11 Plus Exams Forum

I am wondering what the norm for marking in senior schools is as I am becoming a bit disillusioned this year with some of DS1’s teachers.

The marking of both homework and class work seems to be somewhat haphazard. In some subjects they get nothing marked for several weeks and then get 4 or 5 pieces back with comments and corrections to do in one go. For other subjects, like PSD, even though they are set homework for this once a week, none of it has been marked since the beginning of term. When he had more homework for PSD last night his comment was, what’s the point in putting any effort into it, as no one marks it.

Some teachers are really helpful in their comments for example saying what is good, what could be improved / expanded, what would need to be added to get a higher mark. This really helps DS1 who is very concrete in his thinking. But other teachers just seem to put a tick and a grade. And as I say for other subjects little or nothing is marked.

We have a parents evening after half term and I want to bring this up but I want to approach it constructively – not as a moaning parent.

So what do others think is good practice / what should we be expecting. How can I ask this without upsetting the staff? Also who do I bring up the problem with PSD with as they have a different teacher for this subject most weeks. Should I therefore just discuss the marking with the form teacher only and leave them to filter it down to the other subject teachers?

Is this school an independent or a GS?
My DS gets his homework back at the next lesson following it being handed in.
Helpful comments and constructive critiscism plus a grade for all subjects.
It does give them an incentive to do their best work when they get a quick response while the work is still fresh in their minds.

Is PSD personal and social development? If so it may not be marked as they could be researching for a discussion the following lesson.

I always collect in books weekly and mark homework giving feedback - most schools have a marking policy - I would get a copy to check what is expected.

We have been lucky in our DDs school as her work is regularly marked and includes comments for parents/DD as to how it can be improved. However, some of this is a result of comments in the last OFSTED report which directly referred to feedback. I wonder when your school is due for its next visit?

From a parental viewpoint, I think that I would mention to the staff (whoever you are meeting) that it is difficult for you to support your child in making progress and improving, if you are not made aware, via teacher comments, of what is wrong with/missing from their current work standard. I personally think this is a more positive approach - I do understand what you mean about being seen as a moaning parent. It stresses the Home-School partnership approach too!

Hope you have at least some level of success with this one!

Thanks for the suggestions

Zorro - yes, This is a GS. Your son's school sounds like the type of of marking I had hoped for.

Guest55 - Yes PSD is personal and social development - quite a few of the homework items set for this are essay style things so yes they may well be about encouraging them to research.

I hadn't realised that schools had a marking policy - can I just ask for a copy?

Thank you, another worried mum, for the right way to phrase it at open evening - that's what I need I think is a way to ask.

The school had an ofsted quite recently and I don't remember seeing anything about it in there. What's always difficult is to know whether the level of marking that is done is what is considered normal. It's just that I know my son needs quite direct guidelines as to how to improve and without something to go on I think he often flounders.