Is the teacher or me?!

[Treeli]

Full disclosure, DS can be a sod behaviour wise. Low level disruption, he’s been on report twice since he started secondary school. He’s just started year 8.

When he joined the school he was streamed middle/bottom sets. He passed his SATS but he’s an August born.

Last year he absolutely smashed science. Didn’t show much ability in class but past his assessments with flying colours. I knew and his teacher made it clear he didn’t want him in the top set but they had to move him due to his assessment marks.

3 weeks into term and I’ve just looked through his science book. They had a quick pop quiz of last years material and his teacher has written this:

XXXXX, should you be in this class? Are you comfortable? I have SERIOUS concerns about you being here looking at this, id like to talk to you after class.

I’m the last person to go running to the school complaining about poor DS (in fact I was the one who told them to put him on report last time), but doesn’t that seem a bit harsh 3 weeks into term when they are going over material from last year?

[Treeli]

My point was, I know the teacher doesn’t want him in his class. But I thought classes were streamed by ability and behaviour was managed within that class? I don’t think he would have jumped on a well behaved kid who got the same marks DS did

[Wolfiefan]

He passed one assessment well but may have gaps in his knowledge due to too much time being a “sod”. Maybe he’s also being a PITA this year.

[hiddenworlds]

but doesn’t that seem a bit harsh 3 weeks into term when they are going over material from last year?

When he smashed science and is should know all of the work really well?

Did he cheat?

[GrimalkinsCrone]

Check with the teacher, it may be that he’s messing around, not engaged or on task and underperforming. So the teacher is wondering if he belongs in that set, or would be better with less challenging work. Or if he’s capable and willing to change his attitude.

[Treeli]

He didn’t just pass one assessment. He passed all of them in the top 3 of his class. They couldn’t not move him up.

Yes he can be a “sod”, some kids can and we are working with the school to sort it out. Do they just dump all the naughty kids in bottom set then?

[slashlover]

If he's not good in class but brilliant in assessments then is he just not trying in class or being a 'sod'?

[GrimalkinsCrone]

Did you ask your DS what’s the teacher said to him after class?

[Wolfiefan]

They generally do place kids who CBA to work and are “sods” into lower sets. Unfortunately the poor sods who work their arses off and can’t get higher grades then get stuck with them.

[hormonesorDHbeingadick]

He can be top of a middle set and still be significantly below those in the set above.

Generally behaviour is better in top sets and putting one ‘sod’ in a top set can make them easier to manage because they have no one to mess around with.

[Whatsername7]

If he isnt putting the effort in, the teacher is absolutely right to pull him up on it. He can't just rely on last years test scores, he needs to do the work this year. The teacher is nbu.

[TulipsTulipsTulips]

OP do you think your SS may be acting up in class because he is bored/understimulated? If that’s the case I’d fight to keep him in the stop set.

Based on your post YANBU. However I feel like some important history may be missing

[Treeli]

@seaweedandmarchingbands happy to PM you the photo! I’m not putting it here so the DM can pick it up, not really fair on the teacher!

[GrimalkinsCrone]

Bright but PITA disruptive children often end up in lower middle sets so they don’t hold back the able focused, or harm the learning of the less able but trying hard.
So, he’s had a year, did he struggle with his behaviour management in primary too?

[TulipsTulipsTulips]

*DS

[seaweedandmarchingbands]

Yes, please.

[Mamasaurus82]

For something like this, he shouldn't have written it in the book- seems a bit uncaring. He should maybe have spoken to him about it.

[HarryRug]

I think teacher is trying to shock him into behaving.

[Treeli]

They’ve been at school for three weeks! Not really much time to prove anything one way or the other.

I’ve checked his behaviour report online. Not one sanction from Science, so he’s either not messing around or he is the teacher isn’t entering it into the system.

I asked him what the teacher said, he said he went to him after but the teacher said he didn’t have time to talk to him

[Aragog]

OP do you think your SS may be acting up in class because he is bored/understimulated?

I hate this excuse for children who behave poorly in class.

It might work for a very young child but by the time a child is 12y and in Year 8 they know to behave even if bored or find the work less challenging. A truly able child will know to ask for extension work, and be able to add more detail to the work set.

[ColdTattyWaitingForSummer]

The thing is whatever set he’s in, if he’s messing around he’s getting in the way of other kids’ learning. At top set level they’re going to be moving through the material quickly (presumably) and won’t have time for that.
And yes, in my experience, badly behaved children do tend to be put in lower sets (which is most unfair on dc in those sets with issues like dyslexia who then get less of the help and support they need because the teachers are dealing with the troublemakers).

[marvellousnightforamooncup]

I'd talk to the school about it and see if you can get to the bottom of the teacher's comments, your child's actual ability and work together to sort his behaviour.

[slashlover]

How did he do in the pop quiz? Did he answer all the questions?

[ChloeDecker]

I asked him what the teacher said, he said he went to him after but the teacher said he didn’t have time to talk to him

I’d contact the teacher as this sounds like something a kid wanting to hide what happened, from you.