Setting in secondary schools

36 replies

NEScribe · 21/10/2011 16:05

Hi,

just wondering if anyone happens to know whether setting in core subjects is still routine at start of state secondary school (Y7) or whether some schools stay with mixed ability for Y7 or indeed have a different type of banding?

thanks!

OP posts:

onceagain · 21/10/2011 21:09

Takver - a good school will list that sort of information in their prospectus or on their website. If its not there then send an email - the type of response (including answer as well as tone and speed of reply) you get will give you another indication of whether you like the school or not.

TalkinPeace2 · 21/10/2011 19:58

dd is in year 9
ds is in year 7
for complicated reasons the two years have UTTERLY different setting systems
far more important is the ethos / atmosphere of the school (for those of us who are not writing cheques!)

Takver · 21/10/2011 19:46

I'm interested in this one - annoyingly we all went round the open day of the school dd is probably going to move onto and forgot to ask that question. D'you reckon it would be rude to send an email to ask?

TalkinPeace2 · 21/10/2011 19:45

depends on the school
secondary moderns (the remnants in grammar areas) are different than comps

kritur · 21/10/2011 19:12

Set for maths, english, science. Banded for other things (one high ability band and 2 lower ability bands) but mixed ability within the band.

maypole1 · 21/10/2011 18:17

They set in my sons school for every subject expect drama they even set for pe so the children who are not very sporty can go at a slower pace

grendel · 21/10/2011 17:21

At my DD's school they are set in year 7 for maths, science, ict, and english. In year 8 they also set them for french and german. They do move them up and down sets during the year as well if it turns out that they are struggling or cruising in a particular set.

Iwantacampervan · 21/10/2011 17:15

My DD in year 7 was set from the start for maths, science, french, history and geography. Everything else, including english, is taught in form groups.

Another secondary around our area doesn't set at all in year 7.

roisin · 21/10/2011 16:29

At the boys' school they are in mixed ability groups for everything for the whole of yr7; from yr8 set for most subjects.

At my school they are in sets from day 1 (based on KS2 data) for Maths, English and Science, and maybe some others, I'm not sure.

Lucycat · 21/10/2011 16:20

DD's in yr 7 and is setted for Maths, English, Science French, Humanities - n fact everything except subjects like dance, PE, Music & Drama.

At my school we only set in Maths - at all ages - everything else is mixed ability up to GCSE - actually I think English do roughly set in terms of Higher/Foundation paper.

It really does depend on the school - if you phone them they will tell you - hopefully

practicallyimperfect · 21/10/2011 16:06

We have mixed ability in year 7, some setting in yr 9 in maths. Science set at GCSE, English do mixed ability throughout.

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