Bad report - but teacher can't justify it

[tatt]

At the end of last term one of my children got a C grade (unacceptable) for commitment. Child claimed not to know what the problem was. It was the first we'd heard of it and was just a grade, no explanation. I rang the teacher to ask why and was told they couldn't think of any problem but would check their records. They suggested a typing error. I've asked either for an explanation or a revised report.

I'm not happy about this and wonder whether to take it further. This is an AS class but my child has talked of wanting to continue to A level, which should be possible on current grades. Surely a teacher shouldn't make this sort of mistake with a class at this level?

Wait for them to get back to you with an explanation. Don't sign the report until your happy with the explanation.

Everyone makes typing errors particularly when typing a hundred reports. That's what the checking system is for, they send it home, you concur if all ok and then send it back.

This isn't a full size class - it's a 6th form class where they should know their students better.

Did the teacher not know straight away when you told them? I can see how she or he could make a mistake in the typing, or at least I can see how I might do it , but I would be able to justify it. I have just written a pretty devastating set of reports for one of my AS clases, and am awaiting the phone calls. Although we've just had a parent's evening, so it shouldn't come as a shock...

Or rather, I wouldn't be able to justify a typo of course, but I would know it was a typo as soon as I was challenged on it IYSWIM. Without having to check records.

Well yes tatt they will know the student better but it won't be their only class so they may have been typing quite a few at once. It's rare for someone to commit to something on the phone without checking the entire chain of circumstance - they're unlikely to know exactly why that particular grade without checking.

I hope it is a typo and that your child is not 'uncommitted', that they come back to you as soon as humanly possible (I see that you talked to them at the end of last term so they may not be properly back yet depending on the snow and where you are)

The immediate response to my "what's the problem " was "I can't think of one". Child had an A for summer holiday work (on which they worked hard), a D for another piece of work early on and have had Bs and As since then. Their expected grade at AS was an A.

We don't send reports back. We sign to say we've got it.

What is annoying me is that this sort of mistake is not the first (although it is for this teacher). There have been frequent problems, usually of target grades below current performance and we've always been told they are mistakes.

cross posting - no we talked first day of term as the reports come out on the last day of term and the school is shut before you get them.

Actually this is one of the 2 subjects they talk about most and seem to be developig more interest in.

How long is it reasonable to allow them before speaking to them again - bearing in mins the school is closed for bad weather?

Often A-level classes are shared so teacher may need to check with another colleague, but it is quite easy to make a mistake, especially if the grade is selected from a drop-down menu. Dc could take the report to the teacher to check grade is accurate, if it isn't, the teacher can change it and initial the change.

I once made an error on a report as we have long reports that are hand written, ( well word processed) and then grades that are sent home for attainment, effort, behavior etc. These are done on what looks like a long lottery ticket. I had five classes in that year group so about 140 students manages to swap two rows around. This meant a lovely girl in my class was given low grades while a complete tike was given high grades. As soon as the mother phoned me I knew what had happened and apologised. If it is a clear cut case like this they should get back to you by the next day or even say there and then.

I would expect them to get back to you within a couple of days of getting back to school. There will be a lot of catching up to do.

Sounds like you've had a few problems though. This one isn't urgent though as it doesn't affect anything does it?

No not urgent if it is a mistake, just not something I want on their report when they apply to uni.

Unis won't look at school reports! That's why kids spend about three months completing the UCAS form. I totally understand why you would like it changed, but I assure you it won't be looked at by Universities - they'll look at the predicted grades only, which have nothing to do with the commitment grade. Hope this reassures you!

don't unis get something from the school about pupils? Given their record of mistakes I don't want them looking at anything less than complimentary when they are writing it!