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Original poster

Y7 report - should I be concerned?

35 replies

DataColour · 04/12/2020 10:11

Got my DS's end of term report yesterday and I was a bit concerned to find that he had below average progress in 3 subjects (science, history and art). They grade below average as 1, average at 2 and above average at 3. He got mainly 2's with one 3 for maths and those 3 1's.

I don't know if I should be concerned about his below average grades. Can they even meaningfully assess this in the few weeks that he's been there? The effort for science and history is "Outstanding" so he is trying his best and for Art is "Good" because the teacher has commented that he doesn't always follow instructions (true).

The report says that these grades are an indicator of GCSE grades and that he's on a "flight path", with a 3 being on target for A/A*, 2 for A/B and a 1 B/C. None of these sound like below average grades to me so I'm confused.
Does he only need to be a 3 at the end of Y7, and having a 1 now, is actually where he should be?
Any teachers or parents here have any knowledge of this grading system?

Seems bizzare that he is working at a below average level at any subject, with him putting a good level of effort in, when he's been at an "exceeding expectations" level at primary since reception with no effort whatsoever.

Incidentally my DH is a secondary science teacher and he says it's a load of rubbish, not to worry about it and that they never should have given out these numbers so early on in the year.
He is right?! Or should I be having a chat with DS's teachers?

OP posts:
lanthanum · 04/12/2020 11:28

If it's a grammar, then presumably all the pupils will have been "exceeding expectations" in primary, and you need to see "below average" in that context. If his effort is fine in those subjects, I would guess he just didn't do so well on the latest piece of assessed work.

Lougle · 04/12/2020 11:24

Our school issued reports without grades. They graded effort in class and effort for homework tasks. They said it was too early to give grades. That was for years 7-9.

silkiecat · 04/12/2020 11:23

It maybe worth double checking what that's based on. My DS was given a predicted end 5/6 in science in y7, now predicted 9/9 in year 9, it was just bad data in our case, think they are very cautious at the start. Maybe ask your DS if he has any idea - my DD often knows ad also at her school students have more data than parents so can see exact test marks.

Original poster
DataColour · 04/12/2020 11:21

That's good to know @goodthingscome I was hoping that would be the case!

OP posts:
Original poster
DataColour · 04/12/2020 11:20

This is a grammar school btw

OP posts:
goodthingscome · 04/12/2020 11:19

1 is not below average for this time of year 7. However, it would be if he still has a 1 in the summer term.

Hope that helps!

Original poster
DataColour · 04/12/2020 11:18

hmmm, ok I guess we have to keep an eye on his work a bit more then. Gallingly me and DH are both science graduates and seeing DS get below average in Science was Shock

OP posts:
goodthingscome · 04/12/2020 10:54

It sounds like 1,2 and 3 are all grades considered within the ‘acceptable’ range of progress in Year 7. Below a 1 would be a concern.

This is the first term, so being on a 1 now is ok, but tells you to keep an eye on these subjects and support where necessary to ensure that your child is on a 2 by the end of the academic year. A 2 would be considered average attainment for the end of Year 7. It very loosely predicts that if your child continues on this curve of progress, they would be on track for good or very good gcse grades.

(A 3 at the end of year 7 is excellent. It suggests a 4 by the end of year 8. Therefore a 5 by the end of year 9. Grade 6 in year 10 and so on...)

Of course, these are numbers. They don’t take into account all the other factors that influence a child’s attitude to learning and attainment in their teenage years!

silkiecat · 04/12/2020 10:36

If the 1, 2 and 3 are GCSE grades then they normally go up 1 per 12 months so a 1 would go to 5/6 border, 2 6/7 border and 3 7/8 border.

DD did a year at grammar the grading there was very accurate, in line with sats, primary and grades she's predicted now at GCSE. When she moved to comp in y8 they refused to use any back data including SATS and kept putting her down as predicted 4 at GCSE in everything presumably as that's what the average child gets. Now she's in y10 and predicted almost all 9s and lowest prediction is at a 7+ and only one of those. So think the grading before was very inaccurate. It seems to be worse for practical subjects.

It may still be worth checking with the teacher but its unlikely there's a real issue with your DS, much more likely its a data issue. Think they default to average until they have lots of data. Also in our school there seems to be massive pressure to add data but no quality control and I think some of it is just made up when they don't know. Ours was also volatile in y7/8.

Carpetflowers · 04/12/2020 10:21

I would agree with your DH, it’s too early in the year to worry about these things. The kids are still settling back - wait and see what the next report is like.