new grades (y9 child) confusing and worrying me, anyone else?

[BabyGanoush]

Would love to have some MN-ers viewpoints on these grades!

DS, age 13 and in y9, has just ahd his school report in new grades.

As an immigrant (been here for over 5 yrs though) I had just got my head around the A/B/C system (2 sub levels of progress expected every year etc...)

Have been to parent evenings, and the new grade explanations. But still have not got a "feel" for them.

What I can't figure out is if my DS is heading for bad grades.

He has 3s, 4s and 5s (and 7s for Computing and ICT, but stupid DoE are cancelling the ICT GCSE course )

That's not good, right?

If you have a grade 3 in y9, what would the predicted grade for GCSE be? Does anyone know?

[TeenAndTween]

The thing is, you need to ask your school, as there is no standard way of reporting.

If the school is using current GCSE 'working at' grades, as in 'if they took the GCSE right now this is the kind of grade they would get' then these aren't too bad for early y9 with 2.5 years to go.

However if they are predictions for if he carries on like this this is what he will get, then it is worrying.

Our school says the new number grades are guess work anyway until they have one set of results ...

[BabyGanoush]

I guess that makes sense, it being guess work to start with...

the grades are not predictions, btw, it's where he's currently at.

[BabyGanoush]

fwiw, his predicted grades are set at 7-9, which makes no sense IMO, but is because he did not do y6 SATs

[OdinsLoveChild]

The very top few % will be given a grade 9. That's approximately an A*. The next few % will get graded 8 which is approximately the top of an A. 7 will be approximately a lower A, 6 will be roughly a high B and 5 can be a low B. 3/4 will be C.

It isn't a straight swap unfortunately. It depends how many students take the exam as to how many will be graded 9,8,7 etc There isn't a specific pass mark for a specific grade anymore.

Sorry if it doesn't make sense, I'm not sure of it myself but that's how it was explained to me.

[mimbleandlittlemy]

You might find this useful:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/537147/Postcard_-_Grading_New_GCSEs.pdf

What are the 3s and 4s for? if they are for languages he did not do before secondary school that's quite common. He has 2 1/2 years to go so those grades in Y9 will take him much further up the chart.

[YoureAllABunchOfBastards]

The answer is nobody actually knows what the grades will look like. We are making it up. 7 - 9 is likely to be given to the top 20%, but only 20% of those who get 7+ will get a 9. Predictions are a complete waste of time.

[BabyGanoush]

Somehow I take heart from the fact that you all don't know exactly either.

The 3s are for languages but also history and cpr. His dyslexia means anything that involved lots of writing gets him marked down...

Just trying to get him through gcse to the "safe haven" of a level or btec, when he can do tech/computing/maths and drop humanities and languages...the stress!

[clary]

I teach MFL and we have moved to grades related to GCSE grades this year. I am assuming that your school has done the same, but I would check.

My top set year 8s have targets ranging from a low 2 to a medium 3 for the end of this year. I would expect them eventually to be achieving 6-7-8 in GCSE.

SInce the 3s are in languages OP I wouldn't worry at all. A 5 in maths or English at the start of year 9 looks good for a 6-7 in yr 11. Which is equal to a B/A in old money.

The necessary grade (ie like the old C) for 6th form etc will be a 5.

[BabyGanoush]

Thanks clary,

I think our 6th form expects a's if you want to continue in that subject? At least for maths, science etc.

Not c's

[clary]

Yes sure, I meant it will be 5 and above in 5 subjects to get into sixth form, then ?7 in your chosen subjects.