Beginning of year 10, marks and progress to year 11-help please

[ArchesOfWisteria]

To explain, my child was home educated then has decided to do GCSEs as a change of plan. So are entering without the prior school curriculum learning. Learning, but not the curriculum. They’d planned a different route before a September change of heart. I have no ks2/ ks1 SATs to look at to judge previous assessments, so little idea of how they are doing.

Im completely unfamiliar with the new gcse grades, and English schooling. I’d be really grateful if someone could talk me through this…

This seems unusual to me, but my child assessment has been in autumn term of year 10 a mock gcse (past paper) question, I understand parts of the English language paper assembled.

They have been graded a 4 in English. But this is a bit useless to know for me as I don’t know typical progress from autumn year 10 to gcse. Is this too low now to hope for a higher grade? Moving up many at this point is hard? Or if progress faster with a new grading system? Maths is fortunately stronger, but English isn’t

If anyone could share typical progress year 10 autumn to gcse I’d be grateful!

Near Christmas there’s a parents evening, but I’m aware it’s a half term away and I want to support learning and catch up in the mean time and set an idea of goals.

To explain why I said it’s odd, they’ve only been in school 5 weeks

There is no such thing as an average grade. Students get target grades based on KS2 SATs but your child won't have these. The school will generate their own target grades based on how he/she is getting on now. Plenty of time to improve, targets are a rough guideline and not very reliable.

Hi. A grade 4 is a pass but on the lower side of a pass. She is not in a bad position as she has only started Year 10. Is this the language paper?. Is she doing the literature paper too? There is English Language and literature. They are two separate exams in English. Hope that helps.

Just language.
What I’m finding difficult is to imagine a goal, a final likely grade.
I can find a lot of conversion charts for numbers to the old letter grades, and some primary school to year 11… but nothing for this point to year 11. Is one grade realistic? 3?
Its a result after 5 lessons too, so I guess a starting point and made even more confusing as she’s never done an exam in her life!

They’ve just given target grades of 5, apparently this is done if no SATs results until year 11 mocks give grades. So it will be unknown for some time. She was given 4 English language and 6 maths, but I don’t know how full their test papers were

As a parent this is about understanding what marks are given and for what, for maths that is fairly straightforward, show the working out and the answer. For English lang and lit that is slightly different. Find out which exam boards your child will be taking exams for. The most likely is AQA for English. My own son went from scraping a 4 in Year 11 November mock to an 8 in GCSE but I supported him through this. However he was mainly 9s with some 8s across the board in all other subjects. This came down to essay writing technique.

The best advice is to look at an English Lang past paper and have the mark scheme open. I walked Ds through the paper so effectively we did it together. The mark scheme showed us what he would get marks for. For English Lit, there are Assessment Objectives and levels of how well they answer the question. Again this is all laid out in the mark scheme so you can see what they mean with AO2 being Language. Past papers are online on the exam board website. Start with the oldest ones.

There are also brilliant resources on youtube, my personal favourite is Mr Salles who walks you through everything including all the poems they usually have to learn too. There is a CGP revision book for the 15 poems, if school don't provide it get it as it lists out the form, structure, language etc of each poem. To be honest this is about applying themselves and understanding what is expected of them. The Examiner's Reports for each set of past papers is also worth a read too.

Any youtube video can be sped up so Mr Salles can be understood at 1.75 speed if not 1.5. There is plenty of time to increase their grade.

I wouldn't focus on end grades right now. Your daughter will need to pick up a number of exam skills and a whole courses worth of knowledge in order to thrive on her new pathway.
The fact that she is passing exams this early through a 2 year course means she is likely to pass her final GCSE's.
Even if people said how their child had improved over the 2 years, it's probably not transferable to your child due to the different route she has taken to this point.
A grade rise between Y11 mocks (so in a years time) and GCSE's isn't uncommon, and you are earlier in the journey than this.

Hi again. She has actually done really well. For the language paper there are 2 sections. One is reading texts and analysing the language with evidence from the texts to show that it has been understood
It also ask questions about the structure and tone of the language used. For example what audience is the writer aiming for. How do you know this etc. The second part focuses on writing. Creative writing. You can use the picture given to inspire your writing or there is a single scenario given about what you can write about. Realistically sitting on a grade 4 at the minute over the GCSE course she could easily go up 3 grades maybe more depending on her input of course. Not a bad position to be in.

It’s AQA, thank you. Lots of good advice. We have the time to actively support her. It’s just all so new, and a new plan (our older ones did final exams with family abroad at 18). She has a good attitude. I just feel embarrassed we neglected English if I’m honest and I hope I haven’t made it hard

Especially as she gets more teaching in how to actually do the exam technique.What is required etc.

Thank you- I think I’m panicking a bit with all the whirlwind of change. The teacher seems wonderful so I’m positive about that side

Yes. AQA. I have marked for them before.

I really appreciate these answers, and getting me out a Google mess. I think I’m partly worried about supporting her to this point and my own failing

She in a really strong position to make good progress. We'll done on what you did at home. Fantastic.

To come in and do an exam with no experience she has done really really well. Support her with homework etc but don't make it pressurised for either her or you. Any doubts speak to the teacher. Good luck. Don't think you'll need it. If only all parents were like you.😀

Hi OP, I don't think you should feel anything except pride! She has done a lot in a short time. Many children struggle with the jump to GCSEs, I've seen students in English lessons at the start of year ten looked stunned and even horrified by the work and expectations, and they were in the school for the previous 3 years!
There are so many books and websites to support GCSE students, especially in English.
Grade 4 is respectable for the start of the course for anyone. I have seen a lot worse.
Check the school's website for online work and resources. Talk to your DC a lot and ask if she wants anything extra to help her, shopping trip to a bookshop?
And just do a lot of emotional support secondary schools can be tiring and emotionally draining for students as well as us staff!

Thank you for the pick me up, I needed it. I’ve had such a worry I’ve been alternative and it’s been a bad choice. I’ve kept to myself I promise. Only positive talk at home.
I can’t fault them for attitude in anyway. I’ve always believed that is the most important thing, they are nice and likeable and positive. I though don’t want to close any doors to success they wish to do, if that makes sense. I want them to see their potential.

Having healthy happy children is the most important. You have done fantastically well with them. The rest will follow. Believe me. All the very best.

I'd also recommend the Teachit English website. Although you have to pay for some of it, there are a lot of free resources for both English Literature and Language. (I did buy the GCSE poetry pack a few years back and it was worth every penny).
It sounds like you are extremely supportive and I'm sure the teacher will be too. Good luck.

Thank you.
The teachers are very supportive too. Every day I hear about conversations in class and new learning. I will admit I was a little apprehensive at the start of September, but it’s all been very engaging and the homework is always at a level that is hard but possible to achieve. They have boosted confidence. You hear such negatives in the newspapers about schools, but I have not seen this.

Lots of help and support over on the secondary education board too.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary

Dc's school was incredible, amazing teachers who did everything and I mean everything to help the children succeed. I could not have asked for better support, taking time to explain stuff to me so that I in turn could help both my children at home. The good thing is she has lots of time to work out how to play the game because that is what GCSEs are, a game, you learn what gets you points and how to level up. She needs to build her skills first then improve on them. Supportive parents, a good attitude and good teachers go a long way.

You've had good advice. The 4 now is fine.

My daughter got a 5 in year ten for English, then got an 8 in her year 11 mocks. She did this by attending classes and a bit of studying. Your daughter can do the same if she pays attention and tries her best. She'll be fine- a 4 is brilliant, especially if she hasn't learned much about English beforehand :)