The biggest parents’ evening mistakes you can make – and what to ask

The timer is set, you now have five or 10 minutes to learn all you can about your child’s school life. Parents’ evening can feel like an amazing opportunity to learn more about your child; a chance to be surprised by skills which remain completely hidden at home, or it can become an oddly pressurised, awkward chat. So, we’ve asked teachers about the best, worst and frankly oddest questions they are asked, so parents and carers can get the most out of parents’ evening.

At least hopefully it will prove an antidote to any children’s claims that they do “nothing” for the 30 hours a week they spend in school. Shorts Come prepared Parents’ evening isn’t just an update on how your child is getting on, Lynn Provoost, an assistant secondary school headteacher explains: “It’s a chance for you, your child and their teachers to work together to remove barriers, celebrate strengths and plan for future progress,” she says.