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Dd moved schools, in wrong sets

79 replies

Norpeth · 07/04/2024 07:29

We recently moved house and Dd (year 8) moved schools.

After a few weeks of being at her new school, we've realised DD has been put in the lowest sets (out of 6) for every subject that is ranked by ability. Now DD isn't a child genius but I'd have expected her to have at least been in sets 2/3, probably even 1 for English.

On top of this, the behaviour and disruption in her classes is unbelievable. She says most of the lesson is spent telling off students, warnings being written out and kids being sent out ect. There are chairs being thrown ect. The kids talk through the lessons and most of her lessons are being taught by supply teachers who just give out a work sheet and aren't bothered if the work is done or not. A few of the teachers have even commented that she is the only one who does the work. The higher sets only get occasional supply teachers. At the moment, her class does not have a proper maths or language teacher.

Anyway, I spoke to her head of year who confirmed most of this (including that kids in her classes aren't interested in learning and the behaviour is awful, which I actually found quite concerning about how he spoke about these kids. He has clearly given up on them!)

He went and spoke to her teachers and called me back saying every teacher he spoke to said she needed to be in much higher sets. I asked when I could expect her to be moved and he said hopefully by September but there's no room in the higher sets so he didn't really know.

Can I insist on having her moved? I don't know where to go from here. I'm considering telling him I will homeschool until a space in the higher sets becomes available.

Dds English teacher spoke to dd after this and told her she needed to be in her higher sets and would enjoy it more as more work gets done and there is much less 'silliness'.

Has anyone else had similar? Thank you!

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 07/04/2024 07:38

Would class sizes not have the same rules as pupil intake sizes? What if all other classes are at their full capacity?

I really feel for you op. I hadn't thought about this before but I bet this happens a lot. Every parent who started their kid in year 7 would have been desperate to get their dc out of that class. To the point that the others are now at capacity. And every new child will be placed there.

PuttingDownRoots · 07/04/2024 07:35

Ask when they reassess sets. At DDs school they review every term... but you can only move up one set. Someone has to move down to let someone else move up. The higher sets are bigger, but there is a maximum.

TeenDivided · 07/04/2024 07:34

I think they should have adjusted at Easter, and if you aren't yet back after the Easter break I would be pushing for that.
A school should be willing in y8 to adjust sets termly if needed imo.
The set she needs to be in may be 'full' but she should be at most 1 set below that.

hangingonfordearlife1 · 07/04/2024 07:31

you need to speak to the head master and tell him you will be going to lea if it's not sorted and reporting to ofsted as this is a massive failure to provide education