Parents' evening questions checklist
A list of questions worth taking in, not answers to have ready — ten minutes goes fast, and the good question is the one prepared in advance.
16 items
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
The items
- Which subjects they're doing well in, and which need more attention
- Whether they're working at the level expected for their age
- How they contribute in classConfident out loud, or someone who holds back — worth hearing the teacher's answer rather than assuming you already know.
- How they get on with other childrenFriendships, not just behaviour — the two aren't always the same thing.
- Whether homework and any coursework is handed in on time
- What would help most at homeA specific, practical answer is more useful than a general 'keep reading'.
- Whether anything seems to worry or unsettle them at schoolA teacher notices things a child doesn't always mention at home.
- How attendance and punctuality look from the school's side
- Any concerns about friendships or how they're treated by other children
- The best way to get in touch before the next scheduled meetingEmail, a homework diary, or a specific after-school time — worth knowing rather than guessing.
- Anything the teacher would raise that hasn't come up yetA direct, open question, asked plainly, tends to get further than a leading one.
- Upcoming tests, projects or deadlines worth knowing about early
- Whether extra support is available, and how to ask for itFor a subject they're struggling with, or one they've outgrown the pace of.
- How they compare with what's expected for their year groupAsked plainly rather than read between the lines of a report.
- Your own specific question, written down beforehandThe one you'll actually forget under time pressure is the one you came in for — write it down before you go.
- A notebook or your phone, to note down the answersTen minutes is not long enough to trust to memory on the walk home.
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
Questions people ask
- How much time do I actually get?
- Often five to ten minutes per subject, sometimes less. A written list of questions is the difference between covering what matters and running out of time on small talk.
- Should I bring up a specific worry or wait to be asked?
- Bring it up yourself. A teacher seeing dozens of families in one evening won't necessarily know what's on your mind unless you say it.
- Is it worth asking about things beyond grades?
- Yes — friendships, confidence and how they seem day to day often tell you more than a set of marks, and a teacher usually has a view on all of it if asked directly.