Can any primary teachers advise? New school teaching stuff that my kids learned years ago at old school

[rodentforce]

We moved house over the summer and my kids have moved to a new school, where they have mostly settled in well. They are in years 4 and 5. Several times they have told me about stuff that they are learning this term, which they already know because they already did it at their old school - in some cases stuff that was taught in year 3 at the old school is being taught in year 5 this term! Both schools are state schools (though the new one is part of an academy and the old wasn't and both are under the same county council).

I should ask the teachers about this but want some perspective first. Could it really be that the new school is teaching 'easier' material? Both my kids are quite academic and I am going to be worried if they're not being challenged. But perhaps, instead, all schools teach the same stuff but maybe not in the same order? How does this work?

[BeanBag7]

It depends what they are being taught. If its maths and they are learning something easy then maybe there is an issue, because maths is fairly linear (e.g. you cant do division until you have done multiplication). If its history and they are doing "the tudors" then this could be made easy or hard depending on the age of the class, but if they've covered the topic before it would be boring for them.

[spanieleyes]

It depends what you mean by "stuff"
different schools will teach different topics in different years, some schools might teach "Rivers" in year 3 and some will teach it in year 6. But the objectives being covered under the same topic heading will be different. Similarly, newspaper writing can be taught in any year group but theexpectation and objectives covered in year 1 and year 6 will be vastly different!

[Lunafortheloveogod]

As @Beanbag7 said if it’s something like basic maths.. not division that’s actually long division this time but with a refresher for them to get back into things and the kids are managing it all fine I’d ask.
But if it’s history/geography/English even and it’s a broader topic I’d double check with home work or whatever it’s not a higher level version.. like we made roman helmets at primary.. certainly wasn’t what we done for Rome at secondary .

Is dc complaining or have they just said we’re doing x again or just through homework

[Jazzmin]

It is probably the same topic but the next level. For example, you cannot teach multiplication in yr3 and never revisit it. They will be doing yr 5 objectives in it now.
I often get children from new schools saying they have done something before. I give them the hardest level work to check.
No harm in asking for a ‘ how are they settling in’ chat and mention what they have said. They will be able to explain things a reassure you, hopefully!

[TinyMystery]

It’s the beginning of the year so I’d expect there to be some level of refresher/catch up. (Assuming this is STEM or English Language type stuff and not humanities, which is variable dependent upon school and will just be taught at different levels deleting on year group)

[rodentforce]

Thank you everyone. I just spoke to the DC to get specifics. It sounds like they are given challenges to do in maths which are meant to take 30 mins, but my two have finished after a few minutes, and they end up having to sit doing nothing for ages. Sounds like English is not in as much depth too ... their story-writing was more in depth at their old school (planning a story in detail, focusing on different parts etc) but they bash them out without much discussion in this school. I think I will need a discussion with the teachers. Isn't it the case that they all have to cover certain stuff at primary school, decided by the government? Is there much flexibility with that, leading to variation between schools?

[Jazzmin]

They have only been in class a couple of weeks. I set mine stories this week unaided so I can write their target cards. It is very early days. I can’t imagine someone in my yr 4 class finishing and sitting there doing nothing, why wouldn’t they show the teacher?

[nuttybutter]

They've only been in class for a couple of weeks. The teacher will still be assessing all the children and gauging where to pitch their lessons.

[LetItGoToRuin]

The teacher might still be assessing everyone, but children shouldn't be sitting doing nothing for ages!

Did they speak to the teacher when they finished the 30-minute maths task? Did they think of their own extension activities?

They need to finish the work quickly and accurately, and ask for more.