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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Are you able to speak to all core subject teachers this year for parents evening?

79 replies

Schoolparentsevening · 04/02/2022 07:51

Hi, I just wanted to ask about peoples experiences for parents evenings in secondary atm. We have been offered approx half amount of appointments for 9 subjects. Missing some core subjects inc maths and with staff talking about subjects they do not teach- essentially relaying information from other teachers. I know covid etc has had an impact but the school think that this is “enough” I think it’s not great. I would have liked to speak to o core subject staff and also option staff. So not everyone but the subjects my child will choose from. So are you having similar issues? Please let me know.

OP posts:
premiumcogd · 04/02/2022 17:20

@MagnoliatheMagnificent

Do you all let your kids listen?
Our school requests that they are there
MajorCarolDanvers · 04/02/2022 17:21

We are being offered 5 minute virtual appointments.

My son is in 2nd year at high school and its the first time we are getting to speak to any of the teachers.

Cattitudes · 04/02/2022 17:23

At secondary definitely, then you know you are getting the right feedback if one of your dc is a bit quieter and maybe doesn't stand out in class. Besides at 14 short of forking out for a tutor most of what needs to be done has to be done by the child themselves so I would just end up as a messenger.

DisforDarkChocolate · 04/02/2022 17:24

Now it's virtual, yes. Best system ever.

cherryonthecakes · 04/02/2022 17:25

I had parents evening yesterday (year 11) and spoke to all except science who is currently off school with Covid.

aramox1 · 04/02/2022 17:27

Gcse year, 7/9, 5-6 mins each. Previous years I've had no maths (two yrs in a row!), or English. And they're only once a year. I wish they did more especially in the early years of secondary

cherryonthecakes · 04/02/2022 17:29

All of the teachers who I spoke to encouraged me to email with any questions because they understood that 5 mins isn't long but I prefer virtual over face to face

MermaidEyes · 04/02/2022 18:18

Do you all let your kids listen?

In secondary, definitely. The teachers will address the kids as well as the parents. I think it's vital at that age that kids are there too and understand what their teachers are expecting of them.

cherryonthecakes · 04/02/2022 19:12

Our school expects kids to attend unless they have other commitments. Sometimes I think that the kids will listen more to their teacher's advice than their parent repeating the teacher's advice

RoseMartha · 04/02/2022 21:29

We were offered most. Just one science teacher who spoke on behalf of all three.

The parents evening was online which I prefer than navigating a noisy crowded hall when you don't know what the teacher looks like and their name card is too small to see from a distance.

mumofthree22 · 04/02/2022 22:03

Couple of weeks ago we had Year 7 parents evening and managed to get appointments to see all 16 of my child's teachers including Year head. 4 min each and lasted just over an hour in total. Found it very useful and love online parents evening compared to physical appointments before Covid.

mumofthree22 · 04/02/2022 22:05

Yes children are expected to sit in to all meetings.

meedle · 04/02/2022 23:51

@Schoolparentsevening have you tried emailing the school to arrange separate appointments to speak to the teachers you missed? Our school would accommodate that - on parents evening they see as many parents as possible in the time available, but most teachers will be happy to speak to parents any other day of the year if they make an appointment.

Sh05 · 04/02/2022 23:59

We had two meetings on the school cloud, 10 minutes with each teacher for D's in yr 9, one face to face for year 11 and 2 again for year 13 on school cloud which were 7 minutes with each tutor

MumsRule20 · 05/02/2022 11:58

Where 5 mins is allocated, does anyone have any suggestions for crucial question(s) to ask? Or to simply let them say their thing and then email if anything specific. As for Yr 7, still getting to grips…

Jumpalicious · 05/02/2022 12:21

@MermaidEyes

Do you all let your kids listen?

In secondary, definitely. The teachers will address the kids as well as the parents. I think it's vital at that age that kids are there too and understand what their teachers are expecting of them.

Not all schools want kids there, ours doesn’t. Best to check any emails your school sends/ ask the school?
noblegiraffe · 05/02/2022 12:43

@Schoolparentsevening

I don’t get why it seems like Most parents aren’t getting to speak to the majority of subject teachers. It’s only 5 mins per slot online surely that takes less time than the old face to face meetings used to. Makes no sense. I think communication can be really important at secondary level. It’s pretty bad form.
5 minutes per slot is exactly the same allocation as the old face to face meetings at my school. You're actually getting more time talking online as less time is spent getting the right parents over to the teacher.

