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Original poster

National levels at the end of year 8?

32 replies

Atari · 11/11/2013 19:07

DS has just had his half-termly monitoring.

He appears to be making good progress against his targets and his effort levels have improved a lot Smile

However, I am concerned that the targets are not setting his sights high enough. He is one of those children who will quietly do OK, never cause anyone any trouble (at least so far!) but won't push himself to do more than he can get away with. Where are they "expected" to be at the end of year 8?

What does he need to be achieving at the end of year 8 to be on target to achieve , say, an A at GCSE?

OP posts:
BoundandRebound · 11/11/2013 19:37

It is normal that new subjects in secondary are graded lower but the rate of progress should be faster over the key stage

BoundandRebound · 11/11/2013 19:36

The national expectation at the end of ks3 year 9 is a 6c however stretch targets would expect more

A student on a level 8 equates to a B in GCSe (level 7 is as C)

The progress expectation in key stage 4 is 2 levels so a level 7 at the end of ks3 would be expected to progress to an A

That said a student in year 8 now will be taking the new Gove GCSE which has a changed curriculum and the new grading of 9 to 1 (High to low) plus there is no advice as yet on how the numerical relate to the previous A* - G

Original poster
Atari · 11/11/2013 19:27

Oh I realise there are no guarantees and it's not an exact science. I was just wondering if my expectations of him and reality the school's are broadly the same. And where he fits against "average"

Is it normal that the "new" subjects, like German and Geography that he didn't study much in Primary school should be marked a lot lower than Maths & English?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 11/11/2013 19:22

Yes, of course you can't predict the future and my post should be taken with a big pinch of salt. :)

lljkk · 11/11/2013 19:17

I think I know, but better not say. Most will say you can't predict.

noblegiraffe · 11/11/2013 19:16

I only really know for maths. They are 'expected' to be at level 5 by the end of KS3 (Y9 usually). Someone getting a level 6 in Y9 in maths would be expected to go on to get a C. To get an A would probably need a solid level 7 in Y9, so working backwards a good level 6 in Y8.

Of course Y8s will be sitting new GCSEs, will be getting numbers instead of grades and all bets are off.

Nojustalurker · 11/11/2013 19:15

I would be more concerned about progress. How much has his attainment level improved over the previous years? Expected progress is two sub levels a year.