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Original poster

Advise needed on how/whether to broach the school re sets.

37 replies

mosp · 30/12/2013 12:18

I'll try to hot a happy medium between being concise and not leaving out relevant details here.

My dd (year 8) took 6 months out of her school so that she could go to Germany and attend school there (to improve her German). Because she was away for so long, I had her taken off the school roll, though the school have always expected her return.

Somehow, I have found out (grapevine) that at the beginning of year 8 they had a rearrange of sets. All (and I mean, literally all) of her friends are in top set and this set is now full. I have heard that my dds name has been spotted on a list for the set below.

I am certain that had she been present, she would have been in top set (as she was in year 7, with no difficulties at all) so I am guessing that they just found it convenient to put her name on the other list as she is not there anyway.

She's been skyping her friends and told me yesterday that a teacher explained to her friend that the reason she's been demoted is that she will likely have to catch up work she's missed. Personally, I don't believe that. I think it is because the top set has more pupils in than the one below.

Dd is returning in a month. She would be miserable not to be learning with her friendship group (and also, only the top set gets to learn German)

Do I:

  1. wait and see what set they put her in and tell her to accept it? Or then challenge it?
  2. write to the school before she returns and request that she be put with her friends?
  3. try to arrange a meeting? If do, when?

I don't want to come across as a pushy parent. I'm not. I just want her to be happy. She doesn't mind swatting up on areas she's missed if it means she can be in the top set.

So, how should I handle this?

OP posts:
Lottiedoubtie · 30/12/2013 12:46

What set you are in has nothing to do with your friends and everything to do with your ability.

Which is proven through testing on material taught.

Frankly you took her out for 6 months and she's only dropped one set? That's remarkable and I would be pleased.

noblegiraffe · 30/12/2013 12:42

If it's full, then no, they probably can't squeeze another one in. My top set fills my classroom, no spare desks.

Friendship might be important to your DD, but the school will not care. They absolutely cannot make setting decisions based on people wanting to be with their mates, it would be chaos.

Asking for the scheme of work to see what the rest have done would be a good idea. It won't make a difference to setting though until they have done their own assessments.

Original poster
mosp · 30/12/2013 12:32

I didn't really expect another child to move down - just thought they could maybe squeeze another in :)

Should I request a list of, say, maths topics that she's missed?

The friendship thing sounds trivial, but to her it is not.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 30/12/2013 12:28

You will get absolutely nowhere requesting that she be put in the same set 'as her friends'.

She has been out of the school for 6 months and in an unknown system. She may well have missed some work and need to catch up. The other pupils have earned their place in the top set through their results and asking that one of them be demoted in favour of your DD is unlikely to get you anywhere.

Your DD needs to get back into English schooling and win her place in the top set fairly, by outstripping those in the second set. There will be movement between sets at other times.

AlaskaNebraska · 30/12/2013 12:26

Wait for assessments. Or results. School will move her of she warrants if

Original poster
mosp · 30/12/2013 12:25

Ok, I suppose I have to just wait and see. But then what?

(She wanted to go to Germany btw. It was her choice and I supported her. She's there with family)

OP posts:
AlaskaNebraska · 30/12/2013 12:23

So you took her out?! ;)
Leave it. Wait and see.

Original poster
mosp · 30/12/2013 12:22

Of course she will manage. But be far less happy at school. She loved year 7. That was because learning was a joy and she had a great bunch of friends to work with.

OP posts:
Original poster
mosp · 30/12/2013 12:21

And then... Challenge it or leave it be?

OP posts:
AlaskaNebraska · 30/12/2013 12:20

Plus. Trust the teachers More. Plus friendship groups? Really. Year 8? She will manage

Original poster
mosp · 30/12/2013 12:19

Sorry for typos. iPod. I'd rather hit a happy medium than hot one!!

OP posts:
AlaskaNebraska · 30/12/2013 12:19

Wait and see. All this on the day so of some kids on Skype? I don't think so