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

[omgitcantbetrue]

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

Is this the first time he has done the CAT test? My DDs prep used to conduct them at the start of the school year and would only give out the score if parents requested.

She swung wildly between 92 to 135. Just couldn't be bothered to do them I guess

Ended up on an academic scholarship at 11+. I really battled with the school too. But her personality is such that she will do as she pleases so teachers were always underestimating her.

Once she got to secondary- she thrived in the challenging environment

I’m not an authority, but any results before high school mean fuck all in my opinion. You’d know by now if he massively struggled academically. Not sure what CAT is but I did sats really not all that long ago (relatively), pretty sure I failed them miserably but then I did great in high school

I seriously doubt it means anything

God, how much are you paying for the pleasure of all this, OP? I’d be furious that they weren’t thinking hard about how to bring out the best in your boy.

Private schools just want to look good , state schools can't ask children to leave because it might make there scores look back
If he is happy at school maybe leave him there but as you pay i would also be asking them what do they plan to do to help him improve after all thats there jobs
A state school would help a child they felt below average with extra intervention etc if possible
My youngest was behind at year 5 , he is now yr 11 with target grades between 4 - 7 depending on subject , but primary gave him extra help etc to get him more in target

Also my eldest son is applying for uni all grade 4 in gcse but doing a btech now with high predictions and will get him in to uni of he gets them on course he wants , if he chooses to go. He is just not an exam type of child as he constantly worked at a 6 with odd 5 but got lower but he's doing well in his btech as coursework is more him
Plus not everyone is acAdemic always said to mine try your best and as long as you do a job your happy in then thats all that matters

@Volcanicorange exactly so they aren't quite as good as they make out as they only pick those that will do well
Although to be fair I don't think all are like this

Anyone who told me my child was ‘thick’ at that age would be in serious trouble. If that’s the schools attitude why on earth keep him there? ESP. As you’re paying for it too - is this what private schools are like??

Haven't read it all, but a lot.

I was extremely slow learning to read. Dramatically behind my peers for years in spelling etc too.

My year six SATs were average at best.

My GCSE predictions were middling. But I improved on every single one.

I got four a2 a grade grades and an a grade AS

I went to Oxbridge

If anyone tells you that your child needs to lower their ambitions, you need to move your child. Not because they don't have the talent, but because there is someone who is prepared to write them off at nine years old.

And yes. I was tested for dyslexia (at 18). It showed up as a severe presentation.

He is five, he might well do better in a main stream school, prep school is all about achievements. Try not to worry I am sure he will be fine.

I always knew he was dyslexic, and discussed this with the school when he started.He does attend learning support for both Maths and English. So they have been supporting her as best they can.

The teacher was obviously speaking on behalf of the head. It's not up to a teacher to decide on weather a child should leave, so I don't "blame" the teacher. I asked him if my son would achieve GCSE's, he answered that not above C, and that DS would need to sit soft GCSE papers, which limits the result to a maximum C grade, so I guess I pushed him for that information.

I totally agree that if my child isn't suited to the pressure of the upper school, it means it's not a good fit, therefore we should leave.

I do think it's shoddy to be told this at the start of Y5.
Had we known, we would have researched and founds a school better suited to his needs, and he'd be starting now. Seems unfortunate for us....

How does your son feel about school (his lessons and teachers)?

Confidence can make a huge difference to performance as I'm sure you're aware. It's teachers job to teach and it sounds like they're not prepared to put the time in with him, I would expect much better from a fee-paying school. Does he enjoy it, does he feel engaged? Or is a lack of confidence affecting him?

I also know many people who didn't blossom academically until secondary school, or even year 9 - it's impossible for them to accurately predict his GCSEs at this stage. I would also expect a fee-paying school to be able to coach children with dyslexia to achieve their full potential, otherwise what's the point?

Absolutely agree it's the school and not him that isn't achieving. I think whether you move him to another school, and at what point, is a judgement call the teachers can't make. As long as you move him at the start of a term, and preferably at the start of the school year I would think he'd settle well if he's socially confident. I would factor in how comfortable and pressured he feels academically at school, if he's not that happy there then move sooner but if he's still doing well (and 92 still seems a good score?) and is happy then I think you can afford to wait.

