Parent’s evening: Make it or break it

I I didn't have a particular good parents evening during my first year of A-levels, I left feeling like my subjects were harder than ever since I was really given that much encouragement. But instead of internalising it, I realised that the academic year had barely started and I still had plenty of time to turn things around and get better!

Parent’s evening is meant to keep your parents updated about your academic progress and meant to be an evening of constructive criticism so you can come away from it knowing what to improve and what you do well. Some go better than others, so here’s what you need to know.

1) Rack your brain for any questions you may have for the teachers.

During these evenings, naturally the teacher will be doing most of the talking since they want to give your parents/carers an overview of how our academic year is going so far. Your parents/carers may have questions for the teachers understandably since they are trying to find out how you’re doing in just under 10 minutes. However, you don’t have to be passive in this process. Your teacher may already tell you how you can improve but this is your moment to perhaps be more specific about what you’re struggling on. Don’t ask how to answer a particular equation because you’re meant to do that during lessons or after lessons. I’d be thinking along the lines of if you are struggling to revise properly or if the work you’re doing outside lesson isn’t reflected in your tests results, ask for some advice.

2) Take what your teachers are saying on-board (to an extent).

In most cases, the teachers are trying to give constructive criticism so take it on-board. They may realise things about your work or work ethic that you may not have noticed and so can give you really useful pointers. However, some teachers may also use parents evening to essentially tear you down. This is not always the case and they may just be honest if they are telling you that you may not be working hard enough or that you may be slacking but it is different if this is followed by sentences like ‘so you’re not going to achieve this grade’. Especially, if you’re willing to work.

3)Use this evening as motivation.

No matter how this evening goes, you should take it as motivation for the rest of the year. If it didn’t go too well, then use it as a starting point to begin on your improvements. Don’t get disheartened (especially if you get some disheartening comments). Thoroughly assess where you are now and then go from there. Prove it to yourself that you can do it. Work on yourself for yourself, this is not about proving anyone wrong, it’s about doing for yourself. If it went well, then also use it as guidance to keep doing what you’re doing.

4) What teachers are saying is meant to be guidance, not the be all and end all.

When teachers talk to us on these evenings, the fact that our parents/carers are there can add extra pressure, especially if you’re not hearing particularly great things. What the teachers are guiding you, so what they say is not fact. Yes, if you aren’t working it’s unlikely you will achieve the highest grades you possibly could, so if they say this, that does make sense. But if you are trying and they are telling you the same thing, the most you should take is as is an educated opinion. That’s all. They are not fortune tellers.

To conclude, if the academic year hasn't been going to great, this is the evening where you can take constructive criticism and turn things around!