TIE HoyUnderstanding a school report: what to ask the teacher
Separate grades, effort and participation. Ask the teacher which support your child needs next.
Do the report’s ratings all describe the same thing?
Read attainment, progress, effort/participation, attendance and comments separately.
Use this report’s key and the school’s explanations; ask about missing labels.
The English reporting framework also separates progress, development needs and attendance; it applies to England.
What should I ask to get a next step?
Choose one unclear comment and ask for a classroom or work example.
Ask what your child can do first, how school will help and when to review.
Check “Good effort” separately from attainment. For participation, ask which activity the teacher means.
What to do
Contact the teacher with one exact comment and a focused question.
Bring
- Report and rating key
- One exact comment
- Relevant work/your child’s account
- A question about the next step
Steps
- Check reporting period, subject, rating key and grade definitions.
- Read attainment, progress, effort/participation and attendance separately; select one unclear comment.
- Ask: “Can you give a classroom/work example? What should my child do first?”
- Agree a child action, school support and review point; note the confirmed plan.
Basis
England’s official framework separates progress, development needs and attendance. Use those distinctions with the actual school report; English reporting duties are not imposed on Spanish schools.
More questions
What if my child’s account differs from the comment?
Compare both accounts against one lesson or piece of work. Record the exact difference and ask the teacher to clarify.