Education advice needed

FriendlyJ

Hiya
Can anyone tell me if a school is failing to provide a good standard of education in a certain subject what as a parent we can do about it? 15 yr DD's school has admitted they are failing in maths & are struggling to find a solution. I am very worried about her as her falling maths grades seem to be affecting her confidence. Doing a lot of extra at home but I would like to know what argument I can take back to the school - do they have a legal obligation to provide a certain standard of education at school?
Thanks J

dmg24

They do have an obligation to provide a certain standard of education, but how you would measure that standard is very difficult to say. What did their inspection report say?

Do you know why they are not reaching a good standard? If it is staffing shortages and they have already spent their budget there will be little else they can do.

Could I ask where you are in the East Mids? I am a Trainee Maths Teacher at Nottingham Uni, so have experience of some schools in the area.

FriendlyJ

Thats the one do you know it I hope I'm not causing trouble
J

Hapless_2

Right, under the law, the education responsibility is the PARENTS. Even if the school is failing, it is the parents responsibility to ensure the child is recieving education.

7 Duty of parents to secure education of children of compulsory school age
The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable—
(a) to his age, ability and aptitude, and
(b) to any special educational needs he may have,
either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1996/ukpga_19960056_en_2#pt1-ch1-pb3-l1g7

so even if the child has attended everyday and is suffering from bad teaching standards, it is your responsibility to ensure the education is suitable.
Legal action has been attempted before and failed.

dmg24

I haven't had anything to do with the school, but I know of them by reputation. What I have heard is not good, and I can understand your concerns.

Is your daughter in Year 10 or 11?

If Year 10, I would actually consider changing schools. Though they are taking steps to get things back on track, I don't think that anything will change in the near future.

If Year 11, then TBH I don't think that you can do anything regarding the school that will have any impact on your daughter's success at GCSE. I would focus on helping her all you can at home.

Have you had any guidance on how you can help her at home? Are you confident in Maths?

I wouldn't completely blame the Maths Dept for the problem. They struggle to retain more experienced teachers because they can work in more settled schools for the same (or more) pay, and budget constraints stop them from recruiting other experienced staff. Added to that, there is a massive shortage of Maths teachers anyway, so the situation is far from ideal.

I spent a few days at Brunts School, and have to say how impressed I was with their Maths Team. They do have links with other schools in the area, but I'm not sure if yours is one of them?

FriendlyJ

She is year 10, but I think moving will only unsettle her further - the only advice we have been offered is Bitesize. Which is v good, but not the same as having a motivated teacher. I don't blame the teaching dept as such, I think it is a badly managed school.

FriendlyJ

Brunts is v good went to appeal to get her in there but no luck. Thats interesting to know that is it my responsibility to ensure her ed. Does that mean I could bring her home for the maths period & she could have undisprupted bitesize? then go back to school?

dmg24

The first thing I would suggest is getting your own copy of the textbook that they use at school. Then if there is anything that she could not understand in class, you have the same text to refer to that the teacher has used, so you know that you are explaining it in the same way.

Has she done any coursework yet? If this is part of the syllabus, it is a good place to pick up valuable marks and take the pressure off at exam time. I can find you some more info on coursework standards if you need them.

Bitesize is a very good resource.

The thing with Maths is that the only way you can really learn and understand the concepts is practice, and lots of it. However, you need lots of questions to practice with!

Do you know what level she is studying (Foundation, Intermediate etc), and what syllabus? I can try to find some helpful books for you, many that you can order from the library.

dmg24

They could not stop you taking her out of Maths classes, as long as you could prove that you were teaching her the subject. You would raise some eyebrows, but I would be very tempted to do it.

andyrules

Friendly if I were you I would get her a private tutor unless it's financially absolutely impossible. It won't be cheap, but well worth it. You might get away with 1 session per week if it helps her work independently at home.

DMG as you are in the area.....:D

FriendlyJ

dmg24 ur a star!
I know of a school that needs a good teacher like you! lol
She was intermediate has now dropped (along with her friends) & we are starting with her again. My maths is pretty rubbish, but I am enthusiastic oh is good at it tho. Her Mentor is v confident that she can turn it around again, but he acknowledged that it wouldn't be through school, but at home! :mad:
Any advice on books would be greatly appreciated, I am v grateful that you are taking the time to help :T
J