Parents’ Evenings by @StuartLock

Name: Stuart Lock
Twitter name: @StuartLock
Sector: Secondary
Subject taught (if applicable): Maths
Position: Headteacher
What is your advice about? Parents’ Evenings

1: Ensure you book in all your pupils’ appointments early. Phone the most likely not to show.

2: Know each parent’s surname to greet them, note it next to the pupil – this starts the meeting professionally. Ensure you know pupils names (see point 1).

3: Take class books to show if you get an argument from a child or parent. Also sit close to head of dept or mentor.

4: No interview should take more than 5 minutes, most 2 or 3. Parents want to know: behaviour, work ethic, progress. If you carry on you’ll repeat yourself.

5: Be honest, brutally if necessary. Parents must hear it as it is, without sugar coating or superfluous words.

Parents’ Evenings by Fiona

Name: Fiona
Twitter: None given
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: MFL
Position: Assistant Head of Lanugages
5 Bits of Advice About: Parents’ evenings

1. Shake hands and stand to greet parents.
2. Have assessment data in front of you.
3. Have a target in mind for each student.
4. Smile!
5. Use positive and encouraging language, even if it’s quite challenging!

Parents’ Evenings by @teach_smith

Name: Daniel Smith
Twitter: @teach_smith
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: English
Position: Teacher
5 Bits of Advice About: Parents’ evenings

1. Chase up appointments as the pupils who don’t set a time are often the ones you need to see the most.
2. Set up your desk so that you have data to hand and perhaps exercise books. Some literature about the structure of the GCSE course may also be relevant.
3. Structure of an appointment: start with a positive statement, discuss reading, writing, speaking & listening, motivation and set one, maybe two specific targets.
4. Be as concise as possible: you will aid the other teachers, avoid a queue and you may get to leave early. You may also be able to ‘grab’ a parent waiting in a long queue.
5. Try to build in toilet breaks between blocks of appointments and try not to leave the most difficult discussions until last.

Parents’ Evenings by @amforrester1

Name: Amy Forrester
Twitter: @amforrester1
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: English
Position: Teacher and NATE Research Officer
5 Bits of Advice About: Parents’ Evenings

1. If you’re nervous, talk to colleagues in advance. Use it as a CPD opportunity too- watch and observe other staff if you have a spare 5 mins.
2. Make sure a conversation takes place- not just you droning on. Engage the child with questions as a basis for the discussion.
3. Take examples of things a child has done that is excellent, or not so much. Sharing this is really powerful.
4. Take copies of all data- academic tracking, homework submissions (especially if this is an issue). If you want to discuss a particular area, have evidence to hand.
5. Don’t leave raising problems until parents evenings. Phone parents when problems happen so it isn’t a surprise on the night. Work with them.