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 The system of arranging slots on a piece of paper seems outdated from the outset.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!

A dual paper and online booking system then? Or a paper system for those with no internet / PC access? Confused.com @User32243535
Others, who may be less fortunate, have to suffer because of the way you want things? Lovely.

OP you seem to have had a hard time on here. My DC are not yet at secondary although I am expecting them to go to grammar schools where I had hoped that the teachers would be properly engaged with and interested in their pupils.

I am actually shocked that teachers consider it's reasonable and acceptable not to allow sufficient time to see each of their pupils' parents for just 5mins per YEAR.

If there is not enough time in one evening to see all the parents of the children they teach then there need to be 2 evenings, or 3. If that amounts to 7 or 14 evenings a year, well that's part of the job, it's hardly once a week.

Teachers and schools are quick enough to criticise parents if pupils miss school/are late/have the wrong uniform/don't do homework etc etc and yet they resent engaging with parents?

In terms of a system - why can't there be an online system that pupils can use as well as parents? Then pupils can gain independence by booking things themselves but parents can also see the system and help out if necessary (or book for them). One of my DC would be v organised in making appointments, the other would forget - it is the one who would forget that I actually need to see the teachers for. Also, I would have thought that pupils are hardly likely to make appointments for their parents with teachers where they have problems - again defeating part of the purpose.

Good luck OP, your approach/expectations seem reasonable to me.

Great...it does seem a particularly pertinent issue to Year 7 though, where both parent and child may be new to the school, so may not apply to every year group...and perhaps those taking GCSE's maybe...I don't know.
If I could rely on the fact that every teacher would call up a child if there was a particular problem, I would feel more reassured about this system, however, unfortunately, I don't have this level of trust...it sounds like you are doing a great job (and its rubbish about the wee situation and the long day). Passes the gin x

I teach maths to 60 Grammar school Y7s this year, and had max. 36 appointments. Ours is a paper based system, so I wrote a 'hitlist' of people I wanted to see. Chose the ones who were either below target, disorganised with homework and equipment, coasting, or poor behaviour. That totalled 29 students and I worked hard to fit them all in at times that suited them. The rest of my appointments were a free for all but students were explicitly told that I would not see anyone without appointments. 3 different sets of parents rudely interrupted appointments to ask if they could see me. I of course sent them away.

It's all well and good suggesting changes to the system but my school is broke. What should we remove from our provision to pay for this new system? Equipment or staff? Heating or lighting? I don't think you have a clue the pressure schools are under financially at the moment.

Wow.
Your child didn't follow the system and book the appointments. That's where the "complaint" should be directed.
Many teachers teach more than one class in certain year groups. They can't see everyone. If they really feel they need to see a certain child's parents they can ask them to make an appointment. (Doesn't mean the parents will show up though!)
Online booking won't change the fact that there are limited slots.
Teachers are contractually obliged to work certain hours. You can't suddenly expect them to do double parent evenings. (Evenings are for planning and marking and maybe even seeing their own families!)
If you have a particular reason you are desperate to see certain teachers based on the report and can't get an appointment? Email or ask for a quick phone call.

"Suffer" err let's cut the dramatics and as for internet access we're talking about teenagers, they're all permantly attached to smart phones.

pestov that sounds like the perfect solution- you decide who you need to see and make it worthwhile for everyone

Whitemarble, can I ask if you work? How would you feel if you were asked to work an additional 3-4 hours, customer facing and on show at the end of a full day? Well, it's part of the role and it's a post it even evening so you'd be fine to make it happen. Fair enough. Now imagine that your employer asks you to do this for 14 or 21 nights a year, instead of the 7 you are currently paid for. Still ok? So you are now working an additional week's worth of working hours for free. Still ok? Or would you want paying? Fine - but school budgets are horribly stretched so something else has to go. Your child's SEN budget perhaps? The training to keep them safe?

White...Yes, I was actually thinking that a dc could potentially make an appointment on-line - most kids have access to the internet at school for example so I don't see why anyone should be disadvantaged. Just seems that some people are resilient to change...oh dear, it doesn't say much for progress if for example those responsible for our children's education are resilient to change also. Also another point raised that children could potentially operate this system too, thereby not delaying a teacher from teaching.

So the year 7 child not long out of primary school hasn't got an appointment for whatever reason and is berated but disorganised and disruptive kids are deemed worthy of special treatment and appointments handed to them on a plate. Okaaaay.

User - have you bit seen the TEACHERS on this thread telling you that online really isn't any better?

I'm getting the feeling that as long as you get to see your darling child's teachers, no other kid matters.

How do you think this 'new system' will be funded and managed? Can it be bought off the shelf, how much is annual software licensing, what are the Data Protection issues, porting, data sharing, security & admin protocols, who holds the staff training budget?

If you can reseach and evidence the above, approach the Bursar, Governors, Trustees and PTA to back you on fundraising for this.

Believe it or not @Toomanytealights some kids do not have mobile phones. Usually the same ones who have no PC/IT/internet access at home. Mainly for socio economic reasons. They will most definitely suffer under a purely online booking system.

White marble 14 weeks on parents evenings (assuming 2 per year group per year) plus open evenings, sixth form evenings, options evening, presentation evening, aim higher evening, a couple of performances and you aren't far off one evening a week. That is unreasonable!

If staff have concerns they will speak to you.

Wow OP. You think some children are worthy and some are not?! You do know that children can pass the multiple choice Grammar tests and be visually/hearing impaired, have ADHD, have ASD, have extreme anxiety, have a multitude of other SEND issues. But you say if they do have those issues, should immediately find another school, so as not to bother your children!? These are human beings you are dismissing here!!
I’m lost for words at your gumption.

Why aren't said disruptive and disorganised kids being dealt with as soon as they become an issue instead of being left until an evening which is alledgedly provided for all?

Keiratwice - I work full time in a very demanding professional job, I work most evenings and often have days of 7am-10pm or later, and am expected to be available and contactable most of the time, weekends and holidays included and no I don't get paid any extra for overtime.

I know teachers also work very hard during term time but I see parent engagement as a necessary part of the job.

User those children who have to book I will school will be at a disadvantage, they won't be able to access the system inside school hours as they will be in lessons. Online systems are rubbish,you can't squeeze and extra kid in like I can with a piece of paper. They also mean Mrs Muggins can book an appointment at 7.30 when my other appointments are done by 5.30. On a piece of paper I can say oh Charlie can I ring your mum instead.

Toomany they are! But I'd rather speak to their parents face to face to reinforce than deliver platitudes to nice kids who are doing well

I think @User32243535 might be Michael Gove.....

where I had hoped that the teachers would be properly engaged with and interested in their pupils.

Of course white, only at grammar schools are teachers engaged and interested in their pupils what a load of bollocks

I bet you are paid better than a teacher. Bear in mind we usually work 50+ hour weeks in term time too and don't get paid for our holidays...

I too see parental engagement as a vital part of the job. But telephoning/emailing parents is a much better use of my time (& theirs!) than additional parents evenings.

90% of households have the internet or on the go,those without are more likely to be the elderly.

That was for whitemarble btw.

I am actually shocked that teachers consider it's reasonable and acceptable not to allow sufficient time to see each of their pupils' parents for just 5mins per YEAR.

This year, I teach a total of 378 students per week in every year group. I have 7 Parents EveningS plus a separate Year 9 options evening per year (plus the numerous open evenings and mornings). Parents Evenings run from 3:30pm to 8:00pm. I have 4 minute slots. You do the Maths but I cannot physically see every parent of every child I teach.
However, it appears that I care a damned sight more about each and everyone of my pupils than some on this thread...