Unless, of course, you were one of those parents who insisted on talking to the teacher long past the allocated time and messing things up for all the other parents waiting.

mumofthree22 · 05/02/2022 12:46

@MumsRule20 I tend to let the subject teacher give their feedback first on the subject covered , they ask child some questions. I then ask if child has any weakness areas, results of any tests they've done, when and what the next tests are on and if I can email them if I think of anything else. Usually I find I get most info in the 4 min and rarely have to email them.

mumofthree22 · 05/02/2022 13:00

@MumsRule20 and few weeks ago for my Year 7 child I also asked the form and year teachers more pastoral questions on how they felt she had settled into the class / friendship groups / extra curricular activities and opinion on class work and homework standard she produces as we have relocated to a completely new part of the country and so everything is new and she knew no one when she started. Luckily she loves all aspects of school and has settled in great which was confirmed by her teachers which was a relief as a parent.

MumsRule20 · 05/02/2022 13:38

@mumofthree22 So helpful and perfect suggestions! With your direction, I feel much more focused about it now, thank you. We haven’t had the opportunity to ask about any pastoral related questions yet - so you are lucky to have had that, but I could probe her form tutor. Haven’t felt it necessary so much as she seems happy. But it would be good to know a little at this stage as feel so out of the loop with secondary school. A very different stage as a parent. So glad yours is doing so well.

WombatChocolate · 05/02/2022 14:15

We have it next week. It is School Cloud too and we get slots with 10 teachers - that’s GCSE and includes all 3 science teachers. (5 mins)

On the booking thing, it did mention which teachers have more than 1 class and say that there are 36 slots (it runs 6-9 at our school I think) and to consider that when choosing who to see. It also said that if you couldn’t get a slot, you could email the teacher direct to ask for feedback..not sure if that would be a call. Probably an email I’d think. I don’t blame them….3 hours after teaching all day is long enough for anyone really.

I prefer it online. The appointments don’t get out of sync or a parent or teacher go on for too long. It was always a bit stressful. Getting from one appointment to the other and a hassle getting there in time for the start. This is pretty easy. And our kids listen in. In fact the teacher is mostly speaking to them and parent listening, which seems to work well.

I have found that if you have a specific question you have to ask quickly. The 5 mins goes fast (it was always 5 mins in school too. - not shorter now) The teacher can fill it with them talking and the time cuts off after the slot, so work out any questions in advance and ask within the first 3 mins, if you want an answer. Might have to cut-in.

Re Options choices, we had a separate evening about this…also virtual last year, but on Teams and with a chance to ask questions after the presentation. Personally wasn’t worried about ‘seeing the teaching area’ that an earlier poster referred to. Parents’ evening is never going to be the time for this anyway. Often the meetings are in a big hall not. Teaching areas anyway.

LuciaInTheGarden · 05/02/2022 16:16

Online School Cloud appointments, Year 11 and saw 1 science teacher for all 3 sciences. However, in year 10 had the biology teacher, year 11 in November had the physics teacher and this time the chemistry teacher. They do relay information though about the other sciences.

At my son's school you can arrange to speak to teachers whenever you need. You email in and they ring you within a couple of days.

For the latest parents' evening a couple of weeks ago we got to speak to all the teachers but as I said the science is combined. I think they have ironed out any kinks with the system now so it worked really well.

However, we have the added bonus of the teachers knowing us from either previous in person parents' evenings for not just this child but their older sibling.

Debroglie · 05/02/2022 16:31

Why do some parents like parents evening so much?
As a parent I really only go so my dcs teachers don’t think I’m neglectful.
As a teacher it’s an absolute ball ache. I have to say same bland crap to 30 odd families in a row after teaching for 5 hours. I’m totally brain dead by about halfway through the evening. The parents I really need to speak to don’t turn up and the next day my lessons are awful because I’m so shattered.
We send reports home every term with current attainment and behaviour scores and predicted grades if appropriate.
What more do parents want to know?

RagzRebooted · 05/02/2022 16:36

@CMOTDibbler

We had virtual, and tbh I prefer that anyway. I got 5 minutes with everyone we needed to talk to, and perfectly on time
Yeah same here and don't have to leave the house. Win! With DS1 I had to do it over 2 evenings so I could get slots after work. But that's fine.
WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe · 05/02/2022 16:37

@Debroglie

Why do some parents like parents evening so much? As a parent I really only go so my dcs teachers don’t think I’m neglectful. As a teacher it’s an absolute ball ache. I have to say same bland crap to 30 odd families in a row after teaching for 5 hours. I’m totally brain dead by about halfway through the evening. The parents I really need to speak to don’t turn up and the next day my lessons are awful because I’m so shattered. We send reports home every term with current attainment and behaviour scores and predicted grades if appropriate. What more do parents want to know?
What more do parents want to know?

Quite a lot when your child has an EHCP and has to make their GCSE options the following week.