Question by Goat Whacker: Year nine student (13 year old) his school work is easier than the work he got in primary school. Education?
I was thinking of writing to my son’s head teacher about the low standards in his schoolwork and his lack of homework. Any ideas about what I should include in my letter?
Other schools his pals go to seem to be of a much higer standard.
Best answer:
Answer by Jenni
Tlak to the teachers.
In youe letter say about how long it takes him, example of what he gets, what it is about, how it isn’t acceptable etc.
Answer by D
Send him to Friends a good School.
Answer by dreaming_serpent
I would recommend asking for an appointment with your son’s year leader and form tutor first off. That way you can ask them to explain why they feel the work is suited to your son’s ability, ask to see any SAT check points and any other assessments results since starting this school.
Different students bloom at different times and you may find they are underestimating his potential ability which could hold him back.
If they are saying he is set this standard of work as it is based on his ability you could ask them what can you do at home to help him advance quicker. It could be he is struggling in class and just needs a bit of extra help. Every school has a SEN CO special needs co ordinating officer who should be able to offer assessments and additional support in school if need be.
Answer by bloo4
Talk to him, consider changing schools. Drastic action is sometimes called for.
Answer by Victor B
Talk to his teacher , about the academics, she will not comment and suggest much about changing school , then speak to the principal or head teacher, that you feel your kids memeory is not been train fully . they might accept it directly or indirectly , or will explain you wether thats the case or not . then on your gut feeling , try the best school for your kid , from next year onwards . be prepared for that .
Answer by richard b
Don’t bother to write! All this will do is allow the head of the school to come up with a reasonable-sounding excuse for the situation as you see it.
Arrange an appointment with the Head of Year for the year in which your son is at present “learning.” Make sure that s/he knows that you will need a reasonable amount of time for this meeting (so s/he can’t try to blind you will science and get rid of you.) And then prepare your questions carefully, write them down and refer to them during the meeting. You MUST not allow yourself to be brushed off with glib, technical answers. You should try to find out what your son SHOULD be learning, especially in maths, English, I.T., and Science. This may be difficult to do but the effort will be worth it. I had similar trouble with my step-son’s education but things soon were put right when his teachers found that I myself was a deputy head teacher and knew what I was talking about. Try to talk to similar aged children from different schools to see what they are working on. The National Curriculum is very prescriptive as to what is taught in each year and your son should be being taught the same as in other schools. If this is not possible try to consult some educational work books or teachers’ planning books. There are books available at WHSmith’s called “100 Literacy Hours” or “100 Numeracy Hours” (and others) with one book for each year group. These are what are often used by teachers to plan lessons. They contain, not only lesson plans, but half-termly schemes of work as delineated by the National Curriculum. If you could go to the school and say, “According to the National Curriculum a boy of my son’s age should have covered X and Y and Z last term and should now be working on A and B and C,” the teacher facing you will not be able to argue with you. S/he should be impressed by your knowledge, research and interest.
Anyway, this is what I would do, but them I am a (retired) teacher.
P.S. Again, homework is more or less compulsory according to the National Curriculum.
Answer by snowding
lazy teachers are everywhere. they teach (if that is a “teach”) easy things in class, and let you, parents teach complicated things at home, or let students work out difficult things which their teachers havn’t mentioned in the class at all. that is the reality of our education. you can swallow, not blame because we already accept the system. havn’t you found that your son’s teachers have been very keen in a lot fun activities? I tell you schooling is not all about funs. learning is a training, sometimes needs your tolerance and patience and a lot of brain energies, that means boring sometimes.
shake your hands buddy, I have the same feeling about my kids.
Answer by John M
1) Is this “across the board” or in one or two specific subjects?
2) Is the work appropriate to your son’s ability? Are the low standards in the work set or in your son’s ability to do it?
3) Have you carefully examined his school books and (a) the standards of his work and (b) the standards of the teacher’s marking? [This will give a clue as to whom is at fault – pupil or teacher.]
I ask this, because, as a teacher myself [in a school that had a near perfect inspection recently] I would recommend you don’t address the school’s specific curriculum but, instead, how appropriate and challenging it is to the learning needs of your child.
Irrespective of any wider school issues [which are the responsibility of the LEA and Inspectorate], the issues you must raise are those that relate SPECIFICALLY to the progress your son is making. The work he receives MUST enable him to make PROGRESS appropriate to his ability. If this is not the case, the school is failing HIM, and this is an issue the school must address with a parent.
To criticise the school in general is to invite a defensive response or dismissal of your points as “a matter for the Governors” .
Talk to the Year Tutor, note the responses [and let him/her see you are writing down the responses], give it a term, then if necessary write to the Head with a cc to the Chair of Governors.
What do you think? Answer below!