To worry that Y7 report implies DS can't even hope to reach an age appropriate target in PE or art.

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DS bought home an Autumn term progress report last night. I've never seen one before and am quite unfamiliar with the format.

The scores are all related to how well a child is performing in relation to what is expected for their age.

At the start of term DS was allocated a target of 'succeed plus' for every subject (including art, French, PE etc). He did well in his SATS FWIW, and I think that's the reason he was allocated the highest target. Obviously SATS performance isn't really an indicator of ability at sport, art, music etc., so it all seems a bit odd.

The report suggests he is working effectively towards his targets for everything except PE and art where he is far below what is expected for his age. In both these subjects not only is he working at the lowest level (classed as not yet approaching the beginning of an age appropriate level), but he has been reallocated an end of year target of 'well below' his age related expectation, so I guess he is struggling to an extent that they can't even see any hope of improvement?

I completely accept that few people are good at everything. But I'm concerned that the layout of this report implies that his target for these subjects is to remain well below what is expected of his age group.

I guess it's the PE that worries me. DS is not very good at sport, but he does try. He's a great golfer, skier and is motoring through a kayak and canoe qualification. However, he's never been fast or competitive enough to take part in team sports. I'm happy to accept he's not in the least talented at sports but should I be worried that he's not even been given a target of achieving a result typical of his age group? It makes it feel like he is judged as incapable of doing sport to any level?

In both art and PE he has been given the highest score that can be allocated for behaviour- implying that he is putting the effort in.

I don't want to be a tricky parent but I'm not sure if I should bring this up with his tutor? I also wonder if his PE teacher is implying that DS has some sort of inbuilt issue with sports- which may be the case, but maybe I should talk to the teacher about it?

My DS was brilliant academically especially in maths but hopeless at art and not great at most sports due to fairly mild (diagnosed) dyspraxia. To be honest, unless they are actually going to play sports professionally being good academically is going to be much more useful to them.

Whilst not good at competitive sports he is a keen walker, cyclist and golfer and has carried those pursuits into grown up life. Similarly I was academic but not much good at the type of sport they do in schools. As an adult I've found that I'm strong and good at weight training and other gym pursuits.

Your DS will be fine, as you say, nobody is good at everything and it sounds as though he's good at the stuff that matters.

Both those subjects are the kind that are judged based on a teachers personal preference rather than against a standard outcome. It’s easy to measure students in maths. They either get it or they don’t. Less so at pe and art. His effort in those is what matters.

Your sons working towards a sports qualification- so he’s fine. He has a creative side. Doesn’t matter if he’s good or not as long as he’s giving stuff a go.

Fwiw my art teacher tried to block me applying for gcse maths as he didn’t approve of my doodles. He only valued water colours. I know make money from my doodles. And just sold one that I drew at 13 that he labelled as childish to a major supermarket.

Gcse art that should have said. No idea where maths came from.

Surely if you are below average and make normal progress - you will end up below average. As i understand it this is how (some / many) schools build 'flight paths' now due to how progress stats are measured. Be grateful it is non academic subjects otherwise children who don't develop in a smooth way / have had a poor start for some reason can end up stuck on an uninspiring path accross secondary education.

My DD made 'excellent progress' at PE in y7. She was still 'well below' age related expectations. Her motor skills are bottom 1% so it wasn't a great surprise.

Be thankful that the school do adjust them! At DS1's school, they are given a pathway for Maths, a pathway for English and a pathway for every other subject combined - all based on the SAT score.

So DS has an 8 pathway for every subject from history, languages, pe, art, music etc. He is the least artistic person ever so his art and music are well well below the required standard and will remain that way until he drops them! It's disheartening to see red on his report and it shocked me at first but I understand now so ignore it - just wish they would adjust the pathways for individual subjects

As he does do lots of sport out of school, quite competently by the sound of it, I Would in this instance ask for a chat - the secondary teachers are often happy to have a phone conversation - just to see where [they percieve} he is weak, and how you can work on it at home?

If they get high marks in SATs then targets are set really high for high school, all thought that say ‘what’s the point of SATs?’ they are important on setting targets. Dd is now in year ten and her targets are still set at high (level 8’s) in all subjects thanks to her high SAT grades in year 6, she’s always been marked low for PE and music due to this.

Overall it sounds like your ds is doing well, I wouldnt worry about the art and PE as he will probably drop them when he gets to year 10 (though he will still do PE it’s not that important).

