The prospect of a three-hour parents’ evening after an already long day in the classroom doesn’t exactly spark joy for many teachers! That said, Year 11 parents’ evening is a crucial one. It’s an opportunity to provide guidance, address concerns, and reinforce key messages—despite the inevitable vocal strain from talking over the hum of simultaneous conversations in a crowded hall.
Most appointments follow a familiar structure: an update on the student’s progress, a reflection on their attitude towards learning, and then—arguably the most important parts—the discussion about what can be done to support further improvement and about identifying and removing barriers to success. This requires careful phrasing, but with the right approach, it can be both effective and well-received.
Shaping the Conversation
A key strategy is to frame the discussion in a way that encourages self-reflection and ownership. A typical exchange might go like this:
To the student: “Your performance so far suggests you’re working at around grade X. To secure or improve that, these are the key steps you need to take…”
At this point, we outline effective revision techniques—regular quizzing, attempting past exam questions, and using performance data to identify weak areas for targeted improvement. Then comes the pivotal question:
“What do you think could distract you from achieving your best possible grade?”
At this stage, the topic of mobile phones can naturally arise. Instead of lecturing students about screen time, a more constructive approach is to ask:
“What about your phone? Could you put it away for three months?”
This tends to land well with parents, who often welcome a teacher’s backing in reinforcing good digital habits. Indeed one student will only have a ‘brick’ phone and another will no-longer use his earbuds after parents agreed that they’ll buy him some great speakers after the exams. A practical recommendation is to use the phone’s built-in wellbeing settings to limit screen time—particularly at night. I find it encouraging that many students are open to this suggestion when framed as a temporary measure to support their own success. As I often say, your future self will thank you for it.
Creating the Right Study Environment
Another important question to ask is:
“Do you have a place to study that is free from distractions?”
Having a dedicated workspace—somewhere students associate only with focused work—can make a real difference. Encouraging parents to help establish this space can go a long way in supporting productive study habits.
Balancing Work and Wellbeing
For students who seem to be putting in effort without seeing the results, it’s important to highlight not just what they should be doing but also what they should not be sacrificing. A reminder that rest and hobbies are essential for maintaining motivation and mental wellbeing can be just as valuable as study advice.
The Takeaway
Not every student will immediately stick to a daily revision quiz, nor will every promise made at parents’ evening be kept. But the goal is to plant the seed—to help students realise that small changes, such as reducing phone use and creating a distraction-free study space, can have a big impact. If, by the end of the evening, a few more students feel empowered to take control of their habits, then the conversations have been worth having.
