Year 7 Parents Evening - Unavailable slots for core subjects

[User32243535]

Sorry, but this might turn into a bit of a rant.

DC (Y7) attends what is meant to be a well respected grammar school. But at the moment, I am struggling to comprehend how they have developed such a lousy system for arranging parents evening appointments.

DC is our eldest child so we were not acquainted with this system before and didn't see it coming. Basically, we received a report and then according to the report, we were advised (via dc taking a sheet around to their teachers and booking a time slot) to arrange a meeting with the necessary teachers.

DC is a scatter brain and this hasn't helped with making the arrangements but on eventually contacting their teachers for Maths and English. dc was informed that there were no available slots left. Sorry, but Maths and English are core subjects and we care about our dc's education, I am fuming that we are not able to discuss these subjects with the relevant teachers (parents evening is held on just one evening).

DC doesn't have huge difficulties in these areas but reading the report there are one or two areas for improvement and I think it is important to discuss these two subjects in particular.

Anyone else experienced similar? The system of arranging slots on a piece of paper seems outdated from the outset. I e-mailed the head teacher regarding my concerns about dc not securing appointments a few days ago and I haven't received a response and I'm not able to discuss with anyone as the school office is now closed (dc has just informed me of the situation, which I believed would be resolved today.) Quite frankly not impressed with the schools communication either right now in regard to replying to my e-mail. Grrrrh...just so frustrated!

What exactly are you "complaining" about? Your DC not being organised enough to get an appointment with an English and Maths teacher? You've been given suggestions on receiving feedback from staff.
Your complaint, if done in a similar manner to this post, will provide the staff with ten minutes of entertainment and a few 🙄 faces. Believe me, you'll become THAT parent.

Our dcs teaching groups seem to have different teachers. I have kids in the same year. They've only had the same teacher for anything once. Parent evening starts early and finishes late.

😂 😂 😂 the head will read and then delete your email.

Go direct to the class teacher you want.

One of my sons got shoved out of line when they were queuing up for appointments. He was too shy to make a fuss. I emailed explaining that it was a tad unfair, they were very understanding and very helpful. As a teacher I'd applaud any parent who wanted to seem me I wouldn't sneer.

I'd email both. Teacher to ask for info on the subject he's learning. The head re an area you think could be improved.

I think if a teacher can see 50 out of 80 students then the teacher should choose who they are.

Paper booking favours the organised student. Online favours the middle class parents. Both groups are statistically less likely to be parents who need seen.

No Queen, my complaint will not be written in a similar manner to this post, rant now over, I am now more than capable of presenting a rational argument for change (using some salient points raised in this thread). It is addressed to the head teacher, I therefore expect it not to become staffroom entertainment but dealt with and responded to in a professional manner. I would not deny that it would be to my advantage should the appointment allocations change to an on-line appointment system but I am not going to go about it aggressively or demanding change, merely pointing out the advantages.
Anyone else care to comment on the advantages of an on-line booking system that have so far not been mentioned?

Our school has parent meetings for suggestions for impovements etc

I am now imagining all the parents not suggesting anything in case they become THAT parent

Wow Rufus...could I possibly be THAT parent...famous (or infamous) at last!

I hate to disappoint you @User32243535 but it won't be the headteacher who deals with your email - it'll be delegated to the Depute or whoever has whole School responsibility for parents meetings.....

I don't have secondary-age children but am taking notes! I'm really surprised that not everyone can get a parents' evening appointment and children have to make the appointments. I was too shy in Y7 to speak to most of my teachers so I don't know how I'd have gone about asking them for a parents' evening appointment.

Good point Queen but at least with a name/position attached there is some accountability attached. I assume the head teacher would want it therefore, to be dealt with professionally?

Yeah it’d be like emailing the CEO of Asda to say your local branch had run out of satsumas.

At parents evening yesterday we snuck in the back door

Thereby bypassing the huge queue

We are indeed THOSE parents

Their response to you will be fully professional @User32243535. 😉

Still might be possible to talk to the CEO at the end of the day...satsumas or no satsumas it's not impossible unless you try.

Refus...are you really THOSE parents...ohh, tell me more about the back door technique...wondering now if we could blag our way in (lol).

Meant to say...don't try re the satsuma thing.

Wow regarding appointments with parents as worthless as cheap fruit,why bother having parents evenings at all.

You could always phone and make an appointment to speak face to face with the Person in Charge of Parents Meetings for maximum impact and so they can put a face to the name for future reference.

I had twins at the same school. Parents Evenings, especially when they started studying different subjects in KS4 were truly horrific. When we finally got home it would be fish and chips followed by wine/gin/beer/whisky.

I appreciate it's pretty awful for the teachers too though. Enough of my friends have gone into the profession for me to know just how bonkers hard they work during term time (and half the holidays too).

It was literally an open back (side) door

We did get busted by the english teacher but she thought it was funny

alpaca

My friend has triplets

She has a spreadsheet

Ours is online but got booked out really quickly. I agree that asking kids to take responsibility for it is ridiculous and will lead to them only seeing their favourite teachers and vest subjects.

I didn't get an app to with dad's maths teacher and its her worst subject so I emailed the office and they managed to get me an appointment with another teacher who also teaches her maths. They said for anybody we couldn't see they would request email feedback. We managed to sneak a quick word with a few other teachers when they were free for a moment. It was a scrum though.

I get that they can't see everyone but 2 hours that we had seems mad. At our junior they had appointments between 2 and 7 (obviously teachers had breaks within that).

Also it would be better if they told parents only to book teachers if subjects they are thinking of doing at gcse, or where they have particular worries. The first people online obviously booked every single teacher which us probably unnecessary.

Don't worry Toomany...it's not the stance I take, I find the satsuma analogy mildly amusing...beginning to chill a bit now (and have compiled said e-mail).
Any more pro's regarding the on-line booking system very welcome - obviously paperless but any benefits for school of using this system?

Op when I emailed re not being able to get an appointment the teacher said keep an eye on my table and pop over when it's free. Things never run on time and sometimes you are left twiddling your thumbs whilst another table is surrounded by waiting parents.

I did and got 5 minutes. This time my son didn't get an appointment in one subject,I emailed and he replied. Son popped over to get a test result as did many others and he sat us down and chatted to us anyway.

In my experience most teachers will do their best to encourage and accommodate keen parents. It's in their interest.