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Secondary education

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Original poster

What's the point of a 5 minute parents' evening for A levels

56 replies

MerryMarigold · 01/12/2023 17:51

My son is in Y13. Is there really any point in a 5 min parents' evening? The classes are not so huge that teachers need to fit in 30 appointments. I think it's really disappointing (verging on pointless) as it's such a crucial year.

My other children go to a different school and despite being in Y10 they get 10 minute appointments and a whole day is dedicated to parent- teacher consultations in order that the teachers can see every parent for 10 mins. (Other year groups are off school and have online work). In my opinion, this prioritises the parent/ school relationship.

OP posts:
AllProperTeaIsTheft · 01/12/2023 17:53

In 5 minutes of solid talking, quite a lot can be said imo. I'd find it hard to fill 5 minutes for some of my students, unless the parents are just very chatty!

Bobbybobbins · 01/12/2023 17:53

I agree that 5 mins is very short. Our year 11 and 13 appts are longer than younger years. Never heard of doing it across a whole day though, sounds interesting.

Parker231 · 01/12/2023 17:53

After lockdown I imagine that the majority of parents don’t want to have to stay at home to supervise a days online learning when their children could be in f2f lessons in school (and the parents go to work).

fuckityfuckityfuckfuck · 01/12/2023 17:54

It's only problem, if there's a problem. It doesn't even take 5 minutes to say "everything's fine, DC on track. Expected grades. Could improve by xyz."

But if there is a problem I'd arrange a follow up meeting to discuss properly anyway so even then 5 minutes should be fine.

UsingChangeofName · 01/12/2023 17:55

fuckityfuckityfuckfuck · 01/12/2023 17:54

It's only problem, if there's a problem. It doesn't even take 5 minutes to say "everything's fine, DC on track. Expected grades. Could improve by xyz."

But if there is a problem I'd arrange a follow up meeting to discuss properly anyway so even then 5 minutes should be fine.

This.

Also, not really fair on all other pupils losing time so one year group can have a longer appt at Parents' evening - even putting aside it can be much more difficult for parents to get out of work during the day.

modgepodge · 01/12/2023 17:57

MerryMarigold · 01/12/2023 17:51

My son is in Y13. Is there really any point in a 5 min parents' evening? The classes are not so huge that teachers need to fit in 30 appointments. I think it's really disappointing (verging on pointless) as it's such a crucial year.

My other children go to a different school and despite being in Y10 they get 10 minute appointments and a whole day is dedicated to parent- teacher consultations in order that the teachers can see every parent for 10 mins. (Other year groups are off school and have online work). In my opinion, this prioritises the parent/ school relationship.

So all the kids are at home for 7 extra days during the year to facilitate the parents meetings? (Presuming they do it for all years 7-13.) Wow. Not sure I’d be happy with that, even with online learning provided, just so I could have a 10 minute meeting with each teacher. Not to mention as a teacher myself getting time off work to attend a 10 minute meeting in the middle of the day (with an hours round trip to drive to it) would be really difficult.

menopausalmare · 01/12/2023 17:57

Because if you teach 2-3 classes (psychology is very popular), you could be talking to parents at midnight.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 01/12/2023 17:58

If there was a problem I would expect to know before parents’ evening. Big issues shouldn’t be brought up in that setting so a 5 minute check in is fine.

i really wouldn’t appreciate having to take a 1/2 day of annual leave for a 10 minute appointment.

MrsHamlet · 01/12/2023 18:03

My other children go to a different school and despite being in Y10 they get 10 minute appointments and a whole day is dedicated to parent- teacher consultations in order that the teachers can see every parent for 10 mins. (Other year groups are off school and have online work). In my opinion, this prioritises the parent/ school relationship.

Prioritises it over the teaching of the other students I should be teaching that day.
Prioritises it over the teaching of the students who don't have access to a quiet space at home to work.
Prioritises it over the teaching of the students who don't have reliable IT access at home.

Original poster
MerryMarigold · 01/12/2023 18:04

Every year group gets the full day of Parent-consultations at my other kids school so no one is 'not benefiting'. Secondary school age should be able to work at home. It is a different concept but it's in a very low attainment area so I think they really prioritise parental involvement. Of course it's not ideal to lose 4 F2F school days but I think it's worth it for what you can get out of a good conversation.

I assume people take time off work to attend the full day consultations (I have taken the afternoon off). The 5 min parents' evening finishes at 6ish so you'd probably need to finish work early to attend that anyway. Many people might be on shifts so a full day (8.30-4) gives them an option to choose a good time.

OP posts:
Original poster
MerryMarigold · 01/12/2023 18:06

Could improve by xyz

This probably takes more than 3 mins once you've had pleasantries and the issues have been raised which would take at least 2 mins or more.

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MrsHamlet · 01/12/2023 18:07

If you need more time, ask for it

mrscatwoman · 01/12/2023 19:00

MerryMarigold · 01/12/2023 18:06

Could improve by xyz

This probably takes more than 3 mins once you've had pleasantries and the issues have been raised which would take at least 2 mins or more.

