Moving sets, is this normal?

The OP asked 'do I have the right to be upset at the the lack of consultation?'.

What most replies have said is; you can't expect to be consulted about set moves (it may be a different matter in the Private sector).

When my DS was moved down, he was told face-to-face by his teacher, and then we received a letter. Previously, at parents' evening, we'd been warned he was in the danger zone. We felt the whole thing had been dealt with sensitively and correctly.

I agree that the OP's school did not appear to handle her DD's situation particularly well and I'd be upset about that.

I don't agree that responses on these threads are anti-parents' rights; they tend to be the opposite if anything, IMO.

Stop giving mixed messages to the op, if it is reasonable then it is reasonable. The op has never mentioned conspiracy theories just that she was upset about the way the school communicated, again perfectly ok. Posters need to stop berating her and calling her a whinger and other inappropriate names for just being interested and concerned about herchilds education. Sometimes these thread responses are so anti parent rights and pro school that they are completely unbalanced

Of course it's not unreasonable. And the OP can question it if she wishes, or more appropriately her DD can, at the start of next term. But there is no need to get upset about it and start seeing conspiracies and unfairness. There will be a reason but whether or not the OP will like it is another matter.

DS1 didn't get put up the top set for science last year - he was doing well and was top of his set. He was annoyed and confused. I encouraged him to ask and he did so. That was all that was needed.

What a ridiculous post. even if you were employed, you would expect communication and explanation if you were demoted! Not that I think it is reasonable to compare a set move query in year 7 to how it would affect your employment negatively!!
It is quite simple the op and her dd do not know why she has been moved sets as the information she had been given previously is that she was doing fine and in the right set. They would like it to have been communicated better, perfectly reasonable, it is not a crime to question the reasons, end of

Everything is relative.
If your child was in the middle of the set and because others had worked hard had slipped to lower in the set you would never have known.
But your child is at the bottom of the set so the next ranked child happens to be in another room
they swapped
its not a big thing. at DD's school, the sets were fluid right through year 7
some kids moved up in some subjects, down in others, up and then down again, down and then up again
it's all about matching ability to peer group

Not every child can be top in everything
they should aim to do THEIR best.
And parents should support them rather than winge about it.
Having a chip on your shoulder about being moved a set in year 7 will not cut much ice with employers in 15 years time.

It is perfectly ok for the parent to be interested and or concerned about her Dds school progress, or there would be no point in parents evenings. these posts are so pro teachers, which is fine up to a point, but teachers are human and make errors of judgements or just plain mistakes!, it is okay to question politely in the same way that it is okay to question a doctor or a lawyer if you are concerned. If the school set an expectation with the pupil or parent that she is in the right set and is doing well it is perfectly reasonable to question or expect an explanation as to why! Why is everyone so defensive to the school, no one is criticising, just asking and expecting a reasonable method of communication by the school
It might be right to move her down, it might be wrong, at the moment the pupil and the op don't know because it hasn't been handled correctly by the school or they would know and would not be upset!

Eh? What unkind comments? I thought everyone was being very measured in their posts.

Pupils get moved about the sets. There will be many reasons for this and no, the parents don't get consulted as it isn't their business, only that of the pupil and the teachers involved. DD is in top set for everything but she has been told in no uncertain terms that there are other children coming up on the inside who will take her place if she lets things slide at all! It doesn't mean she will be more stupid, or less hard-working, but that other children are doing a little better.

DS1 isn't as 'successful' and has moved up and down sets a few times in the first few years of secondary school. It isn't a big deal - he just shrugs and gets on with trying harder.

My DD is also Y7 and I only know which set she is in from her telling me! I trust the teachers to make the right choice.

Please try to chill about this a little, its really not a major issue and if your DD is upset you need to help her to shrug it off and continue to work hard.How are you both going to cope if something major happens like her failing her GCSEs if you get so upset about this ?

It sounds like what they do at DC's intended high school (had a tour few months ago and I asked a lot about set mobility). I don't see how it could ever be practical in a large school to "consult".

DC certainly have moved around sets a lot in primary school. I was never consulted -- and never felt like I should be, either.

