Mumsnet Talk

Children attaining level 7 in year 7 are not exceptional they've just been taught more of the curriculum.

I wasn't aware that they could be taught more of the curriculum? My DS's math teacher made it vary clear at the start of year 7 that she was fully aware that a good number of her pupils were able to work at a higher level in some aspects of the maths curriculum but the school were not prepared to teach them in this way.

Given it's top set, they may not spend forever of each aspect of work but they WILL cover all aspects of the curriculum, to embed their learning.

DS has a target of 8c at the end of year 9 (I have more than one DC, he is the only one with this level of ability), he really is very good at maths and has been since being very young, he sort of 'thinks' in numbers and logic! I notice though he hasn't been given an 8a, although his teacher says he is an A* candidate if he works obviously, perhaps you need to be truly exceptional to get an 8A? To his disgust, this means his is on the school maths team and has to go and do maths every Friday lunchtime

He's crap at other stuff, this aint a stealth boast, just maths is his thing.

Justn mumsnot I am not sure I was grr-ing at you! I had this in mind tbh
"Level 7 in Y7 doesn't belong in that category [1 child in 200] - yes it's very good, but in certain cohorts it's not that unusual - top set of a large comp in a relatively affluent area"

My DD is in that top set and as I say, a level 7 end of year target in that set would be unusual. I just think if people say "level 7 is not that unusual in yr 7" it does two things; 1) it makes some people whose DC are not at level 7 (which would be the vast vast majority, like, the whole of DD's year) panic about their DCs' levels 2) it devalues the achievement of those who are working at level 4 or 5, perfectly acceptable levels in every way for a yr 7 student.

It's also worth noting that I and the 30/40 odd English PGCE students I've spoken to on my course have yet to find a school (probably been to about 30 schools between us so far) who put any meaning or faith in Year 6 SATS levels. They all do their own tests because they have become stick and tired of massively overinflated year 6 results.

The school I have been at for 4 months is the best comp school in the borough (79% 5 A*-C including Maths and english. There are 3 private schools and 2 selectives who do better) and a year 7 target of 7anything would be noteworthy. Not freak out crazy news but certainly interesting.

IShallWearMidnight - DD2 has found the Algebra course impossible which hasn't been helped by having a tutor who is so clever that he can't get down to the student's level to explain anything. The exam was awful as well.

I haven't dared to ask how any of the other exams went but I know she's relieved they are over with and looking forward to going to Amsterdam for a few days with friends. Its certainly a tough course though.

I know my daughters teachers have put her in for level 7 maths sat and shes the only one in y6 she says its good anyway so yeah im pleased

blueemerald - I know my dd's secondary school have found a real problem with over-inflated sats. There seems to be so much grooming for these Sats at the primaries desperate to show their achievement levels. They just sit and do test papers for months. They excel in doing Sats papers but not necessarily in the subject being tested

My son is in the top set in his yr 7 Maths class and they were told that the maximum level they can achieve is a 6a.

Tillymint - there isn't a level 7 maths test in Y^ - do you mean L6?

This thread reminds me we are coming to the season of many, many similar. Must polish the link to very easily comprehensible NC levels for year groups!