It really doesn't. Most people don't have issues and, if it's a decent school, those who do will have already raised them/been made aware of them.

mondaytosunday · 01/12/2023 19:25

That's what we had and it was fine. If there are issues of concern a longer appointment can be made.

ampletime · 01/12/2023 19:27

me me me culture

cansu · 01/12/2023 19:29

What is there to say?
Student is on track and completing work to a good standard.
Student is not on track and doesn't revise and hand in assignments.
Assignments are poorly done and student needs to revise.

At this age the result is in the hands of the student. If they don't work they won't do well.

user628468523532453 · 01/12/2023 19:34

What is the benefit of a five minute conversation at all? What is it supposed to achieve?

Nobody would argue that a five minute performance review meeting for employees was useful or appropriate. So what's the point of these "meetings"?

tokesqueen · 01/12/2023 19:47

DS2 teacher spent the first three minutes talking about a different student with the same forename. By the time it clicked, we were almost at automatic shut off.

SisterMichaelsHabit · 01/12/2023 20:05

This is what we have to put up with. This is why I got so fed up of teaching that I now work in a completely different industry. When the parents assume their child and their child's class is the only thing you have to do/deal with.

OP subject teachers are also form tutors. They are also teaching the sixth form kids who need level 2 English, maths, or science and failed it previously. They are also covering for that teacher who turned up for a week then ran for the hills after the twentieth shitty email from a "concerned parent" about the colour of their bloody wellies or the fact it rained that morning. They are also teaching the second A-level subject that most of us had to be able to teach in order to get a job at a school with a sixth form because of cuts.

It's not just your child or even your child's class. In the past we could give more time (when I started teaching in 2011, it was 10 minutes) but these days teachers have more pupils than ever and the staffing is cut to the bone.

This is the result of years of underfunding and telling headteachers to balance the books without actually giving them the money they need to do that. Some schools have extra funding from other sources e.g. academies sponsored by businesses, or schools who have been given extra grants for various reasons, and so are able to provide better stuff or more staff.

If you're concerned, book a separate time to chat to the teacher about your specific concerns (spoiler: you don't actually have any concerns, you're just complaining for the sake of it).

EatMyHead · 01/12/2023 20:11

Are they actually limited to 5 minutes though?

At my DC's school they make 5 minute appointments, but rarely stick to time and end up just seeing people when they do. I've always been able to discuss everything necessary in a reasonably open and relaxed fashion, without feeling hurried to be gotten rid of. That might have been five minutes but I suspect was usually longer. I don't know because I wasn't watching the clock and didn't need to.

AnyOldThings · 01/12/2023 20:30

I actually don’t see the point of any meeting unless there was an issue. DD is in year 13 and her grades are up to her. She knows what she has to do and the consequences if she doesn’t. Her sixth form updates a parent portal quarterly with her effort score, expected grade and current working grade. Unless something is bad I see no reason for me to take up the teachers time for a ‘chat’.

Original poster
MerryMarigold · 01/12/2023 20:47

user628468523532453 · 01/12/2023 19:34

What is the benefit of a five minute conversation at all? What is it supposed to achieve?

Nobody would argue that a five minute performance review meeting for employees was useful or appropriate. So what's the point of these "meetings"?

Precisely. It needs to be useful or just don't have it. It's not about me, me, me. It's about wasting people's time, including the teachers. They should just make ad hoc appointments if there are concerns.

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Original poster
MerryMarigold · 01/12/2023 20:56

spoiler: you don't actually have any concerns, you're just complaining for the sake of it

Ha ha ha. I wish - but you go ahead and tell me.

I have concerns. Ds1 has some 'issues' - likely undiagnosed ASD, diagnosed ADHD, extra time in exams etc etc. He works mediocrely, but has lost a huge amount of motivation this year, which I am struggling to understand or help with. He also gets HIGHLY anxious in exams and tends to mess them up. It woud be nice to have an opportunity to talk about these things and how to best help him succed rather than 'needs to work harder and revise more' (not very helpful!). Specific revision or exam strategies, specific areas to improve coursework etc. 5 mins won't be enough, so I guess individual appointments is the only way forward - but that is further encroaching into teacher's precius time.

I'm not dissing the teachers at all, and would hope not to create extra work for them. It is just clearly a bad system, especially for Y13 - which is why I highlighted a better one in my other children's school, better for students and teachers and parents, I believe.

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FrippEnos · 01/12/2023 20:56

MerryMarigold

Secondary school age should be able to work at home.

Should is very different to will. If covid taught us nothing else it should be that kids don't work well at home.

Original poster
MerryMarigold · 01/12/2023 21:00

She knows what she has to do and the consequences if she doesn’t

Yes, this is my DD only in Y10. However, DS1 (3 years older) is very immature and seems to live in cloud cuckoo land most of the time. DS2 somewhere in between but by 18 I expect him to be in a different place to DS1. We need to help them where they are at, and not wish them to be different.

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