Teaching & Learning

How to get the most out of Parent-Teacher interviews

Parent-Teacher interviews are a significant part of how we communicate with you about your son’s achievement and engagement at school. While feedback uploads are based around performance in a specific task, and reports give a snapshot of achievement across a semester, the power of the Parent-Teacher interview is that it can provide a clear pathway for future improvement in a range of areas.

Here are some tips to help get the most out of the time with your son’s teachers:

• Plan your schedule

You may not need to see all of your son’s teachers however, make sure you don’t restrict yourself to the core subjects i.e. Mathematics, English and Science. Ask your son which teachers he would also like you to see; sometimes this gives him an opportunity to show what he is proud of in his learning.

• Prepare before interviews

Prepare for the meeting by asking your son how he believes he is progressing in each subject.  This preparation can help frame the interview, given that time is restricted to 5 minutes per interview.

• Student involvement

We believe that it is important for your son to attend the interview.  This is about his learning and he needs to engage in the process. Any outcomes are more likely to be successful if they are part of the shared vision.

• Keep track of time

If you run out of time agree to make a future appointment with the teacher and your son within the next few days.

• Look for common themes

If there is a common theme in all of the interviews it may a case of working with your son’s home room teacher or tutor, Year Level or House Leader in planning strategies to move forward. 

• Concerns

If you have any concerns regarding assessment or curriculum, it is St Bede’s College policy that you first speak to the teacher involved.  If there are further areas for clarification, the next person to contact is the Learning Area Leader for that subject.  

While parents are occasionally not happy with the progress of their children, the importance of parent-teacher interviews cannot be under estimated, especially in kick starting a change in attitude or direction.

For more information related to boys’ learning and wellbeing and to stay in touch with school news, ensure that you are receiving our newsletter.

Maria Haggett

Deputy Principal

Teaching and Learning