6 A written English do I need to worry?

[Kenlee]

I was very supportive of my DD when she told me that she is level 6A for English. I don't want to helicopter her.

Although privately I'm worried as she is in year 8 . Does that mean her English is still at primary level?

Do we need to take action to remedy her lack of knowledge. What is normal for a year 8 child?

[SunnyBaudelaire]

not sure there is 'normal' at this age....
maybe you mean 'average'?
I really wouldnt worry too much she has a while yet to catch up.

[ProfYaffle]

You may want to have a look here Average attainment levels at the end of primary are around level 4. It really doesn't look like your dd is lacking in knowledge.

[Kenlee]

Why can't they just make it simple....I sort of get it...

[mychildrenarebarmy]

I have been trying to get my head round attainment levels and targets since my daughter started secondary in September. Before that she had always been home educated so it was completely new to me. This is what I have found.
The levels go from (lowest end in ks2) 2c, then 2b, then 2a, then move up to 3c, 3b, 3a before moving up to 4c, 4b, 4a and so on. As I understand it 6a is the expected level of attainment by the end of year 9 for a pupil who starts secondary on a 4a. This will differ for foreign language lessons where they are expected to enter secondary at a much lower level. All primary schools approach languages in a totally different way.

I have found these two links helpful but keep in mind that they are from two specific schools and may not apply to all students (I don't know because I am still learning my way!)

rutlandcountycollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/KS3-Expectation-Level-Guide-Sept-2012.pdf

clc2.uniservity.com/GroupDownloadFile.asp?GroupId=87613&ResourceId=1897921

The latter have also published for other years, year 8 is here

Also keep in mind that the whole system is changing. Some schools have started to change already, others are waiting for more information before they do so. As soon as the teachers, and parents, get to grips with the next system some smart alec will be along to change the whole thing again.

[basildonbond]

Ds2 is not particularly strong in English - he was 6a in Y8 but we've just had his gcse targets (Y10) and he's predicted to get an A

(Personally I think that's a bit aspirational and a B may be more likely)

[titchy]

Why do you think level 6 is primary level? Level 4 is expected level for a year 6. Level 6 is expected for year 9.

[BirdintheWings]

6a in year 8 would roughly predict A* /A (or whatever the heck they're calling it by then) at GCSE, so I think you can chill a bit...

[mychildrenarebarmy]

titchy - It is probably because a lot of schools don't actually bother to explain the levels to parents unless the parents ask.

[EvilTwins]

Levels are going or have gone. Perhaps find out what she can and can't do instead.

Levels are meaningless unless you are aware of what skills they equate to.

[Agggghast]

Since schools should no longer use levels from 04/15 this is fairly pointless. Perhaps you should be asking the school how they are going to assess your DC from now on.

[Lovelydiscusfish]

6A is very good for early in Year 8. Don't worry about it. Anyway, if she had problems with literacy she'd have problems accessing all aspects of the curriculum, and I'm sure you'd know.

[PiqueABoo]

Can anyone talk with a bit of seasoned authority about KS3 English levels?

What's the maximum? I see some evidence of 7a, but in other places they run to 8. [Is it all essentially stuff and nonsense at that end of the scale?]

[EvilTwins]

Levels are going. Many schools are already moving on to new systems for assessment. Knowing the maximum is irreverent. Knowing what students can and cannot do is important, not putting a number on it.

[PiqueABoo]

Can anyone actually answer the question?

[BirdintheWings]

Our school says 'maximum for year 8 is level 7, except for maths in which, exceptionally, level 8 may be awarded'.

[donkir]

My ds is also in year 8 and is currently working at a 6a/7c in most of his subjects which if he carries on working to this standard he's predicted A*/As for GCSEs. Your daughter is doing very well.
At my sons school we have a parents consultation every 3 months where they tell us his next target and what specific things he needs to work on. I think to get your answers you will need to arrange a meeting with her teacher as it sounds like all schools work differently.

[EvilTwins]

No one needs to answer the question. The question is redundant. The question should be "what can my child do" and not "what level is my child"

Details of KS3 English curriculum can be found [[
www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-framework-for-key-stages-1-to-4 here]]

[EvilTwins]

Dammit link here

[Hulababy]

As already said, NC levels no longer exist, and the ld levels no longer match up with the new curriculum. Schools are not really supposed to be using them and should have developed their own assessment systems really, r at the veyr least be developing them.

Applying old NC levels to a new curriculum is fairly pointless, and reporting them to children and parents even more so.

However, under the old NC levels, a level 4 (or a 4b is using the "artificial break down code) was the expected level for the end of year 6. So a NC level 6 is fine for y8.

[PiqueABoo]

This is the real world and I've just been given levels same as the OP i.e. telling us the school should be doing something else right now is redundant.

Helping people to understand what they mean in schools that haven't yet switched to Acme Assessment Inc. based on what they meant last year would be helpful. Was there any consensus in secondary about what a 6a meant in English prior to September 2014 etc.

[EvilTwins]

Did you read my link? Pre-2014 curriculum is also there. Perhaps reading it will give you what you want.

[Hulababy]

That information was already included.

"So a NC level 6 is fine for y8."

And fwiw I also work in the real life - but work in a school that is using other assessment method, as recommended.

[Hulababy]

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/339805/MASTER_final_national_curriculum_until_sept_2015_11_9_13.pdf

Page 81-84 states what a children in Key Stage 3 will be expected to learn, and know by the end of y9.

[pointythings]

6A is above average for early Yr8.

Many schools still use the old style 'levels, mainly because they have not yet been replaced with anything sensible and parent-friendly. DD2 is in Yr 9 and they have now started assessing on GCSE criteria - as in 'if you sat your GCSEs now, this is broadly where you would be'. Which is fine. DD2 is in Yr7 and is still being assessed by levels.

If your DD continues to progress, she should be on a 7C/B for end of year 8, which is on track for really good GCSEs. So unless you think she isn't putting the work in (which is a whole other issue) she's fine.

[Kenlee]

Thanks everyone for their input. I just equated the 6 to year 6 at first. Many will know my daughter is an overseas boarder so English is a second language. Therefore we as parents worry. If her English is not at a good enough stage then her other subjects will be affected too.

I am not a Tiger mum (well not anymore). That is why she is boarding in the UK. Although we do what to make sure we spot any potential problems before they become problems.