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Original poster

Set changes in year 7 - ds being moved down

32 replies

Spookyseason1313 · Yesterday 11:05

I’m wondering if anyone works in a secondary school or has been in this situation.

Ds started year 7 in September. He was initially placed in top set. I was told that this was based on SATS results. He scored 106 in all subjects so a strong pass.

He’s just had his first lot of assessments back from school and had parents evening. He’s securing in most subjects but there are a few where he is working towards, however at parents evening his teachers said that this is completely normal at this stage in the year and that he’s doing really well.

However, from next half term he’s being moved down to what I think must be middle set.
This info is wasn’t given at parents evening but there are new timetables given out. So there was no opportunity to discuss it with his teachers. All his teachers said he’s golden and is doing great.

I’m really worried because he’s very happy in the class he’s in. The new class he’s going into has got a reputation for being a bit noisy and boisterous.

The way the school does it is that there is one set for all subjects. So they don’t group them separately for Maths and English. So for example ds is much better at one than the other but there is no difference in the sets.

OP posts:
NorwegianForest · Yesterday 11:20

OP, I think it's normal to feel a bit upset about this, but it's just one of those things really. Hopefully he'll be able to move back up if he works hard and does well.

Greenspaceskeepmecalm · Yesterday 11:18

How many sets are there? I would expect top set to have achieved greater depth in their SATs. Oldest DC moved between set one, two and 3 (there were 4 sets) in KS3 before they settled in set 1 in Y10.

Original poster
Spookyseason1313 · Yesterday 11:16

I do agree I was surprised initially that he was placed in top set with 106, but that’s where they put him 🤷‍♀️ the school is in a very deprived area so possibly the SATS results of the entire cohort weren’t great, I don’t know.

OP posts:
Spirallingdownwards · Yesterday 11:12

This is often a shock to parents more than kids. Secondary often has kids from other schools joining and whereas yours may have been a big fish in a small pond primary they find they a small fish in a big pond secondary Further some primaries coach and coach kids to get SATS scores whereas others don't. So the first term is often the time when things level out.

The reality it is better to be in the correct set working at your level than struggling to keep up. For science gcses my son was moved down a set even though he got slightly better exam results than some peers. It was explained if he didn't understand he never spoke up to ask. In the lower set if he didn't understand then it was likely someone else wouldn't either and would ask. He ended up with 998 for his science gcses.

redskyAtNigh · Yesterday 11:12

How many sets? 106 seems low for a top set unless there is a very small number and wide ability bands.

I agree that streaming is not great for children with spiky profiles (I have one too) but the school is unlikely to change their policy on this, so you might need to look at moving schools if it's going to have huge impact.

TeenToTwenties · Yesterday 11:11

Adjustments of sets (or really you have streams) is normal after a settling in period. I'm surprised 106 would make it to a top set in the first place, though I guess it depends on size of year group. They may well be adjusting some of the more disruptive pupils out of the other set to spread them out anyway.

Secondary schools tend to be very upbeat about all pupils regardless of ability if they are trying their best, at least that has been my personal experience.

You just go with it. There doesn't appear to be any obvious mistake.

TeenLifeMum · Yesterday 11:08

I can only speak about our school but usually top set is for those who got 111 and above in sats, then dc can move up and down depending on how they do in assessments. Sats are a poor indicator in my experience. Dd3 moved down a set despite being “fine” in the set she was in but she was bottom group of top set and teacher decided confidence was her issue in maths so top of second set would be much better for her.

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