DS1, was put in set 1 for everything at the start of yr8 apart from geography and history. These two he managed set 6 of 6, little odd we thought, did ring to check it was correct as such a difference but were assured that no mistake had been and he was in the right set. So fast forward to parents evening last week and both history and geography teachers while very nice were both a little reluctant to discuss levels. After a little persuasion they showed me his years test results and he's getting consistent 6b's with an occasional 6a thrown in. Now while I'm pleased at these levels, talking to other teachers, I'm being told that there's no way he's in the right set. DS1 just says he's happy in set 6, slightly worried he's seeing it as something to aspire to in all subjects as homework etc is so easy compared to his other subjects! So just after opinions really, does this sound right for a very good, but never the less non-selective state comp?
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Yr8 parents/teachers, quick question about levels
alienbump · 22/03/2013 20:44
What were his end of year levels last year? At ds's school they predict next years targets by adding 2 sub levels, so if he was 6c one year he would be predicted 6a the next. If you have his levels and know his predicted targets you can work out whether he is well over target, which it sounds like he is. Don't discount computer error/wrong input of data as a reason.
My ds had completely the wrong level for his geography and I went armed with all the data from the previous year to query it. They said the computer is set to predict 2 sub levels and they couldn't over ride it so when the wrong data had been entered at the start of year 7, it couldn't be altered until the next year's targets had been set!
. If you have his previous report it might be worth taking that along as 'evidence'. Did the comments on it give any indication that his history and geography were a concern? If not, why not? It is reasonable to expect a child in the top set for everything else to be near the top for humanities too, unless there was some problem or reason, in which case you should have been told!
Speaking here as a History Head of Department
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I teach our bottom Year 8 set (out of 9) they are working at level 3/4. I also teach set 3/9 and they are working at Level 5 in the main with a few just into Level 6. A child who is a secure Level 6 in Year 8 would undoubtedly be in at least second if not top set particularly as it sounds as if you have specific setting for History ( we are tied to English so don't necessarily get all the top historians in one group.
I would talk to the Head of Department. I am amazed his class teacher hasn't said anything because I would expect a big difference between his ability and that of the rest of the class which would mean far more planning/differentiation etc.
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