Year 7 DD sets and homework

[Bestfootforward11]

My DD 12 is currently in set 1 for maths but thinks she will be moved down to set 2 as her results have not been as strong as others in the class. She’s feeling upset about it and as far as I understand it in set 2 you get a little more support which is probably what she needs. You can still potentially do well. Am I missing something? I’d also be grateful for any tips re homework etc. My DD will do what she’s asked and no more. I’m not sure how much to encourage, let her find her own way or be more pushy. My own childhood involved being pushed to get the best grades which created feelings of shame when I didn’t (other stuff going on at home too) so I feel like I don’t know what is normal. Should I get a tutor? A good friend is now sending her DD to private school which I could never afford anyway but I feel like I’m letting my DD down in some way. Also menopausal so panicking about everything. Any wise or kind words works be appreciated. Thank you.

The thing with set 1 is that some DC are exceptionally good at maths so therefore the class often goes quite quickly because they pick it up so easily. Set 2 is just set at a pace that gives pupils time to process it more as do all the other sets. It doesn’t mean the pupils aren’t as good as maths just that they need more time to get their head around it that’s all. Then on top of that the more able pupils are usually given extra hard work to do separate to the others.

Also it’s not about ‘doing well’ they all do well regardless of which set they’re put in. It’s about learning at your own pace around others in the class at that same pace and not struggling to keep up and therefore learning nothing. Having the time to think about each new topic. The DC in the bottom sets find maths difficult at first but that doesn’t mean they won’t eventually flourish given the time to get their head around it and focus without DC who get it straight away putting them off or having the teacher rush through it for those that are able to keep up. Hence why there are sets in the first place.

Wow, so much talk about a child in the top set.

OP

Cut her some slack, she is years away from GCSEs.

It's not about which set she is in but about hard work and some ability.

I'm old so in my day the top w sets did O Levels, the next did both O Levels and CSEs, the bottom sets did CSE.

One of my friends wa moved from set 2 to set one because the school thought set one had the better teacher for her. Had that teacher been teaching set 3 she would have gone down a set.

Someone mentioned the higher and foundation papers, that is relevant, the top 2 or 3 or 4 sets might take the higher paper.

It depends on the school and the cohort.

Is she trying her best? If so she needs a hug and maybe treat to boost her confidence.