated....
‘These sessions are mandatory and should be seen as a priority by DD’

How can afterschool revision session start be mandatory....they’re from 3:30-5.

Just say she won't be attending as you feel she is not going to benefit.

Remind them of their STATUTORY duty to support pupils with medical conditions pursuant to s100 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

They cannot make her attend. They literally cannot. Unless it is a part of the school day, which it is not.

This will be about their Progress 8 score or their Ebaçc measure. Progress 8 is based on performance in y6 SATS and if multiple pupils don't end up where they 'should' then this will impact the progress 8 score.

Ok thank you.
I just don’t think it’s coincidence that multiple students didn’t do as well as expected. Dd’s Grades have decreased since starting Yr 11, not only down to her being poorly, because she has revised lots, but because of the change of teachers this year. She has literally dropped two levels in a few subjects where staff have ch aged and she doesn’t u defstand what they’re teaching.

Chemiamstry teacher sounds awful.
Schools and teachers are subjected to a stuoid amount of stress about these grades. Teachers, SMT etc. have to provide a good deal of evidence re: why students are below target. More on the teachers than the pupils at time.
With a better teacher, what is wrong with the school wanting your dc to reach their potential? I agree with issues with how this has been predicted btw.

Chemistry- aargh

It seems schools can’t win. They are pushing children to achieve their potential by offering extra revision classes, which I think is a great opportunity.

Your DD’s health issues of course make this more complicated and her well being has to come first. I would just write a letter reminding them of this and that she isn’t able to take on the extra work.

It's called progress 8 and the pressure on the schools is immense.
Teachers are not paid extra for after school revision sessions and do them voluntarily (or are forced into it by slt).

I would look at alternative ways of helping her too. There are so many online resources available which are more likely to engage her than another hour of listening to a teacher she clearly doesn't get much out of.

if they are doing well we don't need to put them under ridiculous pressure all the time

Makes me wonder how nangbtytored their kids for the SATS and now realising it did them no favours?

pengggwn but every other subject other then English and maths are plotted onto the target pathway simply by SATS they didn’t sit.
Just because dd scored well at maths and English in SATS, doesn’t m3an her science ability is the sam3.

In fact, her maths grade went down 2 Levels as well to a level 5....and that’s because the new maths teacher doesnt check if they all know it....she uses one very mathmatically gifted girl to check her understanding! Dd has been sat asking and still not understanding. At parents evening, the maths teacher said lim expected to do everything for all people”. Err, yep, that’s what a teacher does....checks the whole class understands!

Teachers just can't win. Offer help it's wrong. Don't offer help it's wrong. Our letter always have mandatory on them - we want kids to attend because a) we want them to achieve and b) we need them to achieve for our jobs.

I have done three extra sessions this week until 5. Then done another thee/four hours work at home. Each one has had plenty of children, who have parents eager to support their children reach their potential. The pupils are invited to attend. The letter says mandatory. 24 pupils over three nights have been helped. And that is just my class (English). This will happen every night until May. The new syllabus contains so much more that it cannot all be covered in class.

In all the years I have been doing this I have never had a note off a parent complaining that I am offering support to their underachieving child.

OP think about what you are saying ... I despair. I think if I got a note like yours it would make me want to tell you to fuck off and to quit my job.

pieceofpurplesky

Well if you lived near OP you could charge £40 per hour x 24 students - that's £1000 a week!

That said if all these kids are gaining extra tuition and the results are still low - I don't see how you can blame the teachers!

But why say it's mandatory if it's not. That is just a lie and makes the school sound like power hungry loons. Also using the word underachieving, especially when a child is ill, is stoopid.

And to be perfectly honest it may be necessary but I want no part in this horrible unbalanced cramming, high pressure environment for my kids. I want them to be balanced individuals with time for a life. Same goes for teachers. The more you give in your roles the more people will take. Say no to the ridiculous demands of a 70 hour working week. By getting another job if necessary. Things will only change when people vote with their feet.

Pengwwyn why not just tell the parents that their child is not working hard enough in class and you cannot and will not make up for that with extra tuition. In a prettified way of course but seriously you are way too nice if you are feeling you 'should' cater too these snowflakes.

Cater to not cater too...

Thing is rag and green I love my job. I love teaching. I do this unpaid because I want my pupils to achieve. Yes there is pressure from above but it I didn't care about the kids I wouldn't give a shit what SLT wanted me to do. All of my colleagues and teacher friends feel the same.

Green as a single mum I also do 4 hours of tutoring a week. Couldn't do the hours in the evening due to this.

pieceofpurplesky

I wasn't just trying tonpint out the absurd lengths some parents will go to to see their child achieve the best possible result, 2, which thia teacher is offering for free !!

No pleasing some people

If a child that is capable of 9, then of course a 6 is underachieving. A child with 5s and 6s at KS2 should be getting far higher than a B.(I would be v cross if mine was not!) But if you don't like that, perhaps you could lobby DfE, as that is who has made the decision to judge schools on progress.

All those parents moaning about targets would be the first ones moaning and pulling their children out if the school's results are rubbish, and they do badly in the performance tables. Why do you think schools do this? Parental pressure from "league tables", sharp-elbowed parents fighting to get children into good schools...

I'm sorry your DD has been so ill, it must be putting her under tremendous pressure. School are obviously wanting to mitigate for all the time off she's had to have. What is she going to do in September? Does she need certain grades for her next step?