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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

Streaming in yr 7

16 replies

VivaLeBeaver · 06/09/2012 21:11

Dd has started at a comp. she actually passed her 11+, was one of only 4 kids from her school who did but then didn't get a place on distance.

She's gone to a comp (not a secondary modern) with the rest of her primary school friends. They've streamed them already and dd is in the lower stream. Most of her friends are in the top stream.

Her primary teacher told me she would definetly be in the top stream, this was before sats though. She was predicted 5s in her sats and for some reason only got a 5 in her english. She got a 4 in her maths. We didn't get given the breakdown so not sure if she only just missed out on a 5 but I assumed she did.

I'm guessing shes been put in the lower set because of this.

They have a CAT test at the beginning of Oct and will use these scores to change anyone who needs changing. Now ideally I would like her to go up a set.

Do I get her to do some online practice papers over the next few weeks or do I just accept that if she needs to be in a lower group then she needs to be in a lower group? She does have mild dyslexia so I think sometimes fluffs tests because of this. Her dyslexia was properly diagnosed by an ed psych but as it was done privately school never really bothered about it. So she got no extra time, etc in SATS. Should I ask secondary school if she can have extra time in CATS.

I filled out a form aout her for secondary school and one of the questions was "has she ever been diagnosed as dyslexic". I answered yes and thought their SEN person might be in touch but never heard anything so I assumed they just liaise with the primary school. Is that normal?

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Iamnotminterested · 06/09/2012 21:57

Did you mean to say she got a 4 in English, Op?

VivaLeBeaver · 06/09/2012 21:59

Yes. Lvl 4 in english and Lvl 5 in maths.

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VivaLeBeaver · 06/09/2012 22:01

No sorry. She got 4 in her maths and 5 in English.

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VivaLeBeaver · 06/09/2012 22:03

I know 4 for maths isn't great but it's still average/on target isn't it.

Lvl 5 which she got for English is above target. Plus she passed her 11plus.

So I'm just surprised she's in the lower set.

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HeathRobinson · 06/09/2012 22:09

It may be that she needs to start out in the lower of the two sets because of her maths mark, ie everyone else in the other set got a 5. But this should benefit her, I'm thinking, because they'll be teaching her at the level she needs right now. Although the 11+ thing is confusing.

I would chase the school re the extra time she needs for assessments because of her dyslexia, and indeed any extra equipment she might need.

VivaLeBeaver · 06/09/2012 22:12

I don't know what sats scores the kids in the upper stream got.

One girl who is in dd's stream got 3s in her sats though.

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HeathRobinson · 06/09/2012 22:16

I meant to add, the secondary school my dd goes to, reassesses them every year. I don't know whether that's the case for your school?

Watch out for year 8, the classic 'dip' year. Year 7, they've just started, all new, shiny and enthusiastic. Year 9, 10 and 11 they're doing GCSEs. Year 8 is the year when they've settled in and feel happy enough to coast a bit.

VivaLeBeaver · 06/09/2012 22:47

They don't formally reasses but will move a child if they think it's warranted.

I think I'm worried that if she remains in the bottom set then she'll be left to coast along. When in reality with a bit of support for her dyslexia she is capable of much more. Her iq was tested as been 140 by the ed psych.

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KitKatGirl1 · 06/09/2012 23:01

Are there only two streams? That seems a bit bizarre, but if so, of course, it means that there will be a wider range in her stream which is good?

If only two streams, and you're right in how you think they've based it on SATS, that would imply that all those in the top stream were straight level 5s - 50%? Is this likely to be the average for your area?

VivaLeBeaver · 06/09/2012 23:05

Dd reckons there's only two streams but I suspect she might be talking bollocks.

She's in stream j and her friends are in k.

Which makes me think there must be at least 11 streams? But then that sounds like a lot of streams. There's 220 kids in yr 7 though so maybe that's about right?

I can't imagine that 50% of the kids there got 5s in their sats. Possible the kids from her primary school did but the secondary school covers a large portion of a deprived area of a nearby city.

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Viewofthehills · 06/09/2012 23:06

I would talk to the school (reasonably) and find out what the streaming is based on. If her IQ is 140 something doesn't add up and you need to find out , even if you end up accepting that is the set she needs to be in for the time being.

Emsislovely · 07/09/2012 09:36

Level 4 for a child going into yr7 is exactly where they should be, level 5 and they are above average in that subject. It doesn't sound right if she got a level4 she has been put in the lower group

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 07/09/2012 09:42

I think you need to find out more - streaming is quite unusual, whilst setting is used in most schools. Is she in the same class for every subject? And do you know for sure that one group is top and the other not? If there are only 2, it could possibly be that she's confused streaming with half-years (commonly used in most secondaries now), and as children do, started to ask around and made assumptions about which is 'better'.

For example, in dd's year 7, there are two 'half years' - despite being called a and b, they're not ability based. So your 'half year' will generally do trips, games, etc on one day, and the other on the other. Within the half year, some things are set - so your maths group could be '7a1', but your technology, not set and taken from both half years, could be '7ab3'.

The terms and definitions can be quite involved, so I think it would be worth getting some key terms from the school before you worry too much!

Olympicrock · 07/09/2012 09:43

Most schools gave 2 streams, ignore the letters allocated to the, they aren't relevant. If you have concerns re th dyslexia, rin school and ask to discuss it with the senco or contact he form tutor and ask her to ensure that all class teachers are aware. The average sats level very much depends on the intake ability, level 5 I average of yea 7 s in our school. Streams can be difficult to move mid year, so I would as for a detailed explanation of why they have streamed her as they have, but do be aware this may be correct for her.

kitkat1967 · 07/09/2012 13:09

have you checked that they are not actually just 2 'halves' of the year? A lot of the secondaries by us split the year and then eventually set in each half - so 2 x set 1 for maths etc. maybe?

VivaLeBeaver · 07/09/2012 13:26

Sme of you are spot on!

I checked with another parent today. The two streams aren't ability based at all. They just split each year into two for logistical and time tabling purposes.

Each group will be put into ability sets after cat tests but this hasn't really happened yet.

So I'll be able to reassure dd when she comes home that she hasn't been put in a lower ability set!

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