Bright Y8 boy coasting - can he be motivated?

I do think Yr8 is a bit of a coasting year. In Yr there tends to be focus on levels and then Yr10 & Yr11 GCSE starts in earnest.

I think the levels are fine - if he is doing homework, knows how to put together an essay and is generally responsible and organised then I think he's doing well. By Yr10 the pressure starts to mount and he will will need to spend several hours working on homework/revision.

Not sure why you're worried tbh. You already know from your older DC that secondary school is a long game, and they are unlikely to have a fantastic year academically five years in a row. You need them to peak in Year 11, sounds like he's doing enough for Year 8. So long as he's happy at school I think you can just let him be, for now

If your ds's teachers accept a scruffy piece of homework written in red pencil etc. on a regular basis then they are part of your problem I fear - ds1 also year 8 would be asked to redo the work in pen at the very least.

I'm not sure if that's going to be true in Wales, though, Hakluyt. I hope so as it would suit dd much better!

"I also think that the introduction of coursework plus exams early in GCSE years makes a massive difference. They can't do what I did which is skive massively then learn the curriculum from the revision book in the Easter holidays before O levels"

They will be able to again- the current year 9s won't have a course work element in their GCSES!

True, Ragged, but believe me, we used to have full on several hour long meltdowns with tears and shouting over almost any written homework in primary . . .

You haven't met DS, Takver... but yes, I know kids often surprise us.

I know I'm in a minority. I am very comfortable with coasting in yrs7-9 because they are dealing with so much socially & emotionally at this age. When you have a kid who won't go to school at all, your priorities shift.

I also think that the introduction of coursework plus exams early in GCSE years makes a massive difference. They can't do what I did which is skive massively then learn the curriculum from the revision book in the Easter holidays before O levels

ragged, to be fair to dd, homework at least is not the massive battle it was in primary. She may do the minimum acceptable, but at least she turns something in without input from us (she has at the least to not come home with notes in her planner, or she gets serious grief from us ).

It's an interesting question as to whether it matters if you coast. I unquestionably coasted all the way through my O levels, and I can't say I worked that hard at A level either. But I think back in my day there was less competition for places at uni and for jobs.

DD is (as I was) at a pretty low attaining school on average, so her mix of l6 and the odd l5 at end yr 8 puts her comfortably in the top few of the top set. So no incentive to work harder or risk slipping sets.

I have one too - S2 so roughly year 9 i think. Very able but not putting in much effort, just not interested I think. He is very well behaved so flies under the radar. I've also suggested that he even try to look a bit more engaged as some of it could be perception as he strolls about with very little sense of urgency but keeps up simply because he has long legs - so his short pals look like the are making effort and are keen to get going - he looks like a giant sloth.

We never had comments like we get now when he was at primary but I'm now thinking thats becasue he was at a low attaining primary with a lot of behavioural issues so of course he was a total star being bright and well behaved whereas he is at a very high attaining High School with able and mostly well behaved children so its all a bit different for him.

I think most yr9s will be having exams maliceaforethought, certainly around here they are.

There used to be official SATS in yr9 but they were scrapped a few years back, most here still do them. DS is at a standard comp and they are doing them in exam conditions in the hall. Some in April, some in May, we had an exam timetable through a week or two ago.

with bright kids it is better imo to focus on the effort than the attainment. they can coast up to gcse very easily. even teachers can confuse effort/attainment so they get a high grade for effort just because they get good results. its hard because you dont want to put too much pressure on as well.

I was surprised that when we went to DS's GCSE Options Evening they were going on about the boys needing 1s or 2s for effort in subjects (rather than the attainment grade)...

I'm praying that DS gets very minimal for homework in yr8. It's going to be a huge uphill battle to get him to do any (and usually has been in past). I'm already worn out and he's still in yr6.

At my dd's superselective they say 2 is the expected level of effort, which is "high". That in combination with good attainment is good enough for me.

I've got one in Yr 9 at a superselective....I'm always amazed that you know what their 'levels' are - we've not once had a report home that gives SATS levels - it's all about their position in relation to their peers!

I'm not sure he needs to be doing more. Is it you saying 'could try harder' or his teachers?
Agree with PP that teachers need to point out how to improve work - especially essay writing. It's certainly not something my kids did a lot of at primary, and is a skill that needs to be honed. Hopefully the skills will be firmly in place come GCSEs.
What are you hoping for at this stage - A*1's across the board? If so, how can he improve over the next couple of years. It's an awful lot of pressure on a child to keep up that standard until exams.
You say he does the minimum for his homework - how can you tell? Does he rush it, leave it until the last moment etc The teachers give him decent grades and guidance on how to make it better. the good grades indicate that it isn't bad to begin with.
By the way I have a bright Y8 boy - his essay work is always untidy and messy, but usually gets good marks and encouraging comments from teachers as to how to make it better, so I don't think it is unusual. I know he spends a long time on such work, and really thinks about the subject matter before starting - this effort is not always reflected by way of an 8 page piece of writing though!

My yr9 DS is similar. 8 teachers in a row said he is clever but not working to ability at his parents evening. I am happy with 2s for effort, we used to have a couple of 1s and rest 2s until the last report which was half 2s and half 3s. Top set for everything but not secure.

I have no idea how to motivate, I spent half of that trying to get him to do some revision for end of yr exams shortly after Easter with little luck and much arguing

Yes my Yr 8 son the same. More B's and 2's than last year but grades in tests holding up. Dipped on homework especially. I think the novelty / wish to please of Yr 7 has worn off now there is nothing specific to aim for as not exam year. His grades seem to depend partly on how much he likes the teacher - the poorest effort is for the teacher he really dislikes. My parents are both teachers and say its a yr 8 & 9 thing!
He is quite competitive and has end of year tests to do in May / June so we've talked about raising his game for that to make sure he stays in top groups for next year. I am going to have to be more on the ball on revision I think.
And yes I think girls generally put in more effort and do neater work / want to please more than boys esp where homework is concerned. Lots of comments in my sons book are about presentation and expanding answers. They know he can do better which is why even though he is getting top marks in tests they are only give 2/b for effort.

For DS1 I did do the bribery bit in year 8. It was a while ago now, but he was young in the year group and always did enough but never any more. Though his grades were high.
I promised him a ludicrously expensive piece of tat much desired item from Games Workshop if he achieved x number top effort grades across the term.
At 12/13, I felt he wasn't mature enough to do his best work when his second best would do
By Y9 and options, the idea that he might not get the options he wanted, or the set he hoped to stay in, was enough to motivate him.

Yes head of year would likely be best.

I could have written this post (apart from 6 in art and drama as ds hates these subjects) and I have been wondering about the same thing. Considered contacting the school and despairing over how ds doesn't seem to see using his intellect can push him further. (made worse by a 60 year old bil who is HIGHLY intelligent but really has wasted this in his life)

I have 2 older girls and really didnt have this issue in year 8 with them. Ds English teacher has put DS as only of 2 boys forward for a discussion panel thing means ds has to read 6 books in 12 weeks. Something he easily could manage but he doesnt wish to do so as he finds fiction reading boring.

I want to just give him a good kick up the backside to get on with it(Obviously I wont but the wish is there) English teacher is fab and can clearly seee ds needs pushing ds ADORES debating (will debate anything he is able to ) so to give him this chance is just wonderful, I worry ds will just blow it.

I have spoken to him about trying to do better (Why would I do this will just make me above X - who is 1st in class) On pointing out X them may also work harder I get .. But X is my friend why would I try to push him out.

I just don't know how to cope. On paper ds is doing fine and when I have tried to talk to teachers about this (in year 7 not done so in year 8 at all) i get the feeling they feel I am a pushy mother. I am far from it however I know my son and I know his abilities and he is coasting just doing what he has to get the grade to be in the top forms. I do not belive they are secure.

Also worry that the one thing he is keen on doing and interested in (law) he has been put off by a teacher telling him to do law he has to do History. Year 7 history teacher was fab and ds loved history year 8 teacher not so fab and ds now finds history dull and uninteresting..

Fingers crossed year 9 is amazing. (would love year 7 back but unlikely)