Year 7 levels

[wineandpopcorn]

My son has gone down a whole level in 2 subjects, and down sublevels in 3 subjects. He's only gone up a level in 2 subjects, and the rest he's stayed the same as what he was at the beginning of the year. What action would you take? Is this really bad? I don't really understand these levels, I have contacted the school but not heard back yet.

[hanami]

Are you happy to post the levels? Do you think the primary school over-inflated?

[woodlands01]

What are you comparing against?
Levels from primary are usually Maths and English only - I would be very concerned if these had gone down especially if official SATs levels.
For other subjects what is your starting point for comparison?

[wineandpopcorn]

I really don't know as I don't really understand it all, have been googling all afternoon!

[Davros]

Glad it's not just me. I don't understand the levels either.

[HowDoesThatWork]

Big Positives on big subjects...

He has gone up a whole level in Maths (5c>6c) and science ((4b > 5b), and from 4c --> 4a in French, this is good.

Marginally down in English.

This is not bad, progress is not linear across the curriculum. Talk to the school if you have concerns about specifics.

[enderwoman]

The only y6 levels we got were Maths, English and Science so I relied on the effort and attitude grade that we get to judge how dd was doing.

[TeenAndTween]

But his current grade is from an exam.

So he had 'previously working at' - how was that come to, general view of work or a test?

Then an exam score and a conversion of score to a level. So this isn't an indicator of day to day working, just a spot check.


So, what is he like at exams? Were they formal exams that he was expected to prepare for (and did he do the prep?)? Or was it a random test towards the end of term for which no prep was required? Did he know it was an important test? Does he know what he has to include to achieve in essay based subjects? Does he think he did his best work in the tests, or was he not taking them seriously?

[wineandpopcorn]

He prepared by revising for each subject, doing one hour per day after school over two weeks (this was when they were given the revision notes). He cried himself to sleep last night after seeing the marks, as he tried so hard and now feels like a failure. They were formal exams.

I feel so bad for him, I have contacted his year head to try and discuss as my sons now terrified he will be moved down sets when his work over the year is much higher, but I haven't had a response yet to this.

[forgetandforgive]

Hi wine. Your son has done really well in his test. If that was my ds, Id be over the moon. Ds will start y7 this term but his level has always been below average from what his teacher said. He just doesn't pay attention and his head is in the clouds. Ds just managed to get level 4 for all his subjects on his Sat's but didn't say weather it was a 4c or 4a.
His working ethic is I don't care and just want to play games. I think your son will do very well because he understand the importance of a good education. anyway; it's still early days,your ds is only in year 7.