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Original poster

DS Report card says he's waaaaay off his target grade.

33 replies

HarrySnotter · 07/12/2018 15:49

For maths anyway. His predicted grade is a 6 and he's currently working at a level 1. He's year 10 so still a little while to go but he's come home saying he's crap at maths and is going to fail it etc etc. His maths teacher has written in the report that he has an excellent attitude to learning, always does his homework etc etc. So my question is - how do I help him? I was going email his teacher and ask for some suggestions but he's genuinely upset and asking if he can have a private tutor. Is it too soon to arrange a tutor for GCSE or is it a good idea? For clarity, we put no pressure on the DCs when it comes to exams, I hate that it's all they seem to talk about at school but it's important to DS and I want to help him.

OP posts:
MergeDragons · 07/12/2018 15:54

Get him a tutor (if you can afford it) you have a motivated hard working DC who is still struggling this is what tutors are for. Maybe he doesn’t understand the way his teacher explains things or just needs a gradual build up but a tutor will really be able to help with this. Definitely do it now because the longer he is not understanding the further behind he gets. By Christmas of Y11 they should have covered the whole course so getting a tutor then would mean he’d have to relearn the whole thing. A tutor now means that he can catch up the areas he doesn’t understand which will make it easier going forward.

Bowchicawowow · 07/12/2018 15:54

Get him tested for dyscalculia.

MinorProphet · 07/12/2018 15:56

Definitely tutor now (don't wait) but also you need to meet with the teacher because saying he is great is not enough! You need detailed feedback on what is going on.

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Dobbyhasnomaster · 07/12/2018 15:58

I had this! Took a couple of months one on one lessons with my maths teacher and it clicked! go for a tutor

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 07/12/2018 15:59

I’d try to find out though, which areas he is struggling with and if his teacher has any suggestions that may help. Then you can explain to a tutor where he’s not managing.

LauraPalmersBodybag · 07/12/2018 16:04

A test for Discalculia might be helpful, but be warned that it’s not necessarily an easy thing to come by. Ed Pyschs are in short supply in many schools, and there can be a long process in order to have an assessment made and schools struggle to afford to test a lot of children so will need some very firm evidence first. You could look into it privately, but I think it’s expensive.

A tutor would be good if your DS is willing to participate, but I think you’re right to go to his teacher/head of year. It’s also important to make sure they submit him for the right paper to give him the best chance of a good grade. Keep talking to him and the school and if you can help and support that will be effective. Good luck

noblegiraffe · 07/12/2018 16:07

Hmm, a kid who is predicted a grade 6 (above average) should not be working at a grade 1 (well below average) in Y10. You’d expect them to maybe go up a grade, possibly 2, but if that’s genuinely where he’s at, then he’s going to fail his maths GCSE. What did he get in his SATs in KS2? Grade 1 is about primary school level.

Original poster
HarrySnotter · 07/12/2018 16:14

Grade 1 is about primary school level.

I know that noble and I know he's no chance of passing his GCSE unless that changes, hence my concern.

I'm a bit puzzled that I've had no other communication from his maths teacher either if he's working so far below his predicted grade. His last report put him at a level 4 so it's quite a big drop.

OP posts:
Original poster
HarrySnotter · 07/12/2018 16:31

What would you expect to pay for a GCSE maths tutor?

OP posts:
Fuzzyend · 07/12/2018 16:44

Could this be a typo?

Original poster
HarrySnotter · 07/12/2018 17:12

I hope so Fuzzy it does seem such a big drop in 6 months, especially with no concerns being raised from school so far.

OP posts:
TheZeppo · 07/12/2018 17:22

I’d email and just say you’re concerned and want to help in any way you can. If I got such an email is email loads back Grin

But it’s VERY strange that they haven’t been in touch if he’s that far below. I’m an English teacher and would be having my own personal heart attack (targets!) and would definitely have rung.

It’s fab he has such a great attitude, but I’d have told you that AND then said he was struggling academically and needed to do X, Y and Z!

justasyouare · 07/12/2018 17:25

Has he checked the result is accurate? Ds had something like this in year 8.... he had sat one half of the test but had been called to do something else for the second half. Instead of giving him his mark out of the first test only, they worked it out as a percentage of both tests, so for the second part he had obviously scored zero.
It was a very helpful school reportHmm

You might want to check it isn’t something like this before deciding what to do.

Original poster
HarrySnotter · 07/12/2018 17:28

That's what I thought @TheZeppo, it just seems odd that his teacher hasn't been in touch. I work in a middle school - I'm a Cover Supervisor, not a teacher, but I know that any of our teachers would have been in touch weeks before now in these circumstances.

I could cry for him, he's shut himself in his bedroom saying he's thick and useless. He does struggle academically sometimes, but he tries so hard. Sometimes I wonder if that makes it harder because I can't ask him to try any harder.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 07/12/2018 17:30

If your DS were actually working at a grade 1, you’d have known about it long before now, and they wouldn’t have been a grade 4 last term. They would be seriously struggling with fairly basic things like times tables.

Either the 1 is a mistake, or the school has some crappy system where they assign GCSE grades to individual tests (which is incredibly stupid) and your DS has done badly in one test.

Original poster
HarrySnotter · 07/12/2018 17:49

Either the 1 is a mistake, or the school has some crappy system where they assign GCSE grades to individual tests (which is incredibly stupid) and your DS has done badly in one test.

He does talk about tests so this is possible?

Can anyone help me word an email to his maths teacher please?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 07/12/2018 18:05

Dear Maths Teacher

DS was disappointed to receive a grade 1 in his latest report and we were very surprised as his summer report put him at a grade 4 and his target is a grade 6. Please could you clarify how this grade was assessed? If accurate, I’d appreciate an urgent meeting to discuss how to support DS in his maths as he is clearly seriously underperforming.

Best wishes,
Harry

Original poster
HarrySnotter · 07/12/2018 22:07

Fab thank you Noble.

OP posts:
Original poster
HarrySnotter · 10/12/2018 17:42

I need a bit more advice please. I emailed DS's teacher today and had the following reply:

Thank you for your email. Your concerns have been noted and I will be in touch with you within the next 4 - 6 weeks to discuss, via email. Best wishes blah blah

I'm not happy with this at all. I asked for a meeting with her as I have serious concerns. She hasn't answered my query regarding how the grades are assessed and I don't want to wait another month before having a proper face to face discussion with her.

What do you think I should do now? HOY?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 10/12/2018 17:49

4-6 weeks? Shock I’d understand if that were the timeline for a meeting, but not email.

HOD would be next step. You want to know how the grades are arrived at, they should at least be able to tell you that without having to wait over Xmas.

MsOtisRegrets · 10/12/2018 18:01

We had similar with our DS. He isn't great at Maths and did really badly in the year 10 exams. His maths teacher said 'not to worry' he would improve. He did improve - once we got him a tutor which is what I would recommend.

TheZeppo · 10/12/2018 18:03

4-6 week?! Unless they’re waiting until after the next round of mocks, that makes no sense! Even if that’s the case, it’s ridiculous to leave it like that!

Yes, definitely Head of Department. I’d be forwarding the original set of emails and asking why it takes 4-6 weeks!

Kezzie200 · 10/12/2018 18:04

My DD got an E in her November mock and a grade C (99%) in the real thing in June. She worked on past papers etc like a trojan. Get on it now as they can turn things around and the longer the better.

PerspicaciaTick · 10/12/2018 18:09

4-6 weeks for the most basic response? That is not on and needs escalating to HoY.

MinorProphet · 10/12/2018 18:20

Escalate. You need to speak to her or someone before the end of term. I. E. Immediately!