We have stopped handing out printed reports for students.
Many schools have stopped this practice but not many have done it for the reasons we have.
I cannot speak for mainstream schools but for children with learning difficulties, reports are very much the wrong measure. Without a doubt, the families who prioritise end of term results and reward children who improve their marks, have children who are struggling more to overcome their barriers to learning.
We’re not aiming for marks on a single exam, we’re aiming for the attainment of genuine skills. When our children leave us they have received a complete education, not just what they have heard in class but a robust experience that has them mastering every one of the critical learning components.
If we worked on test scores and curriculum completion the students would be no better off at the end of the year than when they started. Our focus is on the skills. Sometimes we have to go right back to basics because you’d be amazed at what a child can lose if he skips a few days of school, zones out in a few classes or just doesn’t understand a concept.
