End of year 9, predicted a 7b in english

Personally I find the provision of grades/levels from my DS's school very useful. We are given the minimum expected grade, current grade and predicted grade at end of KS3 for each subject twice a year. Ds is in Y9 and his current grades range from 5C to A* with most around the 6A mark.

My DC got level 5's at KS 2, but this was because she was crammed by booster classes and had a boring Yr 6 experience. Her secondary school experience placed her lower, but that has worked well for her, she believes the improvement she is making through her own efforts.

I struggle a bit to understand my yr 9s levels and predicted grades. It shouldn't be hard but I also have to work it out before parents' evening and remind myself how it fits together - this year they've switched from the Levels to giving them actual GCSE level grades plus predicted ones.

And my Yr 9 is extremely fickle on those levels, and has been since KS1. She will make 4 years' progress one year, no progress for 2 years, then a few levels up, then a drop down. She does this for all subjects. Her levels look like one of those cardiac arrest charts you get on hospital dramas.

Very true - natural ability might get you a B but hard work will get the As. I know kids who were level 5 in year 9 and got As - and kids who got a 7 who got a B. Levels are just an indication - they still need to study.

Personally I got level 7s in English, maths & science. I'm lazy though so got A's & B's at gcse and C's at a level. Natural ability is only part of it.

Circular - it's because NC levels technically only go up to 7/8 and students can be higher than this in year 9. So, more useful for students to be given an equivalent GCSE level as they have now surpassed the requirements for NC - the maturity of answers is better reflected by proper grades. Hope that makes sense.
EP can also be awarded which stands for Exceptional Progress - bit useless if you ask me as I'd rather see grade of some kind.

Circular, I have actually done that and he got some extra help. He was diagnosed with epilepsy at the end of year 7 and this and the medication seemed to have slowed down his progress.

Does the same apply to science?? L7b equating to an A at GCSE??

Creamycooler you should flag that up to the school, he may get some extra help as not making required level of progress in 2.5 years.
We were constantly told not to worry, as she would have no problem getting a C. Kept on that it wasn't good enough, and got some extra one to one help at start of year 10.

Mumsneedwine Don't understand that about teachers giving a GCSE grade at end of yr9. I remember DD being 6a for Science in the penultimate term, then being given a B in the final yr9 report. All other subjects still given levels. Presumed at the time that it was down to starting the GCSE courses early.

That sounds like my DS too. He got level 5 in year 6 SATs which I know is quite good but at the moment he's only progressed to getting 5a/6c in his English work. He is in year 9.

Hmm levels never quite worked for here DD1, remember the frustrations well.
L5 literacy at KS2
L5a English at KS3
GCSE Eng Lang end of yr10 - low B
GCSE Eng Lit end of yr11 - high B

Tantrums, just as an aside, I assure you I have absolutely no grasp whatsoever what all these levels means and when the dc are expected to achieve them. I look into it all just before parents evening so that I can appear engaged but then I promptly forget it all for the next 6 months .

As a secondary English teacher, I am expected to get a C grade from any student at level 5 at the end of Y9. A 7b is a very high grade and that student should be A/A* at GCSE.

Good progress is 2 levels across a key stage. This is probably where the targets have come from. So:

KS2 - L3 = KS3 - L5 = GCSE C
KS2 - L4 = KS3 - L6 = GCSE B
KS2 - L5 = KS3 - L7 = GCSE A
KS2 - L6 = KS3 - L8 = GCSE A*

Obviously not an exact science but it's a useful guide. As a teacher, I am expected to ensure that all students achieve at least this. Students who are particularly talented or able ought to achieve 5 levels of progress, assuming this is possible - obviously if they start with L6 at KS2, it isn't.

I don't agree with Tantrums - I've taught in Primary schools for years, but it's still difficult to 'get a feel' for how Nat Curr levels dovetail into GCSE results. Of course it's OK to ask on here - this is exactly what MN is for - to chat with other Mums, whove either been there, done that, or have some insight about something you are not sure of.

kilmuir Not sure what your dd is worried about ?
Schools have to churn out this sort of data, but the secondary staff will tell you not to worry too much about it... they are not predicting it specifically for "Kilmuir's dd", they are producing stats generated by what previous cohorts who came into school on what levels were then getting at the end of Yr9. there's a whole heap of hormones to be got through before then

Thank you. I actually wish there was a bit more info on how the grades work, a booklet when DC start secondary school would be useful.

Creamy. As I understand it a 6c end year 9 puts you on track for a C. A 5a can also do it but it's a bit more of a push.

(Disclaimer, obviously you can get C grades with 5b or lower end y9 but that would be considered very very good progress).

Oh come on? Your first port of call was here?

No one ever misunderstands average or lower than expected levels though.

You should be very proud. It is a very good level.

I just don't understand how no one with high achieving DCs can figure it out?

What year 9 target do you think would hopefully go on to a grade C in English? My son struggles withbhis English.

DD got 8c in recent English assessment - she is yr 9. Would this mean she is on course for. A* GCSE?

It never fails to amaze me how people who's DCs have above average levels never know what it means. And rather than google it, post on here instead

I guess it's just the people who's DCs have average or lower levels manage to just understand it....

7b is really very good. She will probably beat it easily tho, the predictions are usually scored too low.

Also make.

Sorry kindle spell auto correct is very all or nothing.