Plain Sailing In Schools

One of the key elements of a good report is knowledge. Teachers deliver programmes of study through a sequence of lessons. As the lessons are being delivered and the pupils are learning, evidence of this learning is being compiled. The evidence may be transitory – through oral questions and answers, discussions and practical work such as that found in subjects like drama or physical education.

Good teachers need to be good assessors. They need to ensure that learning has occurred by assessing the quality of the outcomes from each lesson. In many cases, some recording of the outcomes should take place and the data added to on a regular basis.

A report is a statement that imparts this knowledge of the learning outcomes. It shows that a teacher has looked at the programme of study and has taken from it critical criteria that the pupil has had to meet to succeed in that subject. The teacher reports on this progress over a set period of time and the report refers specifically to this progress. The report encapsulates, for a parent, what the child has done over the school year and how their learning has measured up to the identified criteria and the skills that need to be mastered at the time.

Susan Davies (2006) states that a report should encapsulate and state:

• what has been taught
• what has been learnt
• how the pupil has done in relation to the expected norm for a child of that age
• what strengths the pupil has shown
• what weaknesses need to be addressed by the pupil
• the pupil’s attitude within the subject area towards classwork/homework/independent learning/working with others
• class targets for improvement that should be subject specific.

Ultimately, the report allows parents an insight into learning and ensures that they are part of a partnership made up of pupil, parents and the teacher/school.

The style

Parents are not usually familiar with national curriculum jargon, so it is best to stick to plain English. Reports look more professional if the vocabulary is descriptive and concise, so do avoid using the words ‘good’, ‘well’, ‘bad’ and ‘average’. These words give a very general picture and they are not very informative. Here are some more interesting and useful comments:

• participates sensibly
• grasps new concepts quickly
• loves learning new skills
• understands clearly
• takes pleasure in
• concentrates for long periods
• enjoys being involved in
• lively imagination
• wide general knowledge
• has a wide range of interests
• continues to improve.

The tone

Be aware of not making the whole report too negative. Try to focus on positives as much as possible. Although you have to be honest about thechild’s shortcomings, it is important to highlight their strengths and your tone should displayyour own interest in and care for the child.

Here are some expressions that demonstrate a positive attitude to the pupil:

• I was pleased when…
• I hope he/she will soon…
• I should be delighted if…
• I hope she/he will develop her/his talent for…
• I enjoy teaching X because…
• I wish X well next year.

The following comments can be used to highlight the pupil’s weaknesses without causing too much offence.

For the less able:

• slow but perseveres
• tries hard but needs extra support with
• does his/her best but lacks confidence
• is fairly keen but has a short attention span
• often tries hard but can be careless
• needs a lot of practice at each level
• copes best in a small group
• needs extra practice at each level to keep up with the class
• acquires new skills/concepts after a lot of practice.

For the reluctant learner:

• makes avoidable mistakes
• needs to check his/her work more carefully
• needs to be supervised closely to keep her/him on task
• needs to put in more effort to keep up with the group
• is easily distracted
• often needs to finish off his/her work at break-times

For the child with poor social skills:

• needs to consider other children’s feelings
• has not yet learnt how to make friends
• does not realise that other children will treat him/her exactly as he/she treats them
• does not realise that other children deserve as much attention as him/her
• must learn that he/she will never get his/her own way by giving cheek

Hopefully, these tips and suggestions will make your daunting task of writing reports much easier.

It would be great if you could share your views and ideas, so please do leave a comment. I very much look forward to responding.