To think that a child that gets 98% in mock SAT is not working at expected level?

[Babesinthewud]

Exactly as it is. DC teacher told me that they got 98% in one of the mock SATS papers and told me at the first parents evening in November (When they had just turned 11 that month) that they were working at at the level of a 13 year old and 11 months. (It was reading and comprehension). Raw score was 118 out of 120.

This is not a stealth boast as I have another DC that has SN. This has caused me so much query and stress far far more than anything else ever! (It’s so hard and difficult. It makes no odds to me where DC is on the scale of average, as long as they are happy)

I would much rather have 2 DC that were average and neither struggle, than one that excelled and one that struggled. The one that struggles gives me far far far more worries than the one that doesn’t)

DC also passed the grammar test for local area and is going there.

My point is, has the teacher made a mistake??

Looks like I didn’t finish 😳

report yesterday said they were working within expected range?? How can you score 98% in a SAT and be working more than 2.5 years above expected, yet still be considered working at level?

Is that the norm?

I would much rather have 2 DC that were average and neither struggle, than one that excelled and one that struggled you don't voice this do you? If so unless

Posted too soon! I've picked it up wrongly you are annoyed at your nt child?

If that’s correct, then it gives me hope for my other DC that struggles. If to achieve ‘expected’ means to be working 2.5 years above, then perhaps I’m worrying too much about my younger DC.

Are you just assuming that working at expected level means the average for a child of that age? But maybe it means the level they would expect of that child specifically.

As in end of year 6 report?
The only grades that can be officiously awarded for reading and maths are ‘expected’ or ‘below expected’. It is widely accepted that a scaled score of 110 or over is ‘greater depth’ but that can not be officially reported.
My daughter got 119 out of 120 and was ‘expected’
In writing they can get ‘expected’ ‘below expected’ or ‘greater depth’ but that’s the only subject that can happen in as it’s based on teacher assessment,

@TitianaTitsling

Hi Titiana

I’m just confused at the levels and what DC has achieved and what teacher says, this contradicts the report.

• officially

SATs are in SPaG too... is it a combined English grading of expected level? And if so, did he have a more average SPaG result?
What has the rest of his work been like?
You do get one off good papers, I suppose!

You seem unduly stressed about something you could clear up by just asking?

Maybe it’s an admin mistake.
Maybe he’s good at reading but can’t pick out the dreaded fronted adverbial
Maybe it’s not his performing at but his meeting expectations mark? (that is, he’s performing like a 13yo, but after his 118, that’s what they expected, so he hasn’t exceeded their - high - expectation)

Just ASK!

Clever kids have more expected from them. He is meeting their expectations probably but probably not trying as hard as they would like. My brother’s reports were like this - 95-100% in all exams including GCSEs and A Levels and a 98% in his final degree but all of his teachers / lecturers thought he was lazy.

This thread is so confusing. 😬

Very good point @annie987 I was assuming that OP was referring to an internal report (as we have at my child’s school) but I think you have the answer!

I remember when DS got his SATS results he also had teacher assessments which also said he was working within expected range in maths. I queried this as he was always ahead in maths by at least a year, as were all the children in top set (teacher told us at parents evening like you). The teacher explained that in these reports which were submitted with SATS results they couldn’t give more than that as their assessment apart from in writing.

However, as they are not doing SATs this year assessment data including teacher assessment are not being submitted. So I would assume they could write a normal end of year report for parents.

@annie987

That sounds similar to my situation. DC got 118 in reading comprehension etc and teacher said working at almost 14 year old level.

The report says working with expected range.

Working in the expected range is great. But if that means working 2.5-3 years above their actual age then that’s problematic for those that struggle.

I suppose I’m wondering if my worrying is in vain for my younger DC, who absolutely isn’t working at age related category.

OP, why do you say it’s caused you so much query and stress than anything else ever? That’s a hell of an over reaction to something that can be cleared up with an email to school.

So it is the official SATS style report?
Then it doesn’t mean you have to be 2.5 ahead to meet expected. It just means you have be at your age level or higher. The vast majority of kids in “expected” will be bang on their age, with a small number higher. It doesn’t mean your younger son can’t meet expected unless he is also working 2.5 years ahead.

I’m assistant head in a primary and it’s a query we get often.
Even if a child is 5 years ahead in reading or maths, they can only be reported as at the expected level.

Perhaps he scores well on tests but is not applying his skills elsewhere which is why the teacher marked him as expected? For example, I have taught children that have scored 100% on arithmetic papers but have graded them as expected at the end of the year because they can't reason or apply those skills to a word problem.

Children don't learn in a linear way.
It doesn't mean anything really.

OP; no ‘working at expected level’ in officialise covers everyone from children who hit the pass mark for ‘expected level’ bang on, up to children working 3 years ahead of their age.

@Gulabjamoon

I agree 😂

Basically I worry about DC 2 sooooo much. Totally struggles and I’d give anything for them to be average a academically.

DC1 has always ‘got school’ and worked between average and above average. Doesn’t work hard at it, just gets it.

Passed grammar school assessment and teacher told me in November that DC is working at a greater depth by over 2.5 years in reading and comprehension. (DC1 doesn’t even read that much 😳)

I know a couple of parents who have children in my DC 1 class that day they really struggle to meet expectation. I’m the same with DC 2, who really really really struggles.

So what I’m wondering is, if to achieve ‘expected’ (which is where you’d hope your DC is in any given year) is to get 98% in SATs then surely that’s a bet high expectation???

Brilliant for my DC2 and would save a lot of stress and worry!!

Who gets 98 in tests?!

We were told the same as above, that it covers anything from scraping the mark to being wayyyy ahead. It's just officialese for they have atleast met the markers for the expected level catagory regardless of if they've met it and passed way beyond that marker.

Don't. Compare. Your. Kids.

Many parents make this mistake. Academic smarts will only go so far and tbh hell struggle for a bit and then find they're way in life without much hassle.

The more damage will come from your obvious distaste that they are different

@annie987

Ahhh I see.... that makes sense!!! This was for reading and comprehension.

Teacher told me they assessed DC to be working at 13 years 11 months in this area (DC was 11 and 1 months at the time of assessment)

DC is really good at school but never does anything out of school. My DC2 has SEN so needs my support and attention I’m a way DC1 doesn’t. They just get it naturally without any imput- although I did say that when they start secondary they’ll need to pull up their socks 😂

I think they're just saying they're meeting all the targets. It's probably the default answer.