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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DS been asked to leave school due to low CAT score.

406 replies

omgitcantbetrue · 08/10/2020 17:26

Just had a meeting with DS Prep school and I'm feeling so worried and anxious for DS.

He scored 92 average on the CAT test.
The teacher gently informed me this means he'll not manage to achieve above a C grade in any subject at GCSE. He's only in year 5, and I'm amazed they can make such predictions.
I was then informed that it's in his best interest to transition to a more gentle secondary school.
I don't know what I want really. Advice from parents in a similar position?
Are her life prospects totally limited? With C's only I'm assumings he'll never go to University. Which is fine. I'm worried for his prospects.
Do children who score 92 ever improve? How below average is this?
Thanks for reading

OP posts:
gubbbbbddaaaa · 08/10/2020 17:28

Jeez that's a bit harsh ! Were you aware he was less able than the pack as such ? Bit of a shock otherwise . I guess they need to keep their grades up for their credibility .

CremeEggThief · 08/10/2020 17:29

You might be better off posting this in Education, OP.

I'm a former primary teacher and I haven't got a clue what CAT even means.

QualityFeet · 08/10/2020 17:29

That teacher has the gift indeed.

There are all sorts of reasons for low scores from a bad day, dyslexia and just being a child. You have no idea how GCSEs will go but another school would be good so they don’t write your child off and are skilled at working to get the best from pupils.

midlifespices · 08/10/2020 17:29

Sorry no idea what the CAT score means but I would certainly be looking for a different school if they plan to write your DC off at that age!

Original poster
omgitcantbetrue · 08/10/2020 17:30

Sorry. Should have said. He’s dyslexic. I did know that already, but thought he was bright.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 08/10/2020 17:30

Sounds like either way the school isn’t going to be the right environment for him.

Find a school that will nurture his talents and help him develop in areas he may be weaker rather than pushing him and adding pressure

tinierclanger · 08/10/2020 17:30

“ The teacher gently informed me this means he'll not manage to achieve above a C grade in any subject at GCSE. He's only in year 5, and I'm amazed they can make such predictions. ”

Well of course they can’t. They’re just trying to bin him off for an easy life/keep their stats up, aren’t they?

FairFriday · 08/10/2020 17:31

Crikey. That’s rough. I suspect it’s the school policy of not taking through high fliers. Ratbags.

CoRhona · 08/10/2020 17:31

Fundamentally they will only want children who will do well, so by 'suggesting' you leave your DS' grades won't impact their ratings.

I feel really sorry for him. But what a shit attitude from the school.

doctorhamster · 08/10/2020 17:32

Absolutely rubbish op. Crap like this makes me so angry. They cannot possibly say that about gcse results for a child in year 5!

Chantelli · 08/10/2020 17:32

Hopefully someone with more understanding of how predictions are made will be along in a moment. I thought that 92 in cat scores was within the average range? What's wrong with Cs at gcse? Why won't he get into uni?! Was he having an 'off' day? Surely they know his capability by now if he has been with them since year r. Any dyslexia, dyspraxia?

QualityFeet · 08/10/2020 17:32

I seem to remember - and I could be wrong - but the average is about + or - 10 points either aside of 92.

And life prospects? They remain unaffected. Honestly so many futures out there. Keep the pressure off.

Sirzy · 08/10/2020 17:32

And I wouldn’t be waiting for year 7 to move him either, I would be looking for a primary school that can help build his confidence over the next two years to help him prepare for secondary

june2007 · 08/10/2020 17:33

DEf go to a school that doesn,t write of kids when they are 9 or 10 years. Don,t know what cAt score is but the school attitude sounds terrible.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 08/10/2020 17:33

I’m not sure about the scores, but DSS was definitely performing well below average in year 5. He was moved to a different school (small independent) and he has not looked back. He’s back in a state school now at 14 and is doing well (and I’m sure he could do better if he tried harder...Smile). He’s not very academic, but he’s able and will definitely be employable.

The advice about the school setting may be good, but projecting grades at this stage is not helpful. Flowers

Chantelli · 08/10/2020 17:33

So thy are suggesting he leaves because of dyslexia??? That's outrageous op!!!

unfortunateevents · 08/10/2020 17:33

Unfortunately this can be a thing with some prep schools, they are only interested in keeping their scores high and posting lots of success stories. I take it from your post that the school may go all the way through so they are trying to ease you out now so that down the line you don't affect their GCSE grades. Horrible but I'm not sure what you can do other than look for another more caring school. Would you want to stay in this school anyway now?!

Original poster
omgitcantbetrue · 08/10/2020 17:33

The dyslexia comes from me. It’s eating me up with guilt. I must say, I’m shocked. It does feel like he’s been written off aged 9?!?
School want him to stay till secondary, when there is a natural break, but I’m feeling quite protective. If they want him gone maybe should be sooner.

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 08/10/2020 17:34

I would ask them to send you a copy of the CAT report. If they fail to supply it, I'd do a Subject access request.

LittleMissLockdown · 08/10/2020 17:35

Well I'd be moving him regardless simple on the basis the school have complety written him off at age 9! Of course they cannot say he will not get above a C grade ffs.

There's a thousand reasons he rmight have scored low and a thousand more which will impact upon his grades between now and his GCSEs. Im sorry the school has let you and your son down so badly that you are now left assuming he won't do well in life.

As a teacher my advice, please move him and ignore everything they have said. They obviously don't value him enough to help him achieve his full potential and only care about their precious results.

Cantbreathe2020 · 08/10/2020 17:35

Cognitive Abilities Test?

Chantelli · 08/10/2020 17:35

Any other issues though, behavior or otherwise? Is there something they are not telling you? As 92 with dyslexia does not remotely mean he is thick. It means they do not want to put the extra resources into teaching him so he learns Angry

HumphreyCobblers · 08/10/2020 17:35

His dyslexia could definitely have impacted his cat test score. Was it on a computer?

Sounds like a ghastly school though, I would definitely get him out of there.

Comefromaway · 08/10/2020 17:35

I would be very concerned at a school that relied on CATS only to determine a child’s ability. They are a useful diagnostic tool but need to be used in conjunction with a raft of other things.

Any school worth their salt should have picked up on the fact that his ability was low and spoken to you/adjusted your expectations way before now.

Which leads me to believe it’s not a very goood school.

Incidentally we took my Dd out of a high performing private school where he was crumbling. He didn’t do wonderfully at GCSE and achieved below his innate ability but found a subject he had a passion for and is now at college on a Btec and on course for high grades.

Cantbreathe2020 · 08/10/2020 17:36

So he's doing the 11+ at age 9??