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Predicted GCSE Results

64 replies

SanityClause · 16/10/2013 11:54

DD1 is in year 10, and has just been given her predicted results - A* in every subject. These are, apparently, based on the CAT scores from year 7.

She is having a major wobble, as that's obviously a pretty tall order, even for a bright child.

She is going in today to ask her maths teacher if her maths prediction can be reduced to an A.

I get that the school want her to "aim high", in each subject, but do they not look at the whole picture? Surely this is just setting her up to fail?

I am sure others have had this. How did you and your DC handle it?

(Please don't accuse me of stealth boasting. This is a very real issue for us.)

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ThePuffyShirt · 17/10/2013 07:28

Our ds was predicted all A*, he is now in y11.

I can't say we have given it a lot of thought since. He is in the top sets & doing fine, but I'd be amazed if he does achieve those grades next summer.

BeckAndCall · 17/10/2013 07:15

I still don't understand sanity - is there a penalty in not achieving the high predicted grades - or does it affect the set she's in which you think is too high for her - or does it put her above her friends and that's an issue?

Why is predicted high achievement not something to be proud of?

SanityClause · 17/10/2013 06:46

Yes, well that would be a problem, BeckAndCall, but it's not the problem we have.

I have downplayed the importance of the target grades, but it seems that's all I can do.

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BeckAndCall · 17/10/2013 06:37

I don't understand why it's pressure to be predicted good grades? Would you be happier if she were predicted 'C's, even if she were working above that level right now? What would that do for her motivation?

kitchendiner · 17/10/2013 06:33

Just wondering approx what kind of CAT score predicts all A*? It does seem to pile the pressure on.

LightasaBreeze · 17/10/2013 06:17

My DS was predicted all A based on CAT score, He did well but did not get all A. We wasn't expecting it and we were being realistic. Just tell her to do her best.

CressidaMontgomery · 16/10/2013 22:58

My DD is in year 10 and is predicted 12 A* grades.

How do I deal with it? I tell her to revise, do her homework and concentrate. Apart from that ... Nothing

KatyMac · 16/10/2013 22:51

The school don't the Fischer Family Trust do - it's all about trends and large numbers of children rather than anything connected to the child

eg when DD started school (at 4, then 11) my highest qualification was A levels so her GCSEs were based on that; however I have since got a degree. If I had the degree when she started school her predicted grade would be higher - of course DD's capabilities haven't changed because I now have a higher qualification but the trend for children with mothers with degrees are that they have higher grades at GCSE

The car thing was a bit of a throw away line but it's not very accurate imo

& I don't like it

Unexpected · 16/10/2013 22:47

How do the school know which car I drive? Confused

ontheallotment · 16/10/2013 22:15

Targets only have as much importance as you attach to them, so just tell her to do her best so she will have no regrets later.

What her targets were will be irrelevent if she can look back and think that she did the best she could.

SanityClause · 16/10/2013 22:13

We drive an old Volvo, KatyMac! This just gets worse, doesn't it! Shock

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KatyMac · 16/10/2013 22:04

& what car you drive Hmm

It's daft imo

Dominodonkey · 16/10/2013 22:01

If it is based in cat scores it is not a prediction it is a target. It is most likely based on data from the Fischer family trust who have never met your child and base the targets on things like where you live.

SanityClause · 16/10/2013 21:28

Bump?

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