To be extremely concerned that DS (yr9) school has decided that achieving GCSE level 4s in Maths/English will be good attainment for most pupils.

[sunshield]

I came back from DSs yr 9 parent evening last night a bit 'shell' shocked . The school which is deemed one of the better moderns around ( i did not use to call them that but when you compare the DDs grammar school ).
The school deems ' level' 4s to be a laudable achievement , they indicated that was the level they will be teaching the majority of pupils to.

Even lazy bones DD 2 (yr11) (posted about that April 2015) is predicted level 7 in Maths 8 in English . When she sarcastically told her Maths teacher that level '5' would be fine because she was not doing A level Maths was sent to the year head who roasted her !

This illustrates the difference in expectations in grammar and moderns a why is DSs school setting such low expectations in year 9 for 'gods' sake.

Or is it a case of seeing grade 4 as a pass....

[sandyholme]

Just looking at the provisional results for 2016 !

Broadoak School in Trafford (Partington) the part Trafford forgot has achieved miracles this year 5 GCSE A*-C inc Maths/English '65%' up from 33% last year and every other year since year dot !

This is a fantastic result when you consider that 61.8% of its pupils have been eligible for FSM over the last 6 years !

This is more evidence that selective education does not have to destroy the non selective schools.

In-fact i am amazed at 'Broadoak' achieving just 7% less than much applauded Wellington!

Selective areas can work for all schools...

[Dahlietta]

When DS joined the school in year 7 , i would have not called it a 'modern'

Either it's a secondary modern or it isn't. A 'modern' isn't a term of abuse for a bad comprehensive. Some areas have a full eleven plus system where everyone does the 11+ and the highest scorers go to grammar schools while everyone else goes to a secondary modern. I believe Trafford is still like this. Other areas with grammars do not have a compulsory 11+, you have to opt in. Some don't sit it at all (but might have passed) and go to the comprehensives, while others go to the comprehensives because they fail the 11+. Obviously, this tends to mean that in those areas the comprehensives don't tend to get the top pupils, but theoretically they could. Kent is definitely like this. It isn't a case of 'My son's school seems to have low expectations; it must be a 'modern'.

[Dahlietta]

And yes, sandyholme, some secondary moderns do a fantastic job!

[Bitofacow]

In Trafford - Broadoak and Wellington mentioned above, many parents do not enter kids for 11+. Parents actively seek out the non grammars. So it really isn't as simple as secondary moderns are brilliant.

These two schools are excellent despite not because of the system.

[Dahlietta]

I wasn't suggesting that they were brilliant because of the system, Bitofacow, but I didn't realise that you could opt out of the 11+ (I grew up in Trafford, but it was a long time ago now...!). I was objecting really to the OP's idea that as she wasn't happy with the school, she was going to start describing it as a 'modern'!

[Bitofacow]

Dahietta I was just clarifying for those who don't know the area. The 11+ is entirely optional in Trafford.

[TheZeppo]

not even in the same book very true!

The whole thing is a mess. I do know that my bottom set, who are largely EAL students, will struggle to get a Grade 2 or 3.

I hate it. At least when the paper was tiered they made an effort to make the sodding questions and sources accessible to them. I've said it before: mine can demonstrate the skills, but CAN'T because the sources are far too difficult for them.

Wish they'd stop meddling endlessly. They just make everything worse and it's the kids that pay the price.

[sandyholme]

Dahietta I was just clarifying for those who don't know the area. The 11+ is entirely optional in Trafford.

Well the majority of children must opt to take it given that 40% of Trafford' pupils attend grammar schools !

//www.wellington.trafford.sch.uk/information2/2019.html

[Bitofacow]

Wow then that makes moderns like Wellington and Broadoak the best schools in the country. 65% A-C with the top 40% at grammar. Hmmmmmm, every child can get a C hurrah.

Or figures are a load of bollocks that don't reflect reality.

Now let me think about that for a minute.......

[BertrandRussell]

The new system is absolutely fucking awful for low ability children. And for schools with a high % of low ability children. But nobody actually cares about them. The government certainly doesn't- or it wouldn't be backing grammar schools whose sole function is to separate the privileged from the house polloi.