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Original poster

What subjects are your DCs set/streamed for in Yrs 7 - 9?

33 replies

Perriwinkle · 23/01/2013 19:58

I'm just wondering what subjects your DCs are set/streamed according to ability for in seconday school in the years prior to starting on GCSE courses.

From speaking to people with DCs at different schools, both state and private, I'm finding that there is quite wide variation. For example, in some schools they're set for all of the "core" subjects according to ability, maths english and science and in others a wider range of subjects, i.e. maths, english, science, humanities and languages. In our school it varies from year to year; in Yr 7 it's only for maths, in Yr 8 it's for maths and science and in Yr 9 it's maths, science and humanities. They're not streamed for ability in english or languages until they start their GCSE courses.

I would really appreciate any feedback from teachers on the relative merits of streaming. It seems to me that there are benefits to be gained from it as it appears to me (as a non teacher) that it may perhaps be easier to teach a group of a very similar level of ability and to be able to pitch the lesson appropriately and have more time to spend with the students rather than being taken away to explain things to those who may not understand or need more guidance. I think these children deserve to have the lessons pitched to their ability rather than being left to think that they "don't get it" when others do.

Do you feel that teaching to similar ability groups equals better results too?

In our school it's quite common for children who finish set work in lessons to be told to sit with a small group of others who haven't finished and help them, or to have a particular student nominated for them to work one to one with and help. The line that teachers often come out with is that the best way to learn is to teach! I have to say I have a problem with this and I'm not sure it would naturally happen so often in a class where there was not such a disparity between various levels of ability.

On the other hand, one new teacher has a "challenge folder" from which students who have finished their work are encouraged to take more work, which may be the next level up, more challenging or whatever. This seem like a good idea to me but I can't help thinking that it seems like common sense to teach groups of students who are at a similar level so they can all progress at a similar pace. That's what always used to happen when I was at secondary school way back in the dim and distant past!

Any thoughts gratefully received...

OP posts:
ThreeBeeOneGee · 23/01/2013 21:24

At a partially selective comprehensive:
Maths sets from Oct half-term of Y7.
Science, Latin and German/French sets from beginning of Y8.
Everything else seems to be taught by form group.

If measured by A-level results, it's one of the best comprehensives in the country.

Original poster
Perriwinkle · 23/01/2013 21:16

What is the difference between setting and streaming TalkinPeace2? I, perhaps naively, thought it was the same thing - i.e separating children out into ability groups?

The reason I'm asking the questions I am about what goes on at other schools in terms of streaming for ability is because our school has just had an inadequate OFSTED report and been placed in special measures. At a recent parents meeting we were asked to think about how we, as parents, would like to see things change at the school and what we feel could be improved upon. Personally, I think that far too much teaching in mixed ability groups goes on at the school and this may very well not be a good thing. My feeling is that changing the approach could make a real difference in many ways. I want to voice my opinion about this but would ideally like to be ready to back it up with some "proof" if you like, of the benefits of it.

Obviously, not being a teacher I am accutely aware that my views on the subject could potentially be very quickly and very easily dismissed by the Head on the grounds of my ignorance and I would really rather that didn't happen.

I'm really very interested to hear what teachers have to say about the benefits of teaching similar ability groups as opposed to teaching mixed ability groups. Apparently our english department swear by teaching mixed ability groups and won't hear of doing it any other way! Confused

OP posts:
basildonbond · 23/01/2013 20:54

ds1's school - 'informal' top and bottom sets for maths and English in y7 (but academically selective school so narrower ability range to start off with), 'proper' sets for maths, English, sciences, MFL, history, geography and PE for Y8 & Y9

ds2's school - streamed for everything except for PE and Tech - streaming based primarily on maths ability which suits geeky ds2 down to the ground. The decision about which stream each child should be in is mostly made before they start using entrance test score, SATs results and headteacher's report - three weeks in they have CAT tests and there's a little movement (not much) but mostly seems to be movement up - ds's class had 2 children join from the second stream but no-one moved down. Theoretically there could be movement at the end of Y7 but I don't think anyone changed at that point.

TalkinPeace2 · 23/01/2013 20:46

Setting and streaming are two VERY different things.
Setting is generally a "good thing" IMHO
Streaming generally bad.

At DCs comp, Maths and science are set from Yr 7, everything else from Yr 8
There are two blocks of five sets per year so reasonable differentiation between the sets.

exexpat · 23/01/2013 20:39

At DS's school they were only set for Maths and French in the first few years. Oh, and I suppose you could say they were set for games too - compulsory rugby, DS was in the D team. But it is a moderately selective independent school so I suppose only has roughly the upper half of the ability range to start with.

I also wonder how teachers in, for example, year 9 science classes can cope if they have the whole range from G&T to children with primary-school level reading ability. Is everything done on an individual or small group basis rather than whole-class teaching?

Personally, I've always got a lot more out of classes where everyone is working at a similar level so everyone can participate equally in whole-class discussions and so on.

creamteas · 23/01/2013 20:23

In my DC's school in years 7-9 they set for everything accept Art, Tech, PE, Music and Drama. The initial setting is based on primary results, but all groups are revised after the first half-term. After that, they are reconsidered formally at at the beginning of each year, but there is also often individual movement within the year.

Startail · 23/01/2013 20:12

English, maths, science, history, geog, MFL are Split into 4 sets. PE is split in half by ability and inclination. DD1 who, reads and sings, is in the bottom less competitive lot.
DD2 who spend 4 lunch times a week racing about after balls and waving hockey sticks is clearly not.

Art, cookery, textiles, drama and music aren't this means bugger all gets done.

DD1 does art, drama and music for GCSE and is hugely enjoying the lessons now containing people who want to do some work.

seeker · 23/01/2013 20:01

Ds is in year 7. Set for maths,English,science, PE, music and MFL.