Baseline / target grades for iGCSEs

[Ancienchateau]

One of my DC returned to UK education last term after 3 years in the French system. He's in Year 10 so start of iGCSE course. We got his report yesterday. His average in each subject is pretty high (between 75-90%) and yet, in maths for example, where he has been identified as being able and will do the higher tier IGCSE, his baseline score is a D and his target for the end of Year 11 when he sits the exam is a C. In my day a D was a fail . Is this normal? All of his grades are very low compared to his marks.

I've contacted the school who say, averages are not meaningful as it may be based on one piece of work. Ok fine, except my child completed every piece of homework/class work last term and got consistently high scores and in maths assessments for example he scored 85% and 77%.

Can anyone shed any light on thiis please?

[Traalaa]

Ancien, do they set by achievement? If so, what set's he in?

If he's top set and still predicted a 'C', that's a bit odd as it means the school don't get v.many top grades in maths. If he's in a lower ability set though, then a 'C' might be the top end ability of that set. If so, getting 85%, etc in class tests for that set could mean a 'C' is the right trajectory.

[Ancienchateau]

Thanks for replying Traalaa. We've just been told he's going to take the higher level iGCSE and will move to a class with more able children this term, so I presume that is top set? Seems odd doesn't it?

I just checked his report again and he's doing separate physics and chemistry (as well as the triple science lessons), and he got 93% in physics, excellent student, blah de blah and his baseline grade is an E

[Seeline]

I would check with the school what the grades actually are. Does the report actually state that they are predicted grades?
My Ds is the same year and doing iGCSEs in several subjects. Maths is one of those swapping to the new grading (numerical) so a C grade would be meaningless anyway.

[Traalaa]

It all sounds v.confusing! I'd definitely ask to see someone for them to demystify it all.

[Ancienchateau]

Seeline, yes school clarified that is what he is predicted. How do I find out about changes affecting iGCSEs? The school aren't very forthcoming so I'd rather ask here!

[Seeline]

I think it really depends what course he is studying and with which board (edexcel, AQA etc). Where you given any information when he was choosing his options? Otherwise, you will probably need to ask the school. My Ds seems to still be using old text books, as the new ones aren't published yet. Presumably his teachers know how the syllabus has changed and are taking that into account.....

[Seeline]

The only other thing I would suggest is to contact each of his subject tutors individually and ask for their reasoning behind his predicted grade versus the marks he gets. May be email and ask for meetings? Unless you have a parents evening in the near future.

[Ancienchateau]

Thanks Seeline. No we weren't given any info. He is doing Edexcel though. I've no idea about which courses other than he's doing the higher tier in Maths. He only started at the school last term, from abroad, so I am completely out of touch with how things work. I am going to contact some of his subject teachers to ask them. I have a feeling the administrative side of the school is trying to catch up with the changes, as the person I spoke to Head of Personalised Learning, was a bit clueless.

[kimlek]

This does seem very strange. Definitely email and/or ask for a meeting. Even if there's a parents eve soon it would be good to understand his reports prior to any parents meetings then you can focus on how you can help get his predicted grades up from D/Es (3/2s in new grading).

[QGMum]

Could this be an administrative glitch as he's come from abroad and they don't have enough data to predict grades so have just defaulted to low predictions?

[BubbleFairy]

He may have scored 93% on the exam, but if the exam was just on grade G-D syllabus, he would only currently be an D if that makes sense? They wouldn't have taught everything yet (maths and sciences especially are building blocks style, starting with lowest grade and working up) so if he's predicted a C at end of Y11, currently working at a D grade is about right.

[Ancienchateau]

Thanks everyone. They came back to me today and said no one gets over a C at this stage because, as pp said, they haven't covered the syllabus. And yes, QGMum, you are spot on in my son's case. They have reassured me he is a higher callibre student than their default suggests

Now that I've had a conversation with them, and (ahem) pointed out the various problems with their system, they are going to review and makes changes to their mark/grading/reporting system allegedly

[Traalaa]

Glad to hear it, Anciench. It's a bit harsh that way of marking if they don't explain it.

[NotThrowAwayMyShot]

IGCSE's are still A-E not 1-9

I imagine that because he's only just returned to the UK system the only thing they have to go on to set targets etc are CATs or MIDYIS tests which can be a bit misleading.

[Ancienchateau]

What are CATs and MIDYIS, NotThrowAwayMyShot? Not heard of them and not sure DS has done them.

[NotThrowAwayMyShot]

They are intelligence type tests that measure things like verbal, non verbal & non verbal ability.

Most state schools do CATS in year 7 & in year 9/10 in the first few weeks of term & targets are often set by them.

Midyis are similar but more commonly used in independent schools.

[Seeline]

IGCSE's are still A-E not 1-9

My Y10 DS will get the new grades in maths and English iGCSEs when he takes them next year.

[NotThrowAwayMyShot]

Having looked at the various syllabi it appears that igcse's will offer both A*-G & 1-9 in certain subjects.