What teachers really mean when they write those report card comments.

Say the words “school report” and most of us will still get an immediate dull ache in our stomachs.

The nerves. The fear. The anxiety.

What did Mrs Bowles say about that horrible exam? Did Mr Halse mention how often you talked in class even though you were definitely talking about the homework? Will your parents be pleased, angry or worst of all ‘disappointed’?

Oh, how things have changed for primary school kids now.

“There’s no more ‘Could try harder’, ‘Must try harder’, ‘Talks too much’, things they used to say. These days they’re either rated things, A B C D or whatever, or you get a little mark,” host Holly Wainwright reminisced on this week’s episode of This Glorious Mess.

“The language is really vague and very PC and they just rate one of them rather than actually write a comment about your child.”

This Glorious Mess deciphers all those report card comments.  

Instead, you’re more likely to see dots indicating how well your child has done.

“What you’re really looking at is making sure the dots are more to the right hand side of the page than the left hand side. That’s all it is. Because the words mean nothing. They literally mean nothing,” said Andrew Daddo.

So what do those vague comments the teacher does write actually mean? We had a go at decoding.

1. ‘Satisfactory effort’.

Translation? Just enough.

“It means has done the absolute minimum. They’ve done the minimum of effort,” says Daddo.

They're onto you. Image: Paramount Pictures

2. 'Energetic'.

"Possibly crazy. Or undiagnosed ADHD. Basically they like running around like crazy kids," says Holly.

3. 'Helpful'.

Not exactly a compliment.

"Enthusiastic or won't shut up. You choose, one of those."

4. 'Is developing...handwriting'.

This is a message for you parents.

"I can tell your child never looks up from their screen," says Holly.

5. 'Spirited'.

Oh, don't we all have 'spirited' children?

"It definitely means a handful," says Holly.

The Irish Examiner also picked the brains of teachers themselves - who unsurprisingly chose to remain anonymous - on some phrases they use and what they actually mean.

6. 'Has potential'.

...but just doesn't bother to try.

7. 'Creative'.

Spends all class doodling.

8. 'Animated'.

Takes delight in being disruptive.

9. 'Needs to watch the accuracy in their homework'

"Quit doing your child’s homework as you’re an idiot."

10. 'Very willing to engage in discussion'.

Takes every class as an opportunity to practise their debating skills and argue every single point.

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What do you think - do we need to go back to more personal reports?