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??

I mean, they mean they're not failing to meet any.

@ClaryFray

I totally agree with you

But sadly the ‘daft school’ brought it straight to my attention that DC2 wasn’t anywhere near DC1 as early as reception. Broke my heart.

I explained that they were very different and DC1 loved drawing intricate detailed pictures before they even started school. DC2 hates drawing. Can not stand it and so didn’t have the exposure to it that DD1 had.

They tried to suggest there must be something wrong with DC2 as they weren’t as academically able as DC1. That’s what broke my heart.

They are very different and DC1 is very able and academic. Scorers 118 reading and comprehension and 109 maths in year 6. That’s with zero effort. DC1 is going to grammar school.

I don’t take credit. DC1 is naturally academically able. I’m not a teacher or a private tutor that makes sure they pass.

@Babesinthewud

I'm glad your able to see that. Many parents are given years of turmoil by teachers pointing out lower levels and being behind, when life is more than hoop jumping :)

You're exactly right, I would say, I got 100% on my maths 99% on my science and 91% on my English Sat examinations and I was bored. I was supposed to move up to secondary in year 5, but my Catholic school blocked the move due to "my social issues", was bored all the way through secondary ended up gaining 12 GCSE's despite not even turning up for school in year 11 most of the time. By year 12 I was really depressed and hit a crisis year. Took a year to rebuild myself and became the youngest person to be excepted onto my russell group university's level 4 International foundation diploma without Alevels and was also officially diagnosed with aspergers which doesn't come as a surprise. I am now transferring to finish my degree and bonus masters at a very sort after london uni. I think if an advanced individual is held back they become bored and lose interest...or in my case become depressed. Push for your child to gain an excellent education whilst having your child's best interest at heart.

@Anon0998

That makes perfect sense. My DC says they’re bored and I believe that, although you tend to think that can’t be possible as it’s a school?!

I’m sure it is indeed possible!!!

@Babesinthewud it is very much possible. I remember in year 10-11 our history teacher barely turned up and then put on videos of the vietnam war which turned out to be barely relevant. We were a top independent school in Lincolnshire. My maths teachers never bothered either generally we were all just a number. I am now studying a bioscience degree with a heavy focus on mathematics. I would avoid larger secondarys and send your child to a smaller one with focus on their education. That personally would've helped me significantly.

OP please don't compare DC2 unfavourably to DC1. Surely you'd prefer that they bring possible SN to your attention as early as possible, in order for DC2 to receive support at school and for you to support him/her appropriately at home?

It sounds as though the school has perhaps been clumsy in its choice of words in its discussion with you. Can you turn your heartbreak into relief that they recognise the possible SN and will differentiate DC2's work so that DC2 can achieve of his/her best?

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OP "But sadly the ‘daft school’ brought it straight to my attention that DC2 wasn’t anywhere near DC1 as early as reception. Broke my heart.

I explained that they were very different and DC1 loved drawing intricate detailed pictures before they even started school. DChates drawing. Can not stand it and so didn’t have the exposure to it that DD1 had.

They tried to suggest there must be something wrong with DC2 as they weren’t as academically able as DC1. That’s what broke my heart"

It just means that he had reached expected standard, which if SATs had happened this year, is what it would say on the result sheet.
Our school sends three reports a year normally and the last one was a few weeks before lockdown. As the government requirement is an annual report, our head decided an end of year report was unnecessary, because teachers could only report on a child up to the point the school closed.

Parent interviews are happening, but parents will not be given a level their child is working at, because we don't know. We know where they were in March, but cannot make assessments based on work during school closure, because it hasn't been observed by the teacher and nobody knows if it is their own independent work, and some children may have fallen below the level they were in March.

As your son is finishing year 6, you must already have a pretty good idea of his achievement level, so I wouldn't get too hung up over the wording on his report.

Secondary schools will probably do their own tests to help them work out how to set the children in year 7 and will also receive information from primaries.

the highest result you can get is 'expected' and you get the same whether you are a perfectly average 11 year old or a genius who could sit A levels tomorrow. there isn't any differentiation between different levels for those above average. a child who is currently not achieving "expected" does not need to catch up with the highly advanced child to achieve "expected"

^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.^

@annie987 why though? We bang on and on about social mobility but if we act as though raw ability is something to ignore in the state sector nothing will change.

OP - I’m also an SEN parent. Ignore the “don’t compare” parents. I get you.