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Original poster

Maths streaming - should I push for my son to move up a set

89 replies

boinoo · 26/01/2026 18:34

I just need to check in with other parents (and hopefully teachers) who can advise.

My son is in year 8 in a mixed comp. He's a quiet kid but I get in impression he contributes to lessons and is doing ok academically. He was placed in bottom set for maths which came as a surprise because he is bright, just quiet. I mentioned it to the teacher at last years parents evening but she wasn't keen to move him up. He got one of the highest score in their term test at 83% and we are fortunate enough to have a weekly tutor too. Two children with worse grades have been moved up and he's been told he has to stay in that set.

Parents evening is coming up. Should I ask the teacher to move him up a set?

OP posts:
Pinkcheerios · 26/01/2026 18:54

atm he’s at the very top of the bottom set? That will be a confidence booster

Original poster
boinoo · 26/01/2026 18:52

Pinkcheerios · 26/01/2026 18:51

he would be bottom set without the tutor in all likelihood
and perhaps the teacher is aware of that fact?

Perhaps but isn't that the point of education? To improve and learn new things?

OP posts:
Original poster
boinoo · 26/01/2026 18:51

@unbelievablybelievable I don't believe his opinion is irrelevant in the same way mine isn't. We all work with my son at different points on maths so a collective assessment is probably a good thing. It is easy for a child to be overlooked in a class of 30.

OP posts:
Pinkcheerios · 26/01/2026 18:51

he would be bottom set without the tutor in all likelihood
and perhaps the teacher is aware of that fact?

unbelievablybelievable · 26/01/2026 18:49

boinoo · 26/01/2026 18:44

His tutor thinks he needs to be challenged because the work is too simple for him about 95 % of the time. He said it isn't stretching him enough.

Show quote history

What makes the tutor more qualified to make this decision than his qualified teacher who teaches him, not in isolation, but can assess against the rest of the cohort? Children will always do "better" with a tutor because it's 1:1.

Point being, the tutor's opinion is irrelevant. The only person you need to speak to, is the teacher.

Original poster
boinoo · 26/01/2026 18:48

MarchingFrogs · 26/01/2026 18:45

Out of curiosity- why does your DS have a tutor for maths?

Eta, or fo you mean tutor as in form tutor? (In which case, can't they talk to the Maths teacher?).

Edited

He struggles with confidence and I was worried when he joined the school that he was too shy to participate. My son's primary school pushed them in year 6 because they wanted to prepare them for what was to come and I wanted to keep momentum. His confidence has grown but I'm not convinced he isn't slipping through the net and being missed a little.

OP posts:
HolesInTheAlbertHall · 26/01/2026 18:48

MarchingFrogs · 26/01/2026 18:45

Out of curiosity- why does your DS have a tutor for maths?

Eta, or fo you mean tutor as in form tutor? (In which case, can't they talk to the Maths teacher?).

Edited

Because he is in bottom set? Because his parents know that maths is important and can afford to give him support?

It is very common to have a tutor.

MarchingFrogs · 26/01/2026 18:45

Out of curiosity- why does your DS have a tutor for maths?

Eta, or fo you mean tutor as in form tutor? (In which case, can't they talk to the Maths teacher?).

Original poster
boinoo · 26/01/2026 18:44

ohnonotthisargumentagain · 26/01/2026 18:37

Instead ask for a well reasoned explanation of why he is in the set he is. It isn't always good to be moved up a set and then find yourself struggling. Sometimes confidence and good results come from going at a slower pace.

Good idea, thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
boinoo · 26/01/2026 18:44

Barrenfieldoffucks · 26/01/2026 18:34

I think you could ask why he hasn't, but not specifically for him to move up.

Good point, thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
boinoo · 26/01/2026 18:44

GreenWheat · 26/01/2026 18:39

Don't wait for parents evenings for these discussions, they're so infrequent that progress will be very slow.

Why do you want him to move up? What are the implications? In our school (non selective comprehensive) the bottom set take the foundation level GCSE. Do they think that's what he's capable of but you disagree? What does the tutor think?

His tutor thinks he needs to be challenged because the work is too simple for him about 95 % of the time. He said it isn't stretching him enough.

OP posts:
GreenWheat · 26/01/2026 18:39

Don't wait for parents evenings for these discussions, they're so infrequent that progress will be very slow.

Why do you want him to move up? What are the implications? In our school (non selective comprehensive) the bottom set take the foundation level GCSE. Do they think that's what he's capable of but you disagree? What does the tutor think?

ohnonotthisargumentagain · 26/01/2026 18:37

Instead ask for a well reasoned explanation of why he is in the set he is. It isn't always good to be moved up a set and then find yourself struggling. Sometimes confidence and good results come from going at a slower pace.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 26/01/2026 18:34

I think you could ask why he hasn't, but not specifically for him to move up.