Thinking ahead re YR9 options

The postcode/background information is data which is collated by the Fischer Family Trust which as far as I know is used by all LEAs in England. DD did say "It's not fair, I'm predicted to do better than XXX at GCSE because she lives on a long road"

I have discovered what this means is that XXX lives on a road which is indeed very long and has a number of different types of houses on it whereas we live on a small road of similar value housing on it, so it's easier to guess what educational background and income that we might have.

I don't necessarily agree with this method of predicting how well children will do in exams, but just thought I'd add it to the thread. Incidentally DD is in year 11 and the likliehood is that she and XXX will achieve similar GCSE grades even if XXX lives on a long road.

Sorry, circular, I don't think that I made myself clear. Exams are usually sat towards the end of the academic year but CATS are different in that they are sat in the first term of Y7. So the fact that they were setted after one term may imply that it was partly based on CAT scores.

There is a disconnect between the Levels used for Primary and Secondary (hence going from 5c in Y6 to only 5 in Y7: this is a very common complaint) but the Levels do correlate between KS3 and GCSEs.

I thought annual reports were a legal requirement?

So are prople saying this is normal practice? My dd is choosing her options at the moment - is her school looking at her postcode and our marital status (I don't think they know our educational attainments) while they decide whether she can have her choices?

If so, this is a scandal and I don't know why a huge fuss isn't being made about it. Does anyone on her have the hard facts about what is done in schools?

I completely agree webwiz that they should be used for support rather than limiting pupils. I did say it wasn't right but it is still done and most parents are unaware of this. As to the Alevel survey there are lots of questions such as how many books are there in your house which puts people into social groups. Again I don't agree with it but it is still done and yes it doesn't work for every child.

CATs are not compulsory but most schools do them as they give a lot of data that can be used to 'prove' to ofsted how well the school is doing.

circular: AFAIK it is common for the kids to sit CATS tests in Y7 (not sure if they are compulsory, any teachers out there?). These are commonly used for setting etc and, in fact, can sometimes over-ride SATS results. Can you get your DD's CAT results (through a freedom of info request) and use these in place of the missing SATs. Also, have you been given 'SAT level' results in Y7 and Y8 annual report?

RS is compulsory at KS4. Many schools decide to get at least a half GCSE out of the time spent - doesn't yours do this?

I know that this info is "relevant" to how a pupil does mnistooaddictive but it would be nice if schools were using it to raise expectations and target kids who need support rather than for selecting which GCSEs they are allowed to do. I know I have never in the last 8 years told my DCs school what educational level me and DH have achieved.

Don't get me started on the A level predictions though DD2 took part in one of those survey things and it was the biggest load of nonsense I've ever seen. I think her predictions came back as CCC (she has 11 A/A*) and is taking the subjects she has the most aptitude for. Her maths teacher said (after saying it was a load of old rubbish) at least the prediction will make him look good!

As odd and unfair as it seems, reasearch has shown these factors have a huge factor which is why the school is using them.
Not saying it is right or fair or anything else but it is not that rare. Whgat is rare is for school s to be so open about admitting it.
Alevel predicted grades are done using a survey that includes questions about parents work and postcode and other social factors. An unpleasant but real part of education.

I agreem =notabully. My dd is at a high achieving grammar school, and they take 10 GCSEs - 11 in exceptional circumstances.

Why on earth are people taking 13 GCSEs? The most academic schools take 10 max! Universities want 8-10 high grades in traditional subjects. What's the point of so many?

I do hope the OP has complained to someone - this seems completely outrageous.
I'd really like to keep it bumped so that we fins out what happens next!

Same as webwiz, at DS's school they all only get 3 options whether they are doing triple or double science. DS yr9 will actually starting his science gcses this term and has been doing his OCT ITC since yr8.

There seems to be a huge difference between how schools deliver their science teaching and I thought there was supposed to be some sort of push to offer triple science to everyone who gets above a level 6 at the end of KS3. Offering "pathways" just confuses the issue. In the OP's case I would just make sure at option choosing time next year she makes it clear she wants her DD do the triple and makes a fuss if there is a problem.

DS is in year 8 and should take triple science because that is just what you do in set 1 - it doesn't use up any extra option choices and just fits in the time allocated for "science". When DD2 did GCSE last year only double science was offered but they finished the course for the double in Jan of year 11 and took an AS level in the remaining time (not a particularly worthwhile one called "Science in Society" but an extra AS so who cares!). Now they just fit in the triple in that allocated time.

I think when we choose schools for our kids we have no idea what on earth the school does when choosing options in year 9 and how limiting this can be.

I think there must be some misunderstanding here. Schools will use academic achievements of the students at their present level to decide on GCSE highers and triple choice.

Obviously if they are doing triple they will have less choices. In our school they will have 2 options choices but all students take 13 GCSE but take a language and Business studies in year 9.

I would contact the school, say you wish your DC to do triple and is this what he is on target for.

How many GCSE's do the school do? From a quick count my son is doing 13 ( Double English,Double Maths, Triple Science,French, History, Geography, Law, Ethics and Philosophy, ICT!) and doesn't seem to have any problems fitting them all into his timetable. ( is this because I am a single Parent, at a pretty dubious postcode but with parents having degrees!) I would be having rather STRONG words with the school, governors and education authority if I were you!

Excuse me? Parents marital status, education and postcode affect which GCSEs a child can take?

I do hope I've misunderstood, but if I haven's then I do hope you're howling with outrage and complaining to the Governors, the LEA, the local press and whatever the Department for Education is called now.

With our options if you opted to do triple science (as my dd did), then only 3 other choices one of which should deffo be creative/technol/less academic as a balance. So probably not dissimiilar to yours.

If she didn't do SATS I can't see what excuse that is for not setting end KS3 performance. Our school uses sats and current performance as a guide and guide only.

Nothing else should be remotely relevant. I would (not sure in which order) - query the marital status/postcode/profession stuff with (1) head of curriculum (2) letter to head and (3) your LEA.

I meant to say 3 sciences in my first post. So DD does 3 sciences, english language/lit, maths, half RS, business studies, history, geography, drama. Think that is it, so 4 options. All higher tier papers. That works out at 11 1/2 GCSE's also they might do an extra equivalent one for business.