If he's got a good score for behaviour (indicating that he's there and ready to learn) I'd be asking the school how they plan to support him. I wouldn't be overly concerned if all the core subjects are good but equally I would expect the teachers to not just be writing him off. If it helps my brother failed miserably at art, PE and drama. He was so bad at RE he got an F at GCSE (It was a mandatory subject). He now makes over £250k pa in IT.

I would assume that it means that even if he makes a lot of progress he’s still going to be falling short of age expectations for the end of the year in those 2 subjects.
If he’s keen at art why not encourage him at home like a pp said. Shop for some new supplies and encourage him to watch art tutorials on YouTube, take him to the local gallery with a sketch pad and pencils or somewhere picturesque where you can both paint. He can always achieve above expectations.
Sport is more difficult. If he’s slow and or poorly co-ordinated and doesn’t enjoy it I wouldn’t be pushing the issue of team sports though there may be other solo sports he’d be keen to try/ways you could improve his fitness. Above all though I’d be pleased to have well behaved child who excels in academics.

all children can do art - but not necessarily the type they do at school ditto with pe/sport. My dc had dyspraxia but she now rides a bike to work & I helped her experiment with using different clothe textures on block paints to get different affects. I think the negative stereotype idea of art at school is too narrow & can disengage children from experimenting & having fun - ditto again with pe!!!

How old is he because Yr 7 means nothing to me?

DS dodged PE and got minimum effort and crap scores.

He dodged PE to train at the sport he was doing at international level.

My son always got a D or an E for PE at school. It think it was mostly because he didn't like football. He did enjoy some sports but not the team ones often taught in school. He enjoyed climbing, kayaking, Karate, snorkeling/later scuba diving, swimming and golf. I took it with a pinch of salt and was thankful we did not have to have football on TV every weekend. Teachers at school may not know he does other sport outside of school.

Osh year 7 is age 11-12

I do not think you ll gain anything by taking this up with the school, being sporty is an appitude you either have or do not have. It really can’t be taught. As has been said concentrate on the things he’s good at.

Also, art and PE are not ones you'd expect to have an age expectation for. Similarly with music. Then again, I suppose, thinking about it, you could add maths to that equation.
3 of them (music, art, maths) are creative subjects.
Sport is stealth, speed, ability to anticipate your team-mates and your adversaries.

Does the report affect his future prospects in any way? It may just be that he doesn't show an aptitude for those subjects.

I came across some school reports of mine ( decades old) in which the PE teacher had written . : Useful back ?

Conjured up all kinds of possibilities ( did I helpfully lie across from bank to bank of the freezing stream to allow others to use me as a bridge in cross country ? Did I have instructions chalked on my back to help the slower and more reluctant runners keep their spirits up when going around the track ‘ Keep going ! ‘ This way !’ ‘ If I can do the mile, anyone can !’

Realised it was her thoughtful and considered comment about my hockey skills ( which I loved, was good at and was a forward, anyway )

For e.g., I hate soccer. I can't stand it.
But, I do appreciate the genius some of these players have. They know exactly where their opponent and their team-mates are at any given time. That's a particular aptitude that earns them gazillions but I just never had it.
Your ds may be achieving well in other areas. Academic subjects maybe.

Let him concentrate on his sport out of school then you and he can both feel proud.
In art just let him enjoy it and forget about the report,he does not need to be good at everything.In a few years he will be narrowing his subjects for GCSE so a bit less pressure now is a good thing.

OP I was always crap at art and PE- still am- but I've grown into an ok grown up! I've got a good job, a nice partner and a delightful daughter who is very gifted at art, albeit not PE. I'm not worried! Have always found effort is the only measure of success I care about

MH ds always get bad reports for PE.

Tbf he isn't that great!

He still has a load of medals at home from swim meets - but that's nit what school PE assesses!

I would never have reached an age appropriate grade/level in Art, but I now teach English, so was good at some things in school!

Falling slightly short in PE and Art are not going to break him later when Maths and English are the important ones. I'd be glad he is doing well with the important stuff and let him find out for himself which supplementary subjects interest him.

Ignore it. This is about school PE. Especially in the early years this is a very narrow range of sports.

What matters is that he does something physical, anything he likes, probably outside school. My son is pretty rubbish at PE. Now he is older he is allowed to do things he enjoys like badminton and kick boxing, in school. But better than that, he does park run most weeks so he has some regular physical exercise that he chooses to do. For a young lad, he isn't especially fast. But he can do it, and he does it regularly.

Sounds as though your boy is similar. Just accept that what he does in school isn't the be all and end all.