This year’s school reports

Last Updated on 29 November 2023 by Colette

For about a week I’d been obsessively checking Ben and Chloe’s book bags, asking them “Have you got anything for me?”  Finally, on Friday, I was handed those envelopes I had been waiting for.

I can’t deny being a little nervous about Ben’s school report this year.  I know he’s something of a stereotypical boy in the classroom – messing about, hates writing – and then of course, there’s the new assessment arrangements.  I fully expected the changes in the National Curriculum to have hit him hard.  When the goal posts have been moved, you can’t always be expected to achieve them can you?  I had prepared myself for my boy who had been previously exceeding expectations in most areas to now be “working towards” in some areas and perhaps meeting “expected” levels in others.  At Parents’ Evening earlier in the year I had asked his teacher where he was in “old money” – by which I meant, if she was still assessing him on the old National Curriculum levels, where would he be.  This meant that even if he was struggling to meet the new expectations, I could understand how he was achieving in relation to “old Year 2” (which is where my experience lies).

Despite my apprehension, I couldn’t be prouder of him.  He absolutely nailed his SATs and his report is a really positive but fair representation of our boy . . . I laughed out loud at the suggestion that “Ben is always willing to answer questions and has lots to say in class discussions, he just needs to remember to listen as much as he speaks”.  That line could have easily been lifted from my own school reports not just at his age but probably right through school (and perhaps even now some might say!)  Predictably his report says that his poor handwriting and presentation detracts from the quality of his written work and I think that’s probably the main thing which is holding him back in terms of achieving the next level in writing.  In fairness I’ve always said I expect him to be the sort of boy who’s full of great ideas but can’t get them down on paper – so the fact that he still achieved “expected” for Writing is pretty exciting to me!  All in, I may have shed a tear or two and given him a super huge hug.  I’m really proud of how well he’s doing and I just hope he can get his head down a bit when he goes into the Juniors in September!

When it comes to school, Chloe is a completely different kettle of fish and is much more your stereotypical hard working and conscientious girl.  Not once have I had to speak to her teacher because she’s been in trouble and I can’t imagine her ever doing anything other than what she’s been asked, as carefully as she can.  She’s keen to please and wants to do well.  Not for one second did I think I would find anything disappointing in Chloe’s report and luckily she didn’t let me down on that score.  Her reading and writing has come on in leaps and bounds this year and her results reflect that with her “exceeding expectations” pretty much across the board.  I think the only area where she achieved “expected” was in Maths.  Despite being one of the youngest in her class, she is confident and mature (when she feels like it of course, if it comes down to a missing sock the maturity levels drop dramatically!)  I think she’s really ready to move into Year 1 and I’m sure she’s going to love her new teacher.

I know that academic achievement isn’t everything – but I’m super proud of these two right now.