It sounds like your dd is at a very high performing comprehensive, and that set 2 is also a high achieving group.

My first choice comp for dd1 gets 40% A*/A, so in this school set 2 is good (they also do streaming).

I can see why your dd is upset, but be supportive and positive. Her NC levels show that she is doing well and is above average.

Speaking as the Mum of a mildly dyslexic son I don't think others realise how very shaky their confidence is and the actions that other children can take in their stride have a major impact.

I think in your child's particular case the school should have explained fully to you in advance and in the nicest possible way, why this change of group was necessary in order to ensure that a major drop in confidence was not suffered.

I know that my son (now 22 and due to get a First at Uni in his Masters) still hears the negative things that people say more than the positive comments and it takes v little for him to loose his confidence.

My DS was also moved down from Maths top set at the end of Y9 after struggling for three years. He's now in Y11 and is on target for an A in his GCSE; with some hard work, he may get an A*. In his recent mock, he got a higher score than some students in Set 1, but he likes being where he is! Also, he was moved away from all his boffy friends but soon got over it (character building, etc).

I should also add that a 6C in Y7 would not be enough for the top set at my DCs comp. I would probably have been annoyed about the conflicting messages from your DD's teacher, but I would NOT expect to be consulted about a set move - but informed, yes.

Your son is your son, everyone is different, every child matters. you may know he was struggling but the op did not know, and was told the opposite. The school should have communicated better and the fact that the op has been upset over Xmas is largely again because of bad communication by the school in sending letters out after the break. of course the op will be upset if her dd is upset over Xmas.

It doesn't sound like a disaster, second set is still pretty good, isn't it? As for friends, surely they shouldn't be chatting during lessons anyway, and maybe it'll mean fewer distractions! They can still socialise during breaks and lunchtime as someone already said.

I do think it's a bit odd that they have to be in the same set for all subjects. Often it works out that a particular child is the same level across the board, but not necessarily, especially when there's an issue like dyslexia that might cause them to struggle more with some subjects than others. Seems unfair and silly to move her down a set in maths, for example, because she's finding English a bit more of a challenge. They could be a bit more flexible about that maybe?

My son was top set for maths in the first term of yr7, they then moved him down. I would much rather him be top of the second set than be bottom and struggling of the top set. However at the beginning of yr9, he has moved up again.

I don't think anyone's comments have been unkind and if it has ruined your Christmas then you are being a bit bloody precious tbh.

The school seem to have given conflicting messages and I think it is not toot much to expect an explanation as to why they were told she wad in the right set and doing well and now not. some of the responses always seem to say that the school has no duty of care of communication and I am sorry but they do, it is not just about teaching but about communicating well with the child and parent

I think you should have been consulted.

And moving kids rarely has any good long term effect.

Sorry if you are both upset.

Also, end of first term in y7 is prime time for assessing groups, I'd be pleased they are on top of the appropriate placing of students.

Schools can't be expected to consult parents on set moves, but should have contacted you about it. You have to trust their judgement and support your dd. Schools rarely move students without careful consideration. It sounds like they band rather than set, if she is moving for everything.

I don't think I would expect to be consulted - but I do think it was wrong not to tell your dd at the end of last term. A letter out of the blue is not a good idea.

She is doing well working at high level 5 level/6 in year 7 so I wouldn't worry about that.

The friend thing is a issue, but reassure her that she will still see them at break and lunch when the main socializing is done - and she will meet new people in the new set too.

check out my thread (sorry cant do link thingys ) but my problem was the other way round ) if she has moved down she can move up again at a later date . hth .

One of the things I really like about the comprehensive school system is the movement up and down sets. It means that pupils do have to work hard to keep their place in the top set and if they start in a lower set they can move up.
The one thing which would concern me in your position is that you say that she is taught in the same set for all subjects which is really streaming rather than setting which is different.
If you've been told it's unusual to move sets then I'd make a appointment with the form tutor or head of year and have a chat with them. Her weakest subject seems to be English, so maybe she could do some extra work so that she can catch up.

What unkind comments? And why has your Christmas been ruined? You need to ask the school why as it is possible it is a clerical error.

But again, why do you expect to be consulted?