Most parents happy with school advice.

Most parents happy with school advice.

Parents are mostly satisfied with the school advice and the transition of their children to secondary school. However, there are also quite a few parents for whom something goes wrong in making the advice or where the communication about the school advice does not go well. Furthermore, parents are divided about the role and use of the secondary school transition test. This appears from research among parents in our Landelijk Ouderpanel.

Preliminary school advice

The moment parents first receive information about their child’s level varies a lot. Most parents get a first indication when their child is in group 7. A quarter of parents get this information before group 7 and almost one in five parents only get information when their child is in group 8. Especially parents of children in group 8 say they were not informed in time. Or as one parent nicely puts it:

‘Schools must involve parents earlier in the possible outcomes. Parents are often surprised when the advice is lower than expected because the report was always good.’

Parents reasonably well informed beforehand

Most parents are happy with the information they receive before the school advice. These parents say they knew in advance when they would get information about the school advice and that the information was shared on time. However, quite a few parents are unhappy with the information they got before the school advice. The research also shows that a quarter of the parents received no information and therefore did not know when the school advice was given.

The conversation with school

Half of the parents feel the school talked enough with them before the school advice. Almost a third of parents feel the school takes their input seriously enough. Yet a third of parents are unhappy and one in five feel not taken seriously by the school. There is still room for schools to improve these talks with parents. Parents say in the research:

‘There is much more than IQ that decides where a child fits best. Parents know their child best in this.’

‘A parent is not against but for the right tailored education. Take questions and remarks from parents seriously.’

‘Give final school advice only after talking with parents about it. Also let social aspects play a role in this decision.’

School advice

Parents are mostly happy with the school advice they get. Most parents find the advice fits the child’s level (70%) and say the advice matched their expectation (63%). Still, not everything goes well everywhere. A fair group of parents thinks the advice does not fit (21%) or were surprised by the advice (28%).

Parents are divided on the type of advice. More than a third prefer a multiple advice, compared to only 6% who prefer a single advice. They say this depends on the child’s situation. Parents are split on the teacher’s expertise on school advice. More than half trust it, but a quarter do not.

Parents want to influence

More than half of parents want to influence the school advice. Many parents are neutral on this. Only 16% say they do not want to influence. However, only 43% of parents have the chance at school to influence. About 40% of those parents used this chance. Of the parents who had no chance, almost half still tried or influenced.

Role and use of the secondary school transition test

Parents are very divided about the test’s role. Slightly more parents think the test should play an important role in the school advice (41% yes versus 29% no). A large group is neutral. Parents also do not agree on the test timing. One third say the test is taken at the right moment, one third disagree, and one third are neutral. Most parents see the test’s use: 46% yes versus 20% no. Parents say in the open space they find tests important, but also that children’s development should be seen more broadly. ‘Let students make a portfolio where all skills are included‘ a parent advises in the research.

The result of the secondary school transition test

Most parents have a conversation at school about the test result. Also, 41% of parents could talk about changing the advice. Parents are mostly happy about the bridge class their child went to and where their child is now. About 10% of parents are unhappy about this.

Landelijk Ouderpanel

The research was done among parents in the Landelijk Ouderpanel. A questionnaire was completed by 174 parents with a child in group 7 or 8 of primary school or a child who went to secondary school in 2015 or later. Do you also want to talk about your child’s education? Sign up for the Landelijk Ouderpanel and make sure your voice is heard!