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Just got DD's mid year report - what to think?

Sugarbeach23383

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 20:17

She finished her Reception Year (or FS2) in the UK last year and started Yr 1 at the Dubai school since Sep 2010. Long story short, her school report went from generally glowing at Reception Year end, to within expectations (i.e. average) and slightly above average in a few areas. I'm trying to think what could explain this gap or trend.

Does the Dubai school mark particularly harshly? Teacher not paying enough attention to understand DD's strength's and weakness, so safer to just say "within expectations"? Is it reflective of the teaching? Or maybe DD is not as bright as I thought? Do they want to mark everyone as broadly "within expectations" so as to save resources/teacher's time? Anyone else having experience of surprising differences in their LO' school reports since coming to Dubai?

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Sticky Wicket36659

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Latest post on 12 February 2011 - 22:31

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond. Will be talking to the teacher. Maybe I need ask better questions to get quite a lot more than the "fine...." answers. So difficult to know where the LO really is, or should be or can be, compared to her own self and also her peers....so many variables. Do a quick search on the net for some simple tests based on NC of UK, you can do your own evaluation, follow your gut instinct on this, not all teachers are equal.

Sugarbeach23383

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Latest post on 12 February 2011 - 22:28

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond. Will be talking to the teacher. Maybe I need ask better questions to get quite a lot more than the "fine...." answers. So difficult to know where the LO really is, or should be or can be, compared to her own self and also her peers....so many variables.

242

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 12 February 2011 - 21:42

I wouldn't panic. As a teacher, levels are interpreted differently by different individuals. As a Head of Dept I had to standardise my departments assessments so we all sang from the same hymn sheets. In another school a different HOD will standardise differently. This is one of the few positive reasons for Sats test as everyone's marking is standardised by external moderators. I would take more notice of the teacher's comments of strengths and weaknesses at this young age and if these comments aren't clear make an appointment to see her teacher. Am sure they would be happy to clear up any confusion. Hope this helps!

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 February 2011 - 13:59

Again, without reading the report it is hard to comment. Most kids are now given personal targets and not compared to others in the class. Maybe her targets are high and therefore she is attaining these and therefore working 'at expectation'. Another pupil might have been set much lower targets and been overachieving and got an 'exceeding expectation' report. This would still show that your daughter is doing better overall. Hope this makes some sense

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Latest post on 11 February 2011 - 11:59

Had you been told she was well above average in October and then you discovered (not told) that she was now well below average I would be concerned. That is a significant difference and something that should flag to an experienced teacher that something is not quite right.. I am sure in your case as Claire says that there has been a period of adjustment and you will see a difference again next term. I think we do expect alot from our kids today, but we also have to rely on the teaching staff to be on top of the game and to be talking with parents and identifying why specifically they believe a gap has occurred..

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Latest post on 11 February 2011 - 11:26

The report is well written, it is what it is. In fact, I probably would have been quite happy with it if it wasn't for the Reception Year end report from last year. It was the difference that hit me. I'm not worried that there is a serious problem, having said that I still want the child to have her potentials fully developed, and not get lost as one of the numbers as "within expectations". I will be talking to the teacher in the coming Parents evening. I don't do pick ups, so don't get a chance to catch the teacher regularly, and when I do it's "How's she doing?", "Fine....she is where she needs to be..."..grrr. edited by Sugarbeach on 11/02/2011 Just a thought - something that you do need to factor in here is that she has undergone a huge huge change by leaving her friends and her school in the UK and coming over to Dubai to a new bedroom, new home, new school, new friends - so they have lots of other things to deal with as well as their school work. It might just be that she's not able to perform to her max with everything else that she's had to get used to. I think what's good is that she's where they would expect her to be - they are not flagging that they have any concerns and she will probably fly after this half term. We do seem to expect so much from these little ones.

Sugarbeach23383

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Latest post on 11 February 2011 - 11:18

The report is well written, it is what it is. In fact, I probably would have been quite happy with it if it wasn't for the Reception Year end report from last year. It was the difference that hit me. I'm not worried that there is a serious problem, having said that I still want the child to have her potentials fully developed, and not get lost as one of the numbers as "within expectations". I will be talking to the teacher in the coming Parents evening. I don't do pick ups, so don't get a chance to catch the teacher regularly, and when I do it's "How's she doing?", "Fine....she is where she needs to be..."..grrr. <em>edited by Sugarbeach on 11/02/2011</em>

Little Poppet17827

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Latest post on 11 February 2011 - 10:58

The mid term reports are really just a snapshot of how your child is doing IMO. The whole picture is from discussions with the teacher at pick up, parent/teacher interviews and in other ad-hoc discussions throughout the term. If there was a serious problem, you'd know about it and it wouldn't be communicated through the mid term reports. Why don't you ask to see the teacher and start the conversation with a general "How is my DD doing" and see how things go from there. I wouldn't be too worried just yet SB :)

spongemonkey980

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Latest post on 11 February 2011 - 10:53

Also, I believe in some schools teachers are given a tick box from people who aren't actually teachers themselves but from departments that dictate what a child should know while the teacher is aware that the children won't actually know the content until the end of the year - but this doesn't come across. All that is shown is a bad report that doesn't reflect the childs' abilities at all but the standards of a person who doesn't really know the education system but sets the bar for it. :\:

spongemonkey980

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Latest post on 11 February 2011 - 10:51

