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Secondary education

Any Scottish teachers about that can explain the new National Qualifications.

5 replies

AndiPandi · 11/02/2014 22:21

School are trying to put DD back to level 2 (in S1), I don't think it's necessary and my worry is that my understanding of these new qualifications seems that such a move now in S1 would prevent her from sitting her Nat 5 until S5. Does anyone know if that's right, or would she be able to move back up before S4 if she showed improvement. The subject us maths if that makes a difference. And I genuinely believe the ability is already there, for various reasons her confidence is affecting her performance in tests.

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nothruroad · 11/02/2014 22:27

What do you mean 'putting her back to level 2'? If she is not managing to achieve the level 3 experiences and outcomes then she will be working at level 2. This might not be the case for all the skills though as I'd expect a pupil to be working at a slightly different level in different skills. Are the classes set? Is there a class for those currently working at level 2 which is separate from the rest?

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AndiPandi · 11/02/2014 22:32

They are only just getting new text books and she is being given level 2. Before that she was working on a level E book in school but works on level F with her tutor. The classes have just been reorganised and she had hoped to be moved as she says she finds that class too easy and it's full of people who really can't do maths! I REALLY don't want to come across as a pushy parent, I wouldn't want her to be out of her depth but I genuinely think they have hot this wrong.

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ttlshiwwya · 12/02/2014 10:09

We're in Scotland and my kids school sets in Maths half-way through S1 putting the children into 4 groupings. However the first 2 groups (maybe even the first 3 groups) all follow the same curriculum (level 2/level 3 of the new Scottish Curriculum in S1). There are frequent tests and although they rarely move children between groups during S1. They do re-set again at the beginning of S2 and I believe there is a fair number of children we move between groups (some even move from the 3rd group to the 1st group). Choice of NQ3/NQ4/NQ5 levels for S4 exams are not made until the beginning of S4. However children are given guidance on where they need to be at the end of S2 and end of S3 to be able to sit their NQ5 in S4. I'd check with the school - maybe they are just putting your daughter in the 2nd set (my DS2's friend was in this set in S1 but moved into the 1st set in S2 and he's doing really well and doesn't seem to have suffered from being in the 2nd set in S1 - he preferred to be at the top of his group which made him more confident - also they generally give the 2nd and 3rd sets the better teachers).

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ttlshiwwya · 12/02/2014 10:48

Sorry didn't preview my message and meant to add that the advice my kid's school give re levels for NQ5 in S4 is that you need to be beyond 3rd level "developing" by end of S2 ideally 3rd level "secure" or beyond.