Target setting from CATs

[IslaValargeone]

My dc (two weeks into Year 7) took the CAT tests yesterday.
We won't find out the results, which I believe are used to set targets and predict Key Stage 3 results?
Could anyone explain in simpleton terms, how I will know whether her targets are average, high or whatever else and whether this would give me an indication of how well or not the tests went.
Ta.

[IloveJudgeJudy]

You will know by the sets that your DC is put into. Some schools use the CAT tests as they find them better predictors than the SATs which the schools coach for. If your DC's school is any good, there will be setting for some academic subjects, rather than streaming, which is whole classes. In setting, for example, my DD was in top sets for every subject apart from English, where she was in Set 3. That worked very well for her, as she was in the top part of Set 3 rather than struggling in Set2. She got a very good GCSE result, too - far higher than she expected.

DC can move down and up sets. Sometimes if they're moved down it gives them an incentive to work harder to move back up again.

[IslaValargeone]

They don't set at my dd's school until Year 9.

[chauffeurmummy]

You can ask to see the results. Schools often don't routinely share - but if you ask for them then they have to supply them.

[IslaValargeone]

thanks

[NoComet]

Y7 targets are set by a vaguely weighted random number generator.

They will be higher than their SATs grade for, English, Maths and science and that's about as logical as they get.

DD2 has had some altered upwards twice and an insane science one that she hasn't reached despite being near the top of the class.

They are useful for checking that DCs are learning something and usually come with helpful advice on how DCs can improve.

But keeping Ofsted quiet is the only purpose of the actual numbers.

[lljkk]

That's weird, I asked for CAT results and in reply we got a phone call with only vague descriptions! I didn't take it, DH did. Certainly no numbers supplied, just relative words.