Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Querying the streaming arrangements?

32 replies

agoodinnings · 04/09/2014 10:43

DD's school stream in year 9 based on maths ability, so if you are in the top set for maths you will also be in the top set for the sciences.

Although DD has 'Academic Excellence' recognition (top 10% of year group) in 2 sciences she is not in the top set as her maths ability whilst above the year average has not been deemed 'Excellent'.

I would appreciate some advice on how to handle a discussion with the school about this.

It seems that others who are more familiar with the school than us knew how important it was to do well in the final maths exam last year and engaged tutors. DD did not at still got 80%. I'm sad for her has she feels she has been demoted despite a glowing report at the end of a year of hard work.

OP posts:
ttlshiwwya · 04/09/2014 12:31

In that case I'd definitely try to get her moved up a set - it seem unfair to limit choices so soon. In my DCs school there is a fair bit of movement between sets from Y7 to Y9.

Original poster
agoodinnings · 04/09/2014 12:14

Thanks ttlshiwwya. The thing is, there is 1 top set, 4 equivalent middle sets and then a smaller 4th set and only the top set get the option of taking additional maths which DD would like to do as she loves maths. So they all start iGSCE maths in y9 but set 1 finish it in 2 years then in the 3rd year whilst the others are finishing it off they do the additional maths GCSE.

No additional maths GCSE presumably puts you at a disadvantage when it comes to taking A level maths too.

OP posts:
ttlshiwwya · 04/09/2014 11:49

I agree if it bothers you and your daughter then I'd get in touch asap.

My DCs school streams science separately from Maths (however all but one of the kids in the top set are in the 1st or 2nd set of Maths - the one who isn't gets extra help with the maths particularly for physics). I think this is fairer.

One thing I'd watch is the quality of the teaching between the sets. My DCs school tend to give the worst teachers to the top sets lower down the school so sometimes it is advantageous to be in the 2nd set (as long as both 1st and 2nd sets cover the same work at roughly the same pace).

Original poster
agoodinnings · 04/09/2014 11:33

I called, but of course he's not available. I have a sick feeling in my stomach waiting for him to call me.

DD would much rather be at the bottom of the top set than the top of the second set, she likes a challenge. The handful of girls that she worked really well with last year are all in the top set. If they were in the same set (it doesn't have to be the top) as her now she would be fine. She feels really demotivated and wonders what all her hard work was for. She is an excellent all- rounder and had a high eighties average across the board Sad.

OP posts:
tootsey · 04/09/2014 11:22

Go ahead and ring. I wouldn't even bother with emails. Better being direct about it.

Original poster
agoodinnings · 04/09/2014 11:01

Thank you tootsey. I have sent an email requesting a chat and was hoping to get a response this morning but no joy. Wondering if I should just go ahead and ring anyway.

OP posts:
tootsey · 04/09/2014 10:57

Hi, my son is sorta in the same position. He has been put in the top maths class as he has the ability, but has also been put in the top home ec class which he is average at. On the other hand, he has been put down in english, so school has put him down in 6 other subjects, all of which he is near to the top of the class in. He feels disheartened, as if all his work has been for nothing. I rang school first and had a chat with deputy head, she has advised to give it 2 weeks as they are going to do a re-banding, then if im still not happy i am going to see them, to talk through issues. I would advise ring them and talk to year head, then go from there.

Swipe left for the next trending thread