School Reports - cut and paste jobs

LilElvis

This is from my 4 year old's school report:

"***** is fully aware of the Golden Rules, however she does like to check some are in place, especially the 'Listen to People' Golden Rule, which to her daily amazement usually is"

Sadly, this statement is entirely accurate and definitely refers to her

tyllwyd

In my daughter's secondary school there is no option at all for any written comment, just a list of target grades and then whether they are on target or above/below, and excellent/satisfactory/unsatisfactory for categories like homework/timekeeping etc. We do get three reports each year, so at least it does give you an idea if things are changing through the year.

pollypenny

I remember my school experimenting with tick box comments in the 90s!

I hated it and squashed personalise comments about each pupil underneath.

engineer_amy

my high school reports were always single A4 affairs, double sided with all 15 (?) subject listed and only 2-3 lines of space for the teachers to write by hand. it was only in my final year (2003) that they had typed ones, but I don't know what way this was achieved. All reports had to be signed by the headmaster, which we realised was actually a rubber stamp, you could see the ink marks from the background when stamped too hard. I suppose signing 1300 reports by hand would get a bit tiring.


Most of the time it was a generic comment along the lines of progressing well etc, until we got to GCSE and A level classes where the teachers had a bit more time to get to know us, with smaller classes. at this point the comments seemed to get a bit more personal and meaningful.

gregg1

burlington6 wrote: »

If you're not happy, say something. Just because they're teachers doesn't mean they are above criticism.

Particularly on this forum!

Kaye1

When I was a form teacher, I used to spent a lot of tie stood at the form room door with a pack of baby wipes for make up to be removed and waiting for ties to be re-tied and shoes put on.
So when I had to write the reports, I actually wrote this.
Eg. "I spend a lot of time waiting for Jill to remove her make up in the morning." Or, "I have to ask Jack to put on school shoes every day without fail."
It was amazing how many parents contacted me to say they had no idea so and so was wearing make up in school (clean when left the house) or were taking trainers into school.
It was so successful the Head of Year adopted it and all form teachers had to mention how they arrived in the morning- but it was also a good way to praise the children who turned up every day neat and tidy.

maman

fussypensioner wrote: »

In the 1990's the school I worked in was sent a CD from DOE with an example of childrens progress and how to phase it on a report e.g.

Instead of saying little johnnie is disruptive and has behaviour problems, they had to say "we are working towards new goals to get a positive outcome for little Johnnies behaviour"

Its not the Teachers fault - their hands are tied.

I remember writing euphemistically 'H**** is a high spirited girl' when I was teaching the daughter of one of my college tutors. When he came to Parents' Evening he just said ' Well Done! I know she's a pain in the ar*e!'.


There is far less freedom for teachers to write what they might want these days. The report writing is a form of accountability to parents so they tend to lift statements of what the child has achieved from the national curriculum. In core subjects (like Maths and English) that will be different for different levels of achievement so perhaps three or four statements used across the class. In foundation subjects (like History) it's more likely to be what the class has covered but with different wording like 'Jonny has experienced, or Jonny has some understanding, or Jonny is confident' etc. Then there's the expectation that teachers share the target for what the child needs to work on next, again often expressed in curriculum speak.


Most reports do have a box for General Progress or attitude but that's more difficult to personalise at secondary level with so many teachers involved.


There isn't a problem with translating the report into common English but then some might come across as quite blunt.


I think OP's school is completely OTT sending out pages and pages. That's really not necessary but there is this belief that Ofsted likes pretty paperwork and if the school is Outstanding then it must be right!

Jagraf

I never really took much notice of reports. My DD school was really good and we were told if there was a problem ages before a report. Not saying all school are the same though :eek:

Jagraf

LilElvis wrote: »

This is from my 4 year old's school report:

"***** is fully aware of the Golden Rules, however she does like to check some are in place, especially the 'Listen to People' Golden Rule, which to her daily amazement usually is"

Sadly, this statement is entirely accurate and definitely refers to her

Love it! :rotfl::rotfl:

Savvy_Sue

LilElvis wrote: »

This is from my 4 year old's school report:

"***** is fully aware of the Golden Rules, however she does like to check some are in place, especially the 'Listen to People' Golden Rule, which to her daily amazement usually is"

Sadly, this statement is entirely accurate and definitely refers to her

:rotfl: In DS3's first two school reports, his headteacher described him as 'interesting'! We knew exactly what she meant ...