First term report translation- National curriculum help please!

**DillyDally** · 21-12-2011, 11:23am

VC - it wasn't like this in primary

Well, not at DS2's primary school.

**Faith** · 21-12-2011, 11:40am

Thanks Ruby, that's very helpful.

I've found a table on the school website

where they publish the entire year results, and it seems her grades are upper end, but not exceptional

So that helps put it into perspective a bit. They also say it's the level for the current topic they're studying, not an overall achievement in that level

So for example if they're doing a biology topic in science, next term when they move to physics it might drop.

Is this another box-ticker for teachers then? Seems like a waste of time to me. A simple sentence saying they're working hard and doing well would tell me much more.

VC In DD's school they only use these schemes for their own box-ticking. The reports shared with the parents focus on the childs achievement, rather than comparing to some sort of national scale. If it hadn't been for me asking whether her non reading ability was normal for her age I wouldn't have come across it at all.

Which brings me on to another gripe with SD's school. The expect 2 hours a night homework. In year 7. 2 hours. A night. How the hell are they meant to have hobbies, play sports, have a life? I's not tv and video games responsible for the obesity crisis, it's the amount of time sat down doing homework!!

**Ruby** · 21-12-2011, 11:47am

Originally Posted by Faith

Is this another box-ticker for teachers then? Seems like a waste of time to me. A simple sentence saying they're working hard and doing well would tell me much more.

Exactly.

Two hours homework a night seems excessive. I bet she doesn't get anything like that. In my experience, however, the amount of homework is driven by the parents; if you're 'lucky' enough to live in quite a pushy area then the homework demands will increase.

**Anne** · 21-12-2011, 04:40pm

Originally Posted by Faith

Is this another box-ticker for teachers then? Seems like a waste of time to me. A simple sentence saying they're working hard and doing well would tell me much more.

You wouldnt believe how much a teachers life is governed by this, drives us insane! Children learn in fits and starts esp on different topics/subjects. Doesnt sound like you have much to worry about.