Try and get a feel from your son and maybe start putting feelers out to other schools to get a sense of what his options might be.

Shame on his teacher and good luck

Dyslexic over here with Cs\Bs for GCSEs and Ds at Alevel but still have a 2,1 degree in biology and working in a large company using said degree. Grades aren’t everything...

I’m really tired right now, and totally shocked at a conversation I had with Ds this evening. I brought up the idea of moving school when we move house next year, end of year 6.
He got super excited, almost squealed, then said “ somewhere less academic and more, like arty” I was floored by his response. He’s always seemed happy enough, got friends, seems motivated despite the dyslexia. But obviously he does feel the pressure. He then went on to ask to move now. He asked me to “ go for a taster day, call them up and ask.
He was badgering me to call and ask tonight. I’m his mum, and really thought I’d have known he felt this way.
He said he’s not unhappy there but would rather be elsewhere.

My year 6 teacher informed my parents that I probably had learning difficulties and if I was lucky I might marry well as I wouldn’t ever achieve anything academically (this was said many years ago). Turns out the teacher herself was this issue. With a bit of extra tuition the summer before secondary school I was fine. All above Cs in GCSEs, plus A levels, Uni and a career.

Perhaps omg he's only just come to that realisation himself. Like you've pushed the door open and he's happy to walk through. Don't be so hard on yourself. Sounds like you've a lovely kid.

Reluctantly I agree with posters who have said that private schools are exclusive. They get their results by only working with academic high flyers. Some parents probably don't realise how high and unforgiving the standard has become. Ditto with the 11 plus exams to select entrants to grammar school.

To widen the discussion somewhat, I think the whole programme of reforms to GCSE, started in 2014, has been about introducing 11plus and grammar schools by the back door. By abolishing levels at secondary and the numerical system at primary, the government has forced state schools to seek out their own measure of attainment. Many have looked to CATs . I see it that selective independent schools have always tested, and now they are using the very scientifically calibrated standardised tests and referring to the results of just these tests when discussing progress with parents, rather than referencing more holistic measures and assessing written work as they probably did before. The natural outcome of these tests being used in state schools in Year 7 is that teaching will be targeted at helping the particular pupil to achieve their predicted grade. So no expectation of a higher grade will be entertained, and so no understanding of stretching and presenting the teaching differently will be explored. We are not so very far away from describing 11 year olds as academic or not; suited to a profession, or better off training for a trade. The notion of overcoming barriers to learning will be falling from favour, and education described only as presenting a block of learning and children being bright enough to absorb and master it or not.
I think it is true that many private schools can only work with pupils who can keep up with the pace. They are aiming to teach a higher level of ideas and foster abstract and sophisticated understanding + academic thinking - hence why they recruit Oxbridge 'teachers' to relate to pupils on that elevated level.

From what I've glimpsed of friends, private schools rely heavily upon setting mountains of homework and relying on the parents to nurture and prompt the kids to do it, for hours at a time. I'm not sure there can be spirited discussion in the staff room about ways to get the children to grasp the learning. There is a competitive ethos which makes the kids want to try their very best, however full or inspiring is the content being learnt. Home background, academic trips to museums and debate incalcate a useful level of expectation in the child to anticipate what topics and ideas they might be about to encounter - and the discussion skills to talk about these.

Finding an independent school which accepts pupils with SEN is a good route. The teaching will be stimulating and academic and suited to developing the students' skills to match the higher level GCSE and A'level grades, but the way learning is taught will be as important as what is taught.
For me the old education system did well, and barriers to learning were genuinely removed.

Hope you find somewhere lovely and arty who will appreciate all your son has to offer and bring out the best in him

What do many posters have said is true. Celebrated thinkers have been late starters and the education system hasn't always suited their learning style at an early age. Often children learn how to get around their difficulties as they become older teens. Following recommendations is the surest way to find a lovely nurturing school which brings out individual talent. There are many such schools and how wonderful, OP, to rescue your son from that intense and seemingly unhealthy hothouse pressure. So many good examples of learners who have matured and flourished as they reach their mid to late teens.

OP, what a day you have had. Must have come as a bit of a shock, both at the school and your child's reaction. But it sounds as if you have handled it so well with your DS if he is looking at a school move as a positive.

Clearly, he feels that the academia/pressure is getting in the way