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Original poster

Expected levels at the end of year 8?

42 replies

SparkyDuchess · 07/07/2012 19:29

Can anyone tell me what the target is for each subject at the end of year 8? I can find loads of information up to year 6, but nothing for year 8.

Thanks :)

OP posts:
roisin · 08/07/2012 08:01

I agree with noble giraffe. Does your report state whether your child's teachers think they are making good progress? Or making good effort/commitment? That's a suitable measure for me.

noblegiraffe · 08/07/2012 07:36

Levels are designed to measure progress between key stages. Sub-levels do not actually mean anything concrete and are assigned subjectively. Progress is not linear and children will vary as to when and where they make progress.

So really don't spend too much time on them. The idea that you can measure learning and progress in this way and assign it a fine-tuned number is a particular bugbear of mine.

Original poster
SparkyDuchess · 08/07/2012 00:25

That helps - I can use the KS2 targets and add either 2 subs or 1 full twice to get a target for end of year 8. I just want something as a starting point really.

Thanks :)

OP posts:
EvilTwins · 07/07/2012 20:54

2 sub levels per year is what we've been told. We are given KS3 targets based on KS2 levels, then split them down to get end of Yr 7 and end of Yr 8 targets. Not an exact science, of course, especially for non-core subjects. I teach drama, so my targets are based on KS2 English. Obviously a DC who is good at English isn't necessarily good at drama. Works both ways though.

LynetteScavo · 07/07/2012 20:49

I also thought it should be two sub levels of progress each year.

Bunbaker · 07/07/2012 20:35

I was given to believe that they had to make two sub levels of progress a year. Perhaps it is because DD's school is only one step away from special measures so they are concentrating on improving the results.

Admittedly DD is in the top set for maths and most of her class have made improved by 3 and 4 sub levels in one year, which has really surprised me.

titchy · 07/07/2012 20:29

Expected progress is one full level over two years, so KS2 4b in Maths should achieve 5b by end year 8, and 5a/6c border by en year 9. MFL will be lower to start with as will other subjects as they start from a lower baseline (zero in some eg a new language!). But broadly they should catch up by the end of yer 9.

Bunbaker · 07/07/2012 20:27

What about subjects like science, ITC, DT and RE?

LynetteScavo · 07/07/2012 20:22

I think they are expected to get lower levels in MFL, if they haven't studied it before Y7.

Bunbaker · 07/07/2012 20:15

"According to ds's report the average for a year 8 is a level 5"

Is that for all subjects? DD is reaching the end of year 7 and most of her class are at levels 6 & 7 for maths and English. Other subjects seem to be levels 4 & 5. Her school isn't a high achieving one either and is only satisfactory according to ofsted.

GoodButNotOutstanding · 07/07/2012 20:13

I would expect the brightest pupils (only a handful even in a good school) to be getting into level 7 by the end of yr 8, level 6 would be considered pretty bright, average kids seem to get level 5 and if it's level 4 then they will be slightly below average in that subject.

That's what I would expect for Maths so I think it should be pretty similar in other subjects.

LynetteScavo · 07/07/2012 20:12

I thought average was 5a at the end of Y8, but I'm finding DS is much higher in English, Maths and Science. I presume this is because he was taught these subjects so thoroughly at junior school.

gazzalw · 07/07/2012 20:09

At secondary school aren't all the SATS targets based on a trajectory which starts with the KS2 ones? So they are individual to the child? I stand to be corrected as my DS is still at primary school (although Yr 6).

DaisySteiner · 07/07/2012 20:08

According to ds's report the average for a year 8 is a level 5 - whether that is the beginning or end I don't know, but a year 9 should be level 5-6.

noblegiraffe · 07/07/2012 20:07

There's loads of info for Y6 because it's the end of a key stage. Look up expected levels for end of KS3 - Y9 in most schools.

Original poster
SparkyDuchess · 07/07/2012 20:06

I thought there must be some sort of target, as there was in year 6?

It's just to give me some context when looking at DS's report.

OP posts:
TalkinPeace2 · 07/07/2012 19:50

the range of expectations is so wide as to make comparison's meaningless
unless you know the child and what they have achieved in the past

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