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Secondary education

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Original poster

Is it normal for teachers to send letters home trying to get a yr 9 to do their subject?

24 replies

EccentricaGallumbits · 13/02/2010 15:04

or is DD a particular IT genius?

Bizarre. She's never shown any interest in computers beyond what she's talking about on bloody facebook.

Or am I to expect a raft of similar ones trying to persuade her to do textiles, dancing and latin at GCSE?

OP posts:
bruffin · 13/02/2010 15:33

We haven't got any letters home, but hard copy of DS's report arrived today and there were several "I hope he will be taking this subject for GCSE"

I suppose it depends how popular the subject it.

foxinsocks · 13/02/2010 15:41

I think it's quite nice tbh. Shows an interest in your child, shows the teacher's interest in their subject.

wastwinsetandpearls · 13/02/2010 15:58

I would never send a letter home just to ask someone to take a GCSE or A level.

I am a teacher who regularly sends postcards or letters home if a student is doing well. It they were a student who showed real aptitude I may tag on the end that they would make an ideal candidate for a future course .

MmeBlueberry · 13/02/2010 21:38

It all sounds fairly desperate.

The important people to convince are the students, not the parents.

TheFallenMadonna · 13/02/2010 21:42

It's dog eat dog for the non-compulsory subjects. Even worse at A level, 'cos then every subject is in the competition...

roisin · 14/02/2010 16:12

At my previous school some departments (minority option subjects, eg MFL) used to send postcards home at this time of year saying something along the lines of: "The Dept is very pleased with your hard work this year and your aptitude for the subject. We would like you to consider choosing French as one of your GCSE options. Come and speak to a teacher about this if you want further details."

roisin · 14/02/2010 16:14

It is a dog-eat-dog world out there, and with lots of exciting-sounding subjects on offer these days, and courses "worth" 2, 3 or even 4 GCSEs, it can be hard for some subjects to compete.

In most schools if they don't get enough students signed up the course won't run at all.

Also, if you are over-subscribed, in some schools you get a degree of choice over which students you accept and which ones you pass on elsewhere!

MortaIWombat · 14/02/2010 16:22

God, this is not allowed where I teach. 'Tis "touting", apparently, and very much frowned upon. Shame, as they don't generally decide to study Latin or classical Greek without a bit of encouragement.

Why not call up the teacher and ask if (s)he sent every Y9 pupil one? That'll tell you if she actually has a flair that the teacher wants to nurture, or if the teacher only has his/her future job in mind...

tatt · 14/02/2010 16:22

would not be permitted at our school. However you might get comments at parents evenings about how they would have no problem with the subject at GSCE. If your child is easy to teach and won't mess up the stats they will all want to push their subject.

PixieOnaLeaf · 14/02/2010 16:28

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Original poster
EccentricaGallumbits · 14/02/2010 16:40

at DDs school they have to do the core stuff, also have to do 1 MFL and 1 Technology subject (they are MFL and thenology 'specialists') leaving only 2 other chices.

that leaves ICT quite far down the list of things DD wants to take. I suspect that's why they are touting for business. and she's perhaps not a computer genius after all.

OP posts:
southeastastra · 14/02/2010 16:41

they sent one to ds(16) i think it was because he went on a day trip to lille

ktbeau · 14/02/2010 16:55

I am a teacher and think this is immoral. I would never put pressure on any student to take my (non-compulsory) subject at GCSE. It may not be in their best interest.

There tends to be a lot of pressure put on bright/pleasant pupils. This happened to my niece but luckily I was able to explain the teacher's possible motives from my exerience.

I work in a very small school so if not many pupils choose my subject, the course doesn't run. I take it on the chin.

wastwinsetandpearls · 14/02/2010 17:41

I agree ktbeau I hate putting pressure on kids to take a subject. If a child beats their target or puts in an excpetional amount of effort in I will send a postcard home whatever the time of year.

If I am asked by a parent whether they should take my subject I say they should take what they enjoy and do well at.

shallishanti · 14/02/2010 17:45

talking of which can any one advise on Btech science vs GCSE? DS is in top set, we have just had reports back in prep for his annual review (dyspraxia) and science teacer has suggested BTECh as it 'uses computers and hardly any handwriting'....somehow I can't help thinking a BTEc is a less academic route?

wastwinsetandpearls · 14/02/2010 17:52

I would have thought it would be unusual for a top set student to do a Btech. But I don't know much about them. Has he not been approached about single sciences if he is in the top set?

PixieOnaLeaf · 14/02/2010 17:55

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webwiz · 14/02/2010 17:59

shallishanti this seems a bit odd if you have a look at the science GCSEs they have a lot of questions that require at most a couple of sentences for an answer. The other element is writing up practicals for coursework. Wouldn't it be better for your son to get extra time in the exam or be allowed to word process his practical write-ups rather than switching to the BTEC. The problem with the BTEC is it isn't suitable for taking science A levels afterwards.

psychomum5 · 14/02/2010 18:06

our school does......got one for DD1 trying to encourage her to do french, when she had no interest and was not that good either according to the teacher, and again for DD2.

I am of the opinion now that the only letters sent are from the subjects that don;t have that high a take-up.

I much prefer the letters telling me when they are doing well, and are achiving their target (or better). Gives encouragement to them when they are flagging.

shallishanti · 14/02/2010 20:58

thanks webwiz and pixie, that's kind of what I thought. they don't have a 6th form at that school, maybe they're not so clued up about a levels.

23skidoo · 15/02/2010 17:29

Yeah, they do that nowadays to make parents think their kids are great at that subject, and they try to get them to take it for GCSE. Worked like a charm on my mum and dad. Don't fall for it, but IT is a GCSE that you have take by law so I don't really get whats up with that school.

Marney · 28/02/2010 20:10

Just got to put something here yes it happens it probably depends how short they are of pupils wanting to take a subject.We couldnt believe it when our child who was totally unable to write in french bieng dislexic got one.It seemed to imply an interest in the subject from what i remember and sugest some ability.When i asked the head teacher why before the sats resuts were out it was being sugested my child would have to do btech science but was welcome to do french gcse even though the marks in french were dreadfull i was told the two subjects are hardly comparable !!!!!

bloss · 02/03/2010 21:55

Message withdrawn

Ellokitty · 02/03/2010 22:49

And RS of course, but this does not have to be an examination based course. However, all school aged students have their legal entitlement to RS. Got to defend my subject

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