Sugarbeach, you are talking about a very young child here - obviously I am commenting here in the dark as it were ( same as everyone else) . I don't know the "standard" of work she was doing in the UK so maybe they were doing "slightly less academic" stuff? ( more play and fun? ) Don't know the school your little one is in now but some do adopt a more academic approach than others ( spelling lists, lots of reading etc etc) so maybe they are getting to grips with more "academic"stuff ....? Really this is very early days and she is also very young. I wouldn't get overly worried about it BUT you might want to just make an appointment to have a chat with the teacher - not all guns blazing but more the "Oh I am a bit worried that she is maybe not coping blah blah. Her report was a bit concerning etc etc" and just have a chat about it. You may well find that everything is OK! At least it will give you some insight and alert the teacher to your concern. Don't even start thinking about switching schools on the basis of ONE mid term report.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 February 2011 - 10:34

Balancing up the debate, there are British schools in Dubai whose teachers prepare good reports. These good reports, are a culmination of the cycle of planning and assessment which is key to every child's successful education. At the start of the year each child has learning targets set for the mid-year, based on their prior learning experiences. If the child has been receiving education in a UK school (state or private) their previous report will help inform the target setting along with teacher assessment on entry to the new school. The mid-year point offers the opportunity for teachers, children and parents to assess and agree the next targets in the learning journey to the end of year. Reporting is an integral part of a good assessment system as is the opportunity for follow-up discussios between teachers, parents and pupils. If parents are unhappy with the reports they receive this could be symptomatic of wider issues and an indicator that, at the very least, further discussion is required. The writing of a good report is a truly professional skill . The teachers in Dubai who have spent many hours compiling such reports deserve aknowledgement too.

Sugarbeach23383

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Latest post on 11 February 2011 - 10:11

SB, has your DD recently had a new teacher? She's had the same teacher since Sep 10, she'll have a new teacher after half term.

liveandletlive37445

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Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 22:08

At Foundation Stage they are assessed on the early years curriculum, 6 (5???) areas of learning such as personal and social skills, knowledge about the world around them etc whereas at key stage 1 (years 1 and 2) it's more about the academics, literacy, numeracy etc. Within expectations can be fairly broad, lower to top end and above expectations more reflective of performance at year 2 level for example. I would talk to the teacher as tick marks in a box are so hard to interpret. HTH :)

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Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 21:30

Mid-year reports here tend to be brief (at older DD's school we just get arrows! - eg straight arrow=they are on target etc) while the end of year reports are a lot more detailed. If your dd is working to expectations that's fine as she is not falling behind but keeping up with the targets set for her. Talk to the teacher about it and it will probably put your mind at rest.

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Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 21:20

I've had the same last term! Glowing in the uk to average here and I realised it's not my daughter changing but the teaching being poor. I know this as I've since moved schools and she is doing amazingly well again. I thought all the same things as you - how can she go from being an A student in a great prep school to just average here? I'd look at the school - maybe she needs somewhere more challenging? Think you are spot on there Nobbles. Sorry, not quite getting the logic. If she goes to a "more challenging" school (not that there's likely to be any options at Yr 1), wouldn't she be even more "behind"? When you have a bright child that is put in an average school, I think a more challenging school is what they need to bring them back up to their level and get them interested again. Won't work for everyone and I agree finding a year one place may be difficult but personally I feel that a child excelling in the uk should not be doing just average here when the schools aren't as up to speed. Good luck x

Lady Bubbles29805

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Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 21:11

SB, has your DD recently had a new teacher?

Sugarbeach23383

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Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 20:57

I've had the same last term! Glowing in the uk to average here and I realised it's not my daughter changing but the teaching being poor. I know this as I've since moved schools and she is doing amazingly well again. I thought all the same things as you - how can she go from being an A student in a great prep school to just average here? I'd look at the school - maybe she needs somewhere more challenging? Think you are spot on there Nobbles. Sorry, not quite getting the logic. If she goes to a "more challenging" school (not that there's likely to be any options at Yr 1), wouldn't she be even more "behind"?

Sticky Wicket36659

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Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 20:52

I've had the same last term! Glowing in the uk to average here and I realised it's not my daughter changing but the teaching being poor. I know this as I've since moved schools and she is doing amazingly well again. I thought all the same things as you - how can she go from being an A student in a great prep school to just average here? I'd look at the school - maybe she needs somewhere more challenging? Think you are spot on there Nobbles.

353

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 20:28

I've had the same last term! Glowing in the uk to average here and I realised it's not my daughter changing but the teaching being poor. I know this as I've since moved schools and she is doing amazingly well again. I thought all the same things as you - how can she go from being an A student in a great prep school to just average here? I'd look at the school - maybe she needs somewhere more challenging?

Sugarbeach23383

1566

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 20:21

Have you compared it to some other reports in the class? You may find they are all the same! Often a ploy by some schools to send the first report out poor and then a glowing one by the summer term, "Look how great we are" bla bla. Didn't want to go down the road of asking other mums about their LO's reports, although it is tempting.

Sugarbeach23383

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 20:20

Thanks LB. Will show you both.

Sticky Wicket36659

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 20:20

Have you compared it to some other reports in the class? You may find they are all the same! Often a ploy by some schools to send the first report out poor and then a glowing one by the summer term, "Look how great we are" bla bla.

Lady Bubbles29805

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EW GURU

Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 20:20

Don't want to comment here but happy to read report and chat in person. LBxx

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