Target grades Year 8

[fluffycauliflower]

My daughter's report has her target scores for the end of year 8 on it. Can anyone tell me how they are generated. Is it from the CAT tests? Are any other tests used for instance the SATS? My daughter was ill when she took her SATS and now I wonder if the scores effected what stream she was put into. She has already matched or scored higher than her target grades for this year in 6 subjects. She is frustrated in her stream due to bad behaviour but the school will not move her.

Thanks.

[DialMforMummy]

If they are target levels, they are normally given following the teacher's assessment.

[roisin]

In my school target grades for end of yr7 are generated from a combination of SATs and CATs.

Target grades for end of yr8 are simply one whole level above what they actually achieved at the end of yr7. (Well that's what happens in English, Maths and Science anyway. Some subjects - like MFL - are a bit more complicated than that.)

[noblegiraffe]

Ask the school as it will be different for every school.

My school, for example, does not set targets for the end of Y8, targets given in Y7, 8 and 9 will be for the end of Y9. These targets are generated from FFT data which uses KS2 SATs scores and amended by teacher assessment.

It is a bit odd that that school is giving targets for the end of Y8 which she has already exceeded.

[lecce]

If they are target levels, they are normally given following the teacher's assessment.

As a teacher, I bloody wish that were the case.

They will be based on anything but that, op.

[fluffycauliflower]

Thanks for your answers. Someone told me that the targets are not generated by the school but come from else where, based on tests that the children have sat, I was wodnering which ones.

[DialMforMummy]

Well, in my school, it is the case (teacher's assessment). I guess it depends on the school.

[Losingitall]

It confuses the he'll out of me! My son is in yr 8. At level 7 got Maths English science DT. But l6 for PE (which he says is the highest possible) how the bloody hell are we supposed to understand?

He's very sporty btw captain of the football team rep athletics handball etcccc

Confused!

[fussbucket]

Targets seem to be generated from empty space... I sometimes think they are purely to keep a spare deputy head and some admin assistants off the streets . I rely more on what the teachers themselves have to say.

[Niceweather]

Is it the case that teachers take far more notice of their observations of the child? My friend's son was predicted Grade Ds and Es based on his SATS and CATS in Yr 7 and he's just got an A* for maths. What worries me is that the teachers are somehow tied to low predictions and expectations. Do teachers out there have similar experience with such wildly inaccurate predictions? Do you go by your teaching experience rather than these targets?

[supernannyisace]

At DS school they predict for each year based on recent performance and teachers' assessments.

They aim high - and his target grades are all A and A*. (It is a selective grammar though,s o I guess they have to aim high).

I think it will only matter when thye get to GCSE years - as I believe that in certain subjects the child takes the GCSE at a level appropriate to their expected achievement. sorry -I can't explain it v well.

Just encourage your DD to do her v best regardless of what the target grades say.

[empirestateofmind]

They might be generated from the KS2 SAT scores, from the Y7 levels achieved or from MidYIS scores.

MidYIS (the Middle Years Information System) tests are used by lots of schools to form a baseline for Value Added measures. The tests are sat in Year 7 and give predictions and value-added measures to Key Stage 3 and GCSE subjects.

My money is on the DGBs (data generated benchmarks) being from MidYIS data.

[psammyad]

Losingitall - DD's school told us that we should expect a higher level for subjects which were topic based (like English, Maths, Science) than for subjects which were skills based (definitely languages, possibly art & music).

As I understand it, that means levels for skills based subjects should gradually rise, whereas in topic (think they used a different word) based subjects you are as good as the last topic you covered. (Don't know if you can get a lower level for the next topic).

That's the absolute limit of my understanding on levels & sub-levels though!

[Losingitall]

Thank you! Thought my DS was having me over

[startail]

In theory, SATs and CATs at the beginning of Y7 then class test and assessed HW, through to Y9 when they do CATs again for option bands.

In practice given some of the sets DD1 has been put in and some of the target and actual grades she's been awarded - God knows!

Levels for Y7 and Y8 appear to be pulled randomly out of a hat (not helped by her feeling ill in her numeracy CAT).

The only cure for insane levels and stupid Maths sets is to go to parents evening and speak to her teachers.

In person they were really nice and something far more sensible was arrived at.

Fortunately she got a really good Mark in her Y9 CATs, and is settled in sets she likes.

Except for MFL, where she sends the OPs DD much sympathy. She is dyslexic and hopeless at languages. However, she too wishes her group would shut up and learn something!

[startail]

I should add that the only way out of dreadful streams is lots of hard work, good marks and politely, but firmly leaning on the school.
DD got the maths master on side who leaned on science. Science didn't have a leg to stand on. He was using her as a TA for his drippy bottom table.
He called this "improving her social skills"