How exactly do you know your child is top of their class

[shadesofsun]

As per the title, I am curious as to how so many parents claims their child is top of the class, so who tells you that?

Are teachers really telling parents this or giving a hierarchy of where the children sit?

you can't really tell for sure until they start doing exams. top of the class is the one with the most marks. before that you can make an educated guess based on reading levels etc but it is only a guess.

Kids learn at different paces, some excel in school and do bugger all with their lives after, others struggle and do better in further education as adults. If they are happy and have a good work ethic (not always easy to instil ) does it really matter?

@Keepdistance

Mine wasnt top i dont think but was doing very well for year group so 1-2y ahead. But easily distracted, difficult and lazy. I think sadly a love for reading will be lost going into yr 4 next as we move more into grammar and difficult comprehensions. I mean her understanding has always been very good but it's becoming abstract. Unfortunately maths isnt as easy. Though as she is clever with a bit of work we could get at least a year ahead.

Top of the class is statistically the eldest at primary anyway. You cant completely get past the extra year advantage. Also their interests depend on age.
Ks2 sats are used to set gcse targets for secondary though.
I think top depends on the cohort and what isnt measured by school completely is say soellings now a bright child who is also lucky to have a good memory doesnt actually need to learn them. They either already know from reading or you tell them once then do the test.
Whereas with maths dc still cant do time it's the to bits etc.
Early primary is actually probably irrelevant long term as you only learn to read once and write. The tested skills are comprehension and expression, creative writing. Again science and history etc arent really taught.
In fact i notice the kids with the brighter parents are the kids who struggle socially and the kids are not necessarily top (yet)

I don’t agree with you about Summer borns...both my lads were Summer born ( the eldest right at the end of August) and both were always high achievers ( although my January born daughter was too) I’m a TA , and the eldest - youngest argument really is not a good measurement of ability...more about maturity ,which is a different kettle of fish. Children with ‘bright’ parents are only better off because the parents are more likely to engage with them and encourage them .

Teachers certainly do say things to parents like - your child is way ahead of the rest of the class. They don't say - your child is much brighter than Tommy, or whoever.

I don’t think it’s great to compare children. Being proud of your kids achievements is one thing but bragging is another. Nobody knows if their child is truly top of the class. Teachers do not compare children to the parents. It’s not great to talk to parents about it either as all children after different.

I honestly think it’s just a term people use when their child’s doing well. I say this because my mum used to tell people I was top of the class but parents evening used to be positive. I was far from top of the class. I also got one A in my GCSE’s (the rest were mainly C’a, a B and a couple D’s). She used to tell people I was an A grade student - I was not. I had A grade in food tech. I believe you should be proud of your children regardless.

My two have asd and learning difficulties. My eldest particularly struggles academically but he is so switched on and bright in what interests him and his memory is superb and can remember the tiniest details. I’ve also learnt to never compare kind to other children and it can be disheartening.

When I was in primary school, the reports always had a space for ‘class position’. Probably not allowed to do it anymore

Your child’s teacher might and I stress might, tell you that your child is excelling in a particular subject, might tell you that they did very well, even best, in a recent test, but not ‘top of the class’.
That title is not achievable imo, as it would require a child to consistently achieve the best results across all subjects (including the HSE and non academic areas), which would be extremely unusual, in my experience.
My DS is academically gifted and frequently scored highest in a number of subjects in school. His achievements were always highlighted at parents evening, but due to difficulties socially, he could never be described as ‘top of the class’ and I’m glad of that.

Teacher has told me every year since reception what a bright child she is, l can tell by the kids she is sat with for different subjects that they are sat according to ability and l quite often get other parents saying to me their child often tells them how clever my daughter is. But she can be a lazy uncooperative little madam sometimes so it means nothing really!! Would rather have an average child that puts in lots of effort! Hasn't always been like that, only a recent thing! And not saying she is top for everything but she is up there - she is one of the oldest ones too which is an advantage imo.

It’s not representative anyway, given class sizes. Your child could be miles ahead of the rest of the class, but if the class is academically below average that doesn’t tell you much. My son gets ‘130+’ ie highest possible score in his maths assessments (he’s in year 4) and he’s one of three boys that has been given a binder of year 6 work to do over the holidays ‘if they fancy it’. He gets typically Reading age with a plus after it too which means highest age for that assessment. But he isn’t artistic, doesn’t enjoy performing as he isn’t naturally exuberant (although he does it), and spends far too much time playing roblox on his iPad. My daughter is just 5 and can read white level books, does her own spellings not those given to rest (majority?) of class, mega confident and loves performing (wants to be an actress) but I think is pretty average at everything else. Dead clumsy at sports 🤣

The braggards are coming out of the woodwork......

Parent sweep stakes. Always worth a punt to see which parent spreads something the quickest.

every child is top of the class for something. x

Not necessarily top of the class but children were arranged in the class according to ability...less able at the front through to most able at the back, confirmed by SATS results

Bloody hell, little has changed in the 50-odd years since I left primary, only we didn't have SATS then, it was based on "tests" done towards the end of each term.

All through primary, the same 4 children were in the top 4 places, every term. Not in the same order, that varied, but the same 4 kids (all girls, too), every time. In fact, the back row changed very little and I could still name most of them.

@shadesofsun How exactly do you know your child is top of their class? You don't. People want to believe it because they are insecure, and need to live through their child. People who are stable and secure aren't bothered about this, they just want a happy kid.

@Sushirose. You may think my post that society needs brain surgeons and bottlewashers was inept, but in 50 years of work, I have been both the bottlewasher (as a waitress/dishwasher in an English holiday resort cafe during the summer season as a student) and a "brain surgeon", or in my case a highly paid consultant to the boards of FTSE-100 companies. If I am honest, I quite enjoyed both: work has usually been at least interesting, often because of the people I encountered, and sometimes fascinating. But I have also had jobs so dull that it was difficult to get out of bed in the morning.

I was told at the very beginning of my sons school life that he was exceptional and working above his expected range ... He was put on gifted and talented early on, made class prefect and voted school councils every year. He became became Head Boy bores by pupils and teachers. Got 15 straight A GCSE’s and 4 A A Levels and now at University ... that how you know your child’s top of the class!!!!

He is a normal boy without any weirdness as you might expect for somebody so smart. He can be a “know it all” in an argument and I do worry he’s never had a Real disappointment Academically or otherwise which we all need to learn humility etc.

Another way you’d know is when they choose their options of subjects for GCSE’s and the teachers get in a proper bum fight as they all want your child doing their subject ... or on the flip side they don’t!

Kids develop at different rates and some are top in maths or English or some can be top at sports or art or socially. It’s very sad that parents are so competitive it’s not good for the kids . I’ve found that kids are rarely tip in everyting.
So you might know your kid is the best in his class at maths or possibly in the but who can say what that means ? They may be in a strong year or class it area .

I detest the play round olympics parents play . I have 3 kids all of whom excel some areas but I don’t care nor do I brag . I’m
Pl awed if they do their best or are kind or polite or a good friend .

One of mine is top in the class academicall, she can comfortable work several years ahead of her age. Prob about bottom in PE :D.

I do love the confidence with which some posters are saying, 'a teacher wouldn't tell you that your child is top of the class'. Whilst I agree that sometimes a parent hears 'your child is top' when that isn't what the teacher either said or intended to be heard, it is possible that teachers do sometimes say it. If you are a teacher, you might never say anything like that. But that doesn't mean that no teacher would ever say it. It is naive to think you are representative of all teachers.

I have twins. In y3 parents evening we were told Dd1 was above average but 'was no Dd2' which was an indicator (although I was not impressed as I was talking to the teacher about navigating comparison between the 2).

Irl, I only heard people say top of the class by the parents who's children are not exceptional but above average.
Teacher do tell, ime, but not as top of the class, but miles ahead, etc.
It's understandable MN has so many parents of top of the class children. They are educated and interested in their children's education. Most of their children may be on top table/set.

I don’t think Primary school teachers ever say top of the class. You and the kids can work out who’s on the “top” table for maths and literacy. Doesn’t mean they are all top of the class. Or is that why there are so many top of class?

My DS this week told me he’s best in the year at maths. I’m not sure whether it’s true or not, I just hope that with this self confidence he gets into the top maths set when he starts secondary. (Although mostly I think where was this best in the year shit when you did the 11+)

At secondary, maths is the only subject DD has where the teacher ranks them. Possibly because they do move the children reasonably often to ensure they’re in the right set. Y7 DD was borderline moving down from the top set (26th or so), now she’s 14th.

DD was middle/middle to bottom of the class at primary school. Summer born. Since she turned into a teenager she’s been an absolute delight, working really hard at school - determines and proactive. I think she could get some really good grades in maths and science. She just needed time to grow up.
DS has been naturally brighter than her all the way through primary school - hope secondary school gives him a kick up the arse!

Mine was remedial for everything- but tried their hardest so I was and am very proud

Well I know my oldest son is exceptionally bright, and his teacher has told me he is exceeding in most things. My middle son, not so much, he’s an August baby and although he’s bright, he’s not weirdly bright like my oldest son is.

A PP said about reading Harry Potter age 6 - my oldest son is 6 and a half and has read the first three of them. He does struggle creatively though, whereas my middle son Has a real talent in arts and crafts and imaginative play.