Dutch school bans parents from checking students' grades to cut pressure

A Dutch school is barring parents from accessing children's grades, aiming to reduce stress, support students' well-being and development, and increase student autonomy.

In Short

• Dutch school restricts parental access to students' grades
• Study links parental monitoring to higher student stress
• Parents respond positively to new privacy policy

Aiming to reduce stress among students, a secondary school in the Netherlands has banned parents from accessing their children’s grades through a commonly used app.

The Jordan-Montessori Lyceum Utrecht introduced a month-long suspension on grade sharing, a decision welcomed by 95% of parents and supported by the parents' council, who called for a longer 10-week pause.

The change, aimed at fostering student well-being, has stirred discussions on the balance between parental involvement and student autonomy.

STUDENT STRESS LINKED TO GRADE MONITORING

As per a report by The Guardian, Stijn Uittenbogaard, an economics teacher at the school, conducted a study revealing that students whose parents frequently checked the app reported higher stress levels, averaging 2.7 out of five.

Meanwhile, those whose parents used the app less rated their stress lower, at around two. Uittenbogaard observed that constant parental monitoring amplified pressure on students to perform, with some students feeling burdened by the expectation to constantly excel.

“This pressure for students to achieve is really a modern thing," Uittenbogaard explained, contrasting it with his own school days, where grades were shared less frequently and students had more autonomy in communicating their progress.

Now, he says, parents receive instant notifications of each grade, creating added anxiety for students who may face immediate discussions at home.

IMPACT ON LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Rector Geert Looyschelder supported Uittenbogaard’s findings, suggesting that the intense focus on grades hinders students' development of essential life skills such as empathy, resilience, and flexibility.

Looyschelder emphasised that the Dutch education system encourages students to make mistakes and learn from them, a process he believes is hampered by excessive parental oversight.

"The fact that parents are looking over the students' shoulders only causes stress," he stated, affirming the school's commitment to fostering a more supportive environment.

POSITIVE RESPONSE TO THE PILOT PROGRAMME

Lobke Vlaming, director of a national parents' association, reported a generally positive response to the grade-sharing suspension. She highlighted ongoing concerns around academic pressure and children’s privacy, noting that the new policy may be an important step in respecting students' boundaries.

However, Vlaming underscored that communication between parents and the school remains vital, particularly when students are struggling.

As schools worldwide reassess traditional approaches to parental involvement in education, the Dutch pilot programme could inspire further initiatives to promote student well-being over constant performance monitoring.