Big Wide Talk parents discuss the curriculum with QCA

Big Wide Talk's first membership seminar of 2009 was held in London on the 19th February. The plan was for two simultaneous events to take place: the seminar itself, and Big Wide Walking - an expedition for the children whose parents were attending the seminar. It will take us some time to fully document these events. Meanwhile, here are the headlines. The agenda for the seminar involved a morning session run by Ros Hicks (seen above, far right) from QCA. Ros was concerned to talk with the parents about the development work QCA have undertaken for the primary review that is being conducted by Jim Rose. Ros was especially keen to contact parents who would not normally access the survey online. Our seminar parents were delighted to be able to offer their views.

Ros began by explaining her role and what she was hoping to achieve. She asked the BWT parents what gave their children confidence:

Louise: This new girl that joined the class has been teasing my daughter [about her medical problems] because she [the new girl] hadn’t grown up with the rest of them. The rest of them are fine because they know K and have grown up with her. The teacher had to sit down and explain and then it was fine. But every time a new child joins the class it knocks her confidence.

Ros: So, personal issues in terms of relationships with other children. Anything else?

Sara: Pressure from their peers. One of my sons was very good at art and was told by people in his class that he wasn’t any good and he stopped. Now he’s gone to senior school he’s getting top marks and he loves it again. Peer pressure can sap their confidence.

Ros: Confidence underpins everything? So personal relationships are really important.

Ros then asked what the single most important influence to their children was, and got a range of answers.

Penny: Friendships, social interactions.

Sara: Peers. Self esteem and confidence are the most important thing for my children, otherwise the rest of the school day just falls apart.

Gail: I wouldn’t have said the other children. J thinks everyone’s his friend. I would say the relationship with the teacher and mentors.

Kerri: The head teacher not having favourites.

Bev: Our headmistress doesn’t even talk to us. Always busy, always on the go. You have to book a meeting. Some of them are lovely, but when supply teachers come in it’s quite hard for children. F got used to one teacher and when she isn’t there F finds it hard for another teacher to come in. She doesn’t like change.

Sharon: It depends. With H it would definitely be friends. C’s a loner. With R, well, she’s a very independent little lady.

Louise: I want to know why they can’t give medication in schools. My daughter’s missed 2 months [because of water infections]. She’s under average for attendance.

Throughout the discussion, Ros emphasised the importance of ENJOYING and achieving: "I don't think that creative things necessarily need to be a polar opposite to making good progress with the basics."

Ros finished by explaining what she would do with the contributions from our parent researchers. They will be sent as part of a report to Jim Rose for the portfolio and their perspectives will widen the view of the report. QCA are trying to broaden their work in this area, looking to set up parent panels and groups that they can speak with. They have been asked by the DCSF to do a piece of work around supporting schools in talking to parents and pupils about assessment and Ros expressed a desire to put together a panel of parents with representatives from Big Wide Talk's parent researchers, who will advise and review materials at particular points over the next 18 months.