DD (yr4) has specific learning difficulties and as a result is bottom of the class in most subjects. She does have a strength though in that she's very good at art and is very creative. She scores highly on visual perception & spatial awareness standardised tests. I'm not claiming she's a child prodigy or something but she's clearly very able in that area, a fact acknowledged by every teacher she's ever had and has even won children's art comps! We have always tried raising her self esteem (which is low) by encouraging her, as have her teachers. Her current teacher (who is excellent and very experienced) even wrote in a report recently that she was "good at art".
Today she came home very upset saying she had been put in the "bottom art group". Didn't actually know they streamed for art, but anyway! I kept asking if she was sure and whether the teacher just split the class up to do different tasks and perhaps they would move round next week (DD has a tendency to get the wrong end of the stick, often!) But she said the teacher definitely said "top" and "bottom" and she wished she'd been able to record it on her ipod so I'd believe her! She said "See, I'm not even any good at that - in the bottom group for everything!"
If this is correct, I'm pretty upset and disappointed for DD, and also rather shocked as this teacher is very keen to help with her self esteem. However, I also don't want to risk looking like a pushy parent, especially if DD has got it all wrong!