Year 7 Easter report for DS1 - a little unsure ref level/targets given/set.

[doublemocha]

Sorry, this subject has surely been covered before but some comments/advice would be much appreciated. Obviously, I will chat individually with DS1's subject teachers at his Parent's evening in a couple of weeks time but it would be great to have a little reassurance before that too!

DS1 moved up to secondary school in September having achieved 5a's in all his subjects at KS2. He's a good all rounder and has a good attitude to learning in general. Normal kid really. Gets lots of love and support at home regardless of grades etc. Always told both our children that as long as they give their best and try their hardest that's fine, 'grades' not a issue.

Anyway, here are his levels with end of KS3 targets in brackets.

Maths 6b (8c)
Science 5a (7c)*
English 5b (7c) - mildly concerned, given that's lower than entry level, do I need to worry? DS1 LOVES Maths and Science, doesn't like English as much but assures me he gives his best.
Art 4b (6b)
D&T Food 4b (6a)
Drama 3a (6c) - giggled at this tbh, HATES performing unless playing music!!
German 4b (6a) - I am right to be pleased with this grade? Only started in September and doesn't like at all, although I have 'bigged up' his performance a little to reassure him he's doing great, even though it's hard.
Humanities 4a (no target given until YR8)
IT 4a (6a)
Music - 5b (6a) Target a bit low I thought, given the current level and targets for other subjects where current level is lower.
PE - 5b (6a) Loves sport!
Technology 4a (6a)

• Again, maybe I need to raise this, half year test scored 6b and end of subject tests even split of 5a/6c?
  
  I think I am just a touch concerned that the core subjects seem stronger than the others. Do I assume that this is because he hasn't been formally taught these before (obviously covered in Primary but not in such a structured way)? The school do make reference to this in the letter.
  
  I feel I understood the Primary levels but I am just a touch 'at sea' with Secondary and probably thinking a little to hard about it all maybe I just need to chill!!
  
  Thanks anyway.

[crazymum53]

For Science the level is probably based on an average on how he has done in formal written tests, homework and practical skills. It sounds as if he is doing really well in the tests, but many Y7s have not done practical work in a laboratory before so it could be this side of things that's lowering his overall level.

[ramblinrose]

The core subjects do tend to score higher in yr7/8.
This is because languages, humanities etc have not been graded that way before now.
My son is in yr8, his levels vary between 4 and 6 for different subjects.
Not sure of his end of ks3 targets though.

It looks to me like your son is doing well.

[Kez100]

The Science content at KS3 is different from KS2, so there can be an anomoly there. My son had that too.

English they often reassess, so what he got in a SATs test with a lot of exam technique isn't necessarily where he is at on a daily basis. For some children where they had a bad day at the office in their SATs it workd the other way their daily level is higher.

Our targets did change over the course of KS3 and a 6a was the maximum most children were given in a non tested KS2 subject in year 7 until they had actually got going at secondary for a year or so.

[doublemocha]

Thank you for your replies.

Crazymum53 - Thanks. To be honest, I hadn't factored practical work in at all, but that does make more sense now. I forget which particular science 'course' the school uses, but do recall a letter stipulating that it was highly practical. DS really loves the subject, which is the main concern anyway.

Ramblinrose - Appreciate the reply. I had sort of assumed this was the case but high school is still all a bit new to me! Thanks for the reassurance.

Kez100 - I did wonder if the targets were set in stone or would change as the children settle more. The school has deliberately refrained from even providing KS3 targets at all until now, which makes sense to me. DS1 is at a different school to a lot of his peers, I know they have had theirs almost from the word go, as has my niece, also in Y7.

In terms of KS2 SATs, this previous school adopted quite a 'hands off' approach last year. Good as the kids were not stressed at all, but bad for the actual results (which they are judged on, rightly or wrongly) My poor daughter, now in Y6 is suffering the consequences of this approach, and being tested to death but that's another story! I suspect my son is a child who copes with an exam situation quite well, which might explain the disparity, thinking about it - thanks.

Feel rather sorry for first born, they seem to get the brunt of parental worry and concern!!

[amylou]

Hi
I have a dd in year 7 too and we just got some grades as well. If you google key stage 3, there are some websites which show you the age range for the level..
Don't worry about the 3s and lower 4s (4c is near 3 and 4a is nearly 5 etc) for the non core subjects like german.. these are lower cause they have only been doing the subject since September so obviously don't have a big knowledge of this as oppose to English for example...
hope that helps

[JuliesMum]

As a secondary MFL teacher/head of year 7, I'd say the levels seem pretty solid. It's pretty common for students' levels to dip a bit from the end of KS2. This is partly because most students were prepared specifically for the end of KS2 tests, partly because subject content is different at KS3 and partly because it takes students a while to settle to a new environment/new teachers, etc.

As amylou and your ds's school(?) says, y7 students are usually lower on non-core subjects as they are only taught formally in these subjects this year. This is particularly common for languages. 4b for German in his first year is good - I've had students at level 4 in y7, reach level 6 in y9, and secure good A grades at GCSE.

[doublemocha]

Hi amylou - thank you, appreciate the reply, it does help. Had a very quick Google and it looks like there's plenty of information out there for me to read.

JuliesMum - good to hear from someone working in the Y7 environment. Thanks for your comments ref MFL in particular, which are reassuring.