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Original poster

Y7 reports - GCSE numbers?

39 replies

MrsBobtonTrent · 02/12/2018 12:26

We’ve received a first report for y7. They have been given a score along the lines of GCSE 1-9 for each subject. Any idea what would be “age-related expectation” for this point in Y7?

Trying not to be a nutter, but have a meeting with school about other issues next week and want to be prepared.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsBobtonTrent · 02/12/2018 20:51

I will ask that - good idea. They apparently did CATS tests -is it reasonable to ask for the results and whether he has peers? I wouldn’t like him to be an outlier. Doubt he’s a genius though, just a bit worried we have made a bad school choice re cohort.

He’s only been there a matter of weeks, and most of these teachers only seem him once a week or so -how accurate can they be on a report this early on?

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noblegiraffe · 02/12/2018 20:46

In maths test results might give you a benchmark? If it’s easy, is he getting close to 100% on tests and how do his scores compare to others in his set?

Original poster
MrsBobtonTrent · 02/12/2018 20:40

Hard to tell if he is making progress. He is in top sets for subjects they set, but says the work seems rather easy. School says he behaves and report says he makes excellent effort in most subjects (apart pe and art and design, which don’t come naturally to him due to disability - these are effort “good”). But he is a target in school and on the journey there and back, miserable, says they are not learning much because it’s easy and/or disruption in class.

So I’m wondering if the work is ok, is he actually struggling or coasting, are school expectations low (academically and behaviourly). Is he miserable because of academics or because the mob is focussed on him. Is there any point in being there.

So was hoping the report would give me some indication - but apparently it doesn’t!

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noblegiraffe · 02/12/2018 20:24

Yet for maths assuming a grade per year you’d expect a top set kid to be a grade 4/5. Not that that is at all meaningful!

clary · 02/12/2018 20:22

Sorry, my post wasn't clear, I was talking about Yr 7 there.

OP be aware that schools have different systems so it's risky to compare.

It also depends on the subject. Maths eg would be a higher target. I would focus at this stage on his effort and behaviour in class and whether he is making progress.

Acopyofacopy · 02/12/2018 19:17

Having just marked Y11 MFL mocks I would say an aspirational Y7 target in MFL could be 3. A 2 is probably realistic.

Original poster
MrsBobtonTrent · 02/12/2018 19:10

@FoxyDog1234 That’s useful. So target for 3 or 4 by the end of the year or at this point? Assume set 1 is the top ability set - grammar or comp? Sorry!

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FoxyDog1234 · 02/12/2018 18:51

My child (who is in set 1) had targets of a level 3 or 4 in year 7

Original poster
MrsBobtonTrent · 02/12/2018 17:53

We’ve just got a list of subjects and grades. No indication of above/below target or where DC should be or progress etc. We’ve got a meeting next week anyway, but I was hoping to find some info on how DC was doing beforehand so I can prepare. If he’s doing less well than expected, it would be useful to know as school is not going well. If he’s achieving well regardless, that is also useful information for us. I’m feeling that school will tell me any old thing that makes them look good and gets me out of the meeting, so I was hoping I could pin some meaning onto this report!

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Acopyofacopy · 02/12/2018 16:55

As PP have said, it’s all a load of made up rubbish. Every school in the country have made up their own little system since national curriculum levels were abolished.

Does your report give you something like under/on/above target or expectations? Beware, though, that your child could work at the same level as another child, but because of different targets their under/on/above score might look very different.
Do you have a parents evening coming up? You could ask for clarification then.

Original poster
MrsBobtonTrent · 02/12/2018 15:43

Thanks. Unfortunately “bull” seems to be the school’s theme so far 🙁

At what point is it reasonable to actually find out how a child is getting on academically? School is not going well in other respects and we’re wondering whether it’s worth continuing if he’s not getting anything positive out of it.

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clary · 02/12/2018 14:52

In my subject (MFL) we had to give targets based on GCSE numbers. Typically these would range from below a 1 for a weaker student to a low 3 for a very able student.

Agree with Noble tho, it's a load of bull. At this stage in any new subject a child would be nowhere near a 1.

CraftyGin · 02/12/2018 13:22

We get GCSE predictions/chances from our baseline testing (MidYIS), but only report on CWA Pearson Steps.

noblegiraffe · 02/12/2018 12:30

There are no age related expectations for Y7 and definitely none that would assign GCSE grades to Y7 work.

The whole thing is a pile of made-up bollocks. Don’t expect any consistency between subjects either.