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Original poster

Do you know how sets are determined at your school?

32 replies

SecondaryBefuddled · 26/09/2023 14:37

In the old days at the end of the year you sat a test and the score for that categorically determined what set you went into for the next year.
To be honest that is how I thought it worked now as well, but I've been advised that there are smaller tests during the whole year and these count too, but are not given a timetable (afaik) for when these tests occur, what weighting they hold or what they will cover. Is it unreasonable for me as a parent to expect that information to be made available/clear to myself or my dc? If you think it is, please could you explain what the downside of it would be? What does your school do?

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 26/09/2023 16:32

Teachers use their judgement on who is in which set based on work in class and tests and end of year tests.
Some children do better near the top of a lower set, some do better near the bottom of a higher set. This is both from a confidence thing and a pace of learning.

You as a parent don't need to know the ins and outs.

Children will always be told if they are having a test so they can prep for it.

It isn't a formula where you plug things in and a set pops out. i is professional judgement.

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 26/09/2023 15:42

Set for pretty much every subject.

Mix of test results, CAT scores, SEN, friendships, conflicts, teacher's instinct, overall class cohesion from what I can work out.

Seems to be about 20 sets for the main subjects (over 400 in a year groups) so plenty of scope to fine tune things.

School have never discussed how they do it, but there have been discussions when they've felt a particular set is the wrong one and why they are moving DC (not that they say top set or set 6 or anything like that - but the kids all know who the really brainy ones are with the top marks and can work it out).

My view is as long as DD is happy, likes the teacher, has a friend to sit with, and says it's the right pace for her then I don't much care if she's in set 1 or set 10... only time I would see it as an issue is if it affects doing a higher level or a foundation paper for GCSE.

Hellocatshome · 26/09/2023 15:34

I dont know and to be honest I don't care. As long as my child is happy and in a set that roughly seems to equate to their ability then jobs a good'en. I expect them to try their best at all their work and all tests wether they know they are used to determine sets or not.

redskytonights · 26/09/2023 15:25

Only set for maths.
There is movement each term depending on various things - test results, work in class, effort and engagement. To some degree it's teacher's discretion - there is overlap in sets and some children might work better at the top end of a lower set than the bottom end of a higher set.

Niinja · 26/09/2023 14:54

Ours are officially not settled. Except they are really. The idea is that no good can come from knowing you are in bottom set rather than "one of the lower sets", or third set rather than "one of the higher sets".

I would expect teachers to use their judgement when setting - some kids do better put up a bit to stretch them, others do better as a bigger fish in a lower set. I am inclined to leave it to the teachers' expertise rather than demanding, and policing, one identikit algorithm for all.

PuttingDownRoots · 26/09/2023 14:45

They review the sets (just for STEM subjects) every half term. Its not just pure score on the test... its work ethic too.... messing around, not doing homework and a lower score might mean moving down a set, but just a one off bad score won't.

twistyizzy · 26/09/2023 14:40

Yr 7 sets based on results of entrance exam for initial sets and then reviewed/changed after formal tesrs at Christmas. After Yr 7 judged on either the Christmas or Summer exams.