End of year 9, predicted a 7b in english

[kilmuir]

Is this ok? New to all this, find it odd they predict 2 years ahead.
We have parent teacher interviews next week and daughter worried. Thanks

[lottysmum]

I would have thought this was OK...my daughter is predicted 6A this year at end of year 7... but her English has always been strong ...If you think that 5B is good at the end of year 6 and work 2 sub levels every year then she is still above average ...

[natellie1970]

That's fine. My ds is predicted 6b and c for most subjects so 7b sounds ok. I think the targets are just there to make sure they don't fall back too much. My ds is in yr8 and is falling behind in some subjects (except PE).

[mumsneedwine]

7B is very good for year 9. Expected is a 5 or 6 and 7s are for very able students. Have never seen an 8 in English (more common in maths and science but still for very able (or mumsnet) students). Usually if the exceed 7 the teacher will give a GCSES grade. Be proud - he's doing well.

[Nocomet]

Don't worry about it.
Senior school predicted and,irritatingly actual grades, seem to come out of a bingo machine.

Signs of progress and being put in the appropriate set are about the most you can ask for.

Also our teachers are all really nice and helpful on parents evening, so it's nothing to be scaded about. They aksi make far more sense in oerson with their mark books, than our very stunted reports allow.

[Nocomet]

Also make.

Sorry kindle spell auto correct is very all or nothing.

[hellobob2]

7b is really very good. She will probably beat it easily tho, the predictions are usually scored too low.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

It never fails to amaze me how people who's DCs have above average levels never know what it means. And rather than google it, post on here instead


I guess it's just the people who's DCs have average or lower levels manage to just understand it....

[OnGoldenPond]

DD got 8c in recent English assessment - she is yr 9. Would this mean she is on course for. A* GCSE?

[kilmuir]

Ooo pass tantrums a saucer of milk.
I am allowed to ask such questions on a secondary education board.
No, i don't know what they indicate. She is ok at English, primary never made such a big deal of it all.
I am aware of google thank you, but i wanted to ask other peoples experience of predicted levels as that was news to me

[Creamycoolerwithcream]

What year 9 target do you think would hopefully go on to a grade C in English? My son struggles withbhis English.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

Oh come on? Your first port of call was here?

No one ever misunderstands average or lower than expected levels though.

You should be very proud. It is a very good level.

I just don't understand how no one with high achieving DCs can figure it out?

[TeenAndTween]

Creamy. As I understand it a 6c end year 9 puts you on track for a C. A 5a can also do it but it's a bit more of a push.

(Disclaimer, obviously you can get C grades with 5b or lower end y9 but that would be considered very very good progress).

[Creamycoolerwithcream]

Thank you. I actually wish there was a bit more info on how the grades work, a booklet when DC start secondary school would be useful.

[BackforGood]

I don't agree with Tantrums - I've taught in Primary schools for years, but it's still difficult to 'get a feel' for how Nat Curr levels dovetail into GCSE results. Of course it's OK to ask on here - this is exactly what MN is for - to chat with other Mums, whove either been there, done that, or have some insight about something you are not sure of.

kilmuir Not sure what your dd is worried about ?
Schools have to churn out this sort of data, but the secondary staff will tell you not to worry too much about it... they are not predicting it specifically for "Kilmuir's dd", they are producing stats generated by what previous cohorts who came into school on what levels were then getting at the end of Yr9. there's a whole heap of hormones to be got through before then

[EvilTwins]

Good progress is 2 levels across a key stage. This is probably where the targets have come from. So:

KS2 - L3 = KS3 - L5 = GCSE C
KS2 - L4 = KS3 - L6 = GCSE B
KS2 - L5 = KS3 - L7 = GCSE A
KS2 - L6 = KS3 - L8 = GCSE A*

Obviously not an exact science but it's a useful guide. As a teacher, I am expected to ensure that all students achieve at least this. Students who are particularly talented or able ought to achieve 5 levels of progress, assuming this is possible - obviously if they start with L6 at KS2, it isn't.

[OrangeMochaFrappucino]

As a secondary English teacher, I am expected to get a C grade from any student at level 5 at the end of Y9. A 7b is a very high grade and that student should be A/A* at GCSE.

[Mintyy]

Tantrums, just as an aside, I assure you I have absolutely no grasp whatsoever what all these levels means and when the dc are expected to achieve them. I look into it all just before parents evening so that I can appear engaged but then I promptly forget it all for the next 6 months .

[circular]

Hmm levels never quite worked for here DD1, remember the frustrations well.
L5 literacy at KS2
L5a English at KS3
GCSE Eng Lang end of yr10 - low B
GCSE Eng Lit end of yr11 - high B

[Creamycoolerwithcream]

That sounds like my DS too. He got level 5 in year 6 SATs which I know is quite good but at the moment he's only progressed to getting 5a/6c in his English work. He is in year 9.

[circular]

Creamycooler you should flag that up to the school, he may get some extra help as not making required level of progress in 2.5 years.
We were constantly told not to worry, as she would have no problem getting a C. Kept on that it wasn't good enough, and got some extra one to one help at start of year 10.

Mumsneedwine Don't understand that about teachers giving a GCSE grade at end of yr9. I remember DD being 6a for Science in the penultimate term, then being given a B in the final yr9 report. All other subjects still given levels. Presumed at the time that it was down to starting the GCSE courses early.

[One4TheRd]

Does the same apply to science?? L7b equating to an A at GCSE??

[Creamycoolerwithcream]

Circular, I have actually done that and he got some extra help. He was diagnosed with epilepsy at the end of year 7 and this and the medication seemed to have slowed down his progress.

[mumsneedwine]

Circular - it's because NC levels technically only go up to 7/8 and students can be higher than this in year 9. So, more useful for students to be given an equivalent GCSE level as they have now surpassed the requirements for NC - the maturity of answers is better reflected by proper grades. Hope that makes sense.
EP can also be awarded which stands for Exceptional Progress - bit useless if you ask me as I'd rather see grade of some kind.

[TheresLotsOfFarmyardAnimals]

Personally I got level 7s in English, maths & science. I'm lazy though so got A's & B's at gcse and C's at a level. Natural ability is only part of it.

[mumsneedwine]

Very true - natural ability might get you a B but hard work will get the As. I know kids who were level 5 in year 9 and got As - and kids who got a 7 who got a B. Levels are just an indication - they still need to study.