What Questions Should I Ask at Parents' Evening?

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Parents’ evening. Ten minutes. One teacher. A slightly uncomfortable plastic chair.

If you’ve ever walked away from a parents’ evening feeling like you didn’t quite get what you needed — or worse, like you spent the whole time nodding while the teacher talked and forgot to ask anything at all — you’re not alone. It’s one of those school events that feels deceptively simple but is actually quite easy to get wrong.

The good news? With a little preparation, parents’ evening can be genuinely useful. It can give you real insight into how your child is doing, what they need, and how you can help at home.

Before You Go: Think About What You Actually Want to Know

The biggest mistake parents make at parents’ evening is turning up without a plan. You have a short window with each teacher — use it intentionally.

Before the evening, sit down and ask yourself:

● Is there anything specific I’ve noticed at home that I’m curious about? (Stress around a particular subject, reluctance to do homework, a shift in confidence?)

● Are there subjects where my child seems particularly engaged or disengaged?

● Have there been any social or pastoral concerns I’d like to raise?

● Is my child being challenged enough, or do they seem to be coasting?

Write your questions down. Even if the conversation takes a different turn, having them written on your phone or a piece of paper means you won’t forget what mattered to you.

The Questions Worth Asking Every Teacher

About academic progress

These questions get beyond the standard “she’s doing well” and prompt teachers to give you something specific and actionable:

● “Where does my child sit relative to where you’d expect them to be at this point in the year?” — This gives you a sense of whether progress is on track, ahead, or falling behind

● “What are the one or two things they could do to make the most improvement?” — Concrete and forward-looking, rather than just reflective

● “Are they working to their potential, or is there more they could achieve?” — An important question, especially for children who are achieving comfortably but not necessarily stretching themselves

● “What does their engagement look like in lessons — do they ask questions, contribute, take risks?” — Behaviour in class often reveals more than test results

About learning habits and approach

● “How do they handle difficulty or frustration — do they persist or tend to give up?”

These questions are especially valuable as your child approaches GCSE or A level years, where effective study habits make an enormous difference to outcomes.

Don’t Forget the Pastoral Questions

Academic progress matters — but so does your child’s experience of school more broadly. The pastoral side of school life is often where the most important conversations happen, and parents’ evening is a legitimate time to raise it.

Good pastoral questions include:

● “How does my child seem within the class — confident, settled, happy?”

● “Are there any friendship dynamics or social factors I should be aware of?”

Most teachers genuinely appreciate parents asking about the whole child rather than just the grades. It signals that you’re engaged, and it creates space for them to share things they might not have raised otherwise.

Questions Specific to the Stage Your Child Is At

Primary school years

At this stage, questions about foundational skills and habits matter most:

● Is my child reading at the right level, and what can we do at home to support this?

● How are they getting on socially — making friends, playing well with others?

● Are there early signs of any learning needs I should be aware of?

GCSE years

● Which subjects are the priority focus areas going into the exam period?

● Are the subjects they’ve chosen for GCSE still a good fit for them?

● How does the school support students who are finding exam pressure difficult?

Sixth form and beyond

For parents navigating the transition to or through sixth form — whether at state school or an independent sixth form in the Surrey area — university preparation becomes a key conversation:

● How is UCAS preparation being managed, and when should we start thinking about personal statements?

● Are there subjects or enrichment activities that would strengthen a university application in a particular field?

● What support is available for students who are unsure about their post-school direction?

How to Have a Productive Conversation

Parents’ evenings can easily become one-sided — the teacher talks, you nod, you leave. Push gently against this by:

● Sharing information, not just receiving it — “At home, we’ve noticed she finds essay writing stressful. Is that reflected in class?” gives the teacher useful context

● Asking follow-up questions — if a teacher says something is “fine” or “good,” ask what that specifically looks like in practice

● Being honest if you have concerns — teachers would far rather hear something you’ve been worried about than not know about it

For parents thinking about the transition to senior school or sixth form, attending an open event at St Catherine’s is a wonderful way to ask exactly these kinds of questions in person — and to see how a school’s values translate into everyday school life.