maths sets

[auntyflonono]

I know each year group would be different ability wise but as a best guess would you expect a child who got 105 for their SATs to be in the bottom, middle or top set in Y7? My dd has been put into the bottom set and I am not sure if its a very able year group or a mistake. I thought she would be in the middle. Has anyone any thoughts? I am thinking of how to approach it with the school.

[Rachie1986]

Are you sure they used just SATS results? Was the setting at the start of the year (and if so, why have you waited for 7weeks to question it?), or was it recently - in which case they may well have done a further assessment and contributions of her class teacher since Sept.

[Rachie1986]

76% of pupils attained the "expected" 100 this year in Maths, therefore if there are 3 sets and presuming an average intake, you would think 33% in each group, and so 105 could feasibly be in the lower 1/3, as only 24% would have been below 100.

There are several assumptions there, mind.

[Cachailleacha]

Were they set straight away or have they been set now at half term? If it was recently it is likely they used something other than SATs, such as CATs, or a test on what they have covered so far, or a combination.

[Hellohah]

It depends on the school. In DS's school 105 has got into top set.

[Cachailleacha]

My child got 109 and was put into top set at grammar school. They were set based on CATs and a class test halfway through first term, not SATs.

[BarbarianMum]

At ds1's school it would also depend on you CAT scores but it would be a middle group (there are 7, so maybe 3 or 4).

[greencatbluecat]

My DCs' school uses CAT tests for setting. This is because many/most primary schools coach heavily towards the SATS so many children have much higher scores than they otherwise should.

Don't worry, OP. If your DC is in the wrong set, it will quickly become apparent and they will get moved.

[rainingcatsanddog]

My ds got a similar score and was bottom table at primary school so it depends on the intake.

[KingBee]

If our school relied on Cats test ds would be bottom to middle - as it is he is in top set - Year 11 for GCSE, expected to get above a 7.