Parent/Teacher Evening

[thisagain]

Hi, I went to a parents' evening last night and the teacher said some really nice things about my son, saying that is polite, helpful etc and I know he is happy and school and getting on fine.

In his ability I have always found to very hard to get anything more than "he is getting on fine and meeting his targets". Yesterday, his teacher said that he is approximately middle of the class and will easily meet all his end of year targets. He goes to an average state primary. I've got older children and we were always told what SAT level that they wanted a child to achieve at the end of each year, eg we were told that a 4b at the end of Year 6 might end in the 5 GCSE's grade C if they continued at the same rate (I think though may not remember right).

I know that the expectations have changed now, but if a child is achieving targets in their year (but not exceeding) then what might be their expectations for GCSE, or is this an impossible question to answer.

I know there are no hard and fast rules and my nephew was the middle of the class all through Primary and left college with 4 A's at A Level and got a 1st from a top Uni, so I'm not taking too much notice of it. I just wondered how it was being viewed, if you know what I mean.

Basically, I'm asking that if a child is in the middle of meeting expectations, what are their GCSE expectations, all things being equal.

[multivac]

is this an impossible question to answer

This; sorry. It's actually impossible to answer in Y10 (although one can have a reasonable guess), let alone before the kid has even started secondary school. Flight paths have always been problematic, but now they are even more ridiculous, as the NAHT confirms.

Why limit any child at this stage? Or indeed, place unreasonable expectations on them?

[lovelyjubilly]

Why do you feel the need to know?

[thisagain]

I don't know why I want to know this really. I guess I struggle a bit with the lack of clarity between the system now and the old SATS system. The old system seemed much more straight forward and told you a lot more about your child.

[GU24Mum]

Agree that trying to predict GCE grades now is not possible.

If he's "middle" in the class that doesn't tell you a vast amount objectively but if the teachers are telling you now that he is easily going to meet his end of year targets, I guess I'd want to know whether he's going to get "exceeding" as it sounds as though that should be the aim given the feedback you've had imo.

[MozzchopsThirty]

Omg totally unpredictable

Dd struggles through primary, had a SENCO then blossomed at high school and is now studying at oxford uni

Ds1 was off the scale at primary, exceeded all targets and is now struggling in year 8

So there is absolutely no way of knowing

[Eolian]

Doing things like basing targets for GCSE on data from primary school (and then holding teachers accountable for a failure to reach those targets) is part of what is wrong with the education system. Children aren't machines - they often don't make predictable, linear progress over a period of years because there are too many variables which affect that progress (interest levels, influence of friends, changes in family situation and suppory, peaking of abilities at different stages, lack of continuity in teacher, changes in syllabus etc etc etc).

[thisagain]

There was no talk of exceeding. She said he was about middle of the class, would easily meet targets at the end of the year. He has always got meeting expectations so far on all his reports for reception and Year 1. She also said that a few years ago, before they changed the expectations, he would probably have been near the top of the class. I didn't understand this because surely his position in the class wouldn't change?!

[Ginmummy1]

She also said that a few years ago, before they changed the expectations, he would probably have been near the top of the class.

I suspect this got lost in the translation. She probably meant that, as children are supposed to be doing harder work now at a younger age, had he been working at the same level a few years ago, he'd be exceeding expectations (rather than top of the class).

[2014newme]

If he's around the middle I'd try to give him a boost at home. It's not hard to exceed the targets they are not that high.

[RedSkyAtNight]

I said something similar on another thread, but "middle of the class" is pretty meaningless unless you have some idea as to how the ability levels of your child's class stack up nationally.

A child in the middle of a nationally average class will be at the bottom end of meeting expectations at this stage. But it sounds like middle of OP's class might be somewhat higher than that.

[thisagain]

2014newme that is my concern I guess. When me 2 girls did their SATS we never felt that the equivalent of just achieving was ever hard to meet. However, my son seems to me like he is doing well. He reads fluently and has always been way ahead on his reading. I don't think I said but my son is Year 2 and is 6 (7 in December so fairly old in his year). We have just been learning 2 X tables and he has learned them bit for anything of of 6+ x 2, who struggled. I don't know what is normal really at this age.

[Liadain]

Speaking as a primary teacher, I certainly couldnt and wouldn't predict State exam expectations for any child I teach. As a primary teacher I'm not trained to teach and assess the senior school curriculum expectations, and all sorts of things could happen in the years between primary and exams to change grading. Especially not with a 6 year old child!

[Liadain]

And agreed, middle of the class doesnt mean much because the class could be very able or weak. If it was middle ability when talking about curriculum standards or ability on a national basis that would be clearer.

Is it not a bit soon to be wondering about his gcses OP? I know it's natural, but I don't see how that kind of thing can be gauged so young.

[Wolfiefan]

He's Y2 and you want to know what GCSE results he will achieve?
If you want more details then ask about his areas of weakness. What targets has the teacher set?

[thisagain]

These are the sort of thing I was looking for. Not predictions, but just a rough guide.

[Wolfiefan]

Far too many variables at this stage. Children don't follow a set pattern. Focus on improving areas of weakness at the moment. And you know. Letting children enjoy their childhood!

[noblegiraffe]

Here's the actual KS2 - KS4 progression data from this year for GCSE Maths and English. Quite a range of potential outcomes for each old NC level.

More stats here: schoolleaders.thekeysupport.com/school-evaluation-and-improvement/school-improvement-data/national-attainment-data/national-attainment-data-gcse-results-by-prior-attainment/

[lovelyjubilly]

The old system seemed much more straight forward and told you a lot more about your child.

But surely you know more about your child than any GCSE result will tell you. They are more worth more than that

[thisagain]

I should have said "told you more about your child's academic ability" and yes of course they are worth more than that. That isn't in debate.

Thanks noble.

[BubblesBuddy]

The targets are higher than the old levels. They are not the same. Do you have a curriculum evening so you know what the targets are? Have they explained how they assess progress at the school via a parents evening? It sounds as if you are unsure of the new curriculum and assessment without levels . Ask if the school can do a presentation evening to parents. I'm sure that would help.