KS3 Understanding academic progress new grade system

[user1489152320]

Does anyone understand the new grade system for academic progress? I've just got my son's report and don't understand it at all. Where should he be? I understood the old level system - but I'm lost with this. Mastering sounds good/advanced - and emerging not so good. When should I be concerned? Any advice gratefully received!

[TalkingofMichaelAngel0]

All schools have different systems. Youll need to ask the school. Id assume same as you though. But it depends where they started

[TeenAndTween]

As Talking says, there is no standard, you need to ask the school.

I am amazed / disappointed by how many people seem to be asking this question on MN. It shows how rubbish their schools have been at explaining the reports.

For comparison, our school did a presentation at the y7 meet the tutor evening and sent out a good explanation with the first report.

[user1489152320]

No explanation came with the report - and still waiting for the school to phone back.

[youarenotkiddingme]

Mastering means can do it. They are expected to master the core skills for their academic year group. It's the equivalent to expected "4B" at end of year 6 SAts.

Emerging/working towards mean they haven't yet got the skill level ejected if a child that age.

Except it doesn't really say much which is why schools often have their own clearer system.

Otherwise you don't know if a child has mastered a skill - expected level or mastered and way ahead of expected level. Same with emerging. A child 3 years behind academically will be emerging the same as a child who has only got to master 2 core skills.

[portico]

I would like to see a colour chart showing correlation of SATS levels to legacy GCSE grades, and then from legacy GCSE grades to gcse9-1 grades. It doesn't help that KS3 school report for some school subjects uses SATS levels, some use legacy GCSE grades and some use 9-1 GCSE grades.

[youarenotkiddingme]

Like this?

[portico]

Yes I like this, but cannot open it. Is there a URL to this, please!

[user1489152320]

Well there's four grades mastering, securing, developing and emerging - but no explanation. My friend who teaches at the school doesn't know either! I was guessing they are supposed to be at the securing stage and mastering is above this. My friend at another school has - working towards target, met target and exceeds target which is more understandable. Why have they changed a system that everybody understood?

[youarenotkiddingme]

No it's just a photo of the document that came with ds school report. He doesn't attend that school anymore as this is about the only decent thing it did!

The points were their own system. The rest was a translation of how to get from levels to new grades.

[youarenotkiddingme]

Emerging = working towards the criteria

Developing = learning some of the skills in this area

Securing = becoming able to use the skills independently and in everyday work

Mastering = being able to transfer the skills across the curriculum.

There isn't a working above expected level anymore. All pupils are expected to master the criteria set for each year group.

[buckyballs]

The problem is, the schools don't know either. We have had no guidance from exam boards as to what the grade boundaries will be like. This is as expected as grade boundaries will be set on a normal distribution.

At my school, mastery = level 7, secure=level 6, developing = level 5 and emerging = level 4.

To be honest, I would be paying more attention to any teacher comments and attitudes to learning grades than "levels" at this stage.

[youarenotkiddingme]

My ds school gives grades 1-4. 1 is well above age expectations, 2 above age expectations, 3 working at expected level, 4 working below age expectations.

It's actually not clear 'where' the pupil is (e.g. 4 could mean anything as ds is in year 8 and so can be working anywhere up to level 5/ 13 years). Same with above.

But he now goes to an amazing school which really monitor progress and have excellent Send support so I know he's achieving the best he can. even if he's mainly 3/4