Are you worried that the standard of education at your child’s school is far from what it should be? Do you worry about the level of attainment your child has reached and feel that it just isn’t high enough for their age?
You may be right – according to research from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), a quarter of children are seeing taught in schools that are considered less than good by Ofsted, the regulatory body for schools in England. According to the ONS are still being taught in such schools.
So what can you do to help your child?
1. Speak to your child’s teacher regularly
While teachers may bemoan and ‘interfering’ parent, showing concern and supporting your child at home to reinforce their learning in the classroom can be an effective tool to make sure your child gets the best out of their school education.
Speak to your cild’s teacher and ask what you can do at home to support your child, how you can help them in weaker areas, and what resources (books, handouts) the school can provide or recommend.
2. Complain
This is something you should do with caution, and only if you really feel that the education your child is receiving is really dismal. Having spoken with your child’s teacher a few times, if you feel there is no improvement, you can book an appointment to meet with the headteacher. Be sure to meet with the class teacher first, as you may be referred back to him/her to allow the situation to be resolved before getting formal.
If this still doesn’t work, you could write to the school governors, detailing your concerns – with proof. Try not to be emotional when you write, remaining constructive each time.
If you have serious concerns about the school, you could always whistle blow anonymously to Ofsted, the regulator of schools in the UK. Find out more on the Ofsted website, www.ofsted.gov.uk
3. Do your research
There are so many good websites out there that can help you get to grips with what your child should be learning, and how you can support the. A couple of our favourites are Theschoolrun.com and BBC Bitesize , but there are many, many more that you can find by doing a Google search.
4. Hire a tutor
Sometimes, with all the best will in the world, your child’s teacher may not be receptive to your concerns, and the more you speak with him/her, the more tensions can start to rise.
Why not hire a tutor? You can find good tutors who have a very good and thorough understanding of the national curriculum, GCSEs and 11-plus exam preparations for grammar and private school entry who can ensure that your child is taught all the subjects they need to excel (and to a high standard).
A shameless plug for anyone who lives in the Bromley, Kent area is Geek School, but you can find a tutor closer to home on Tutor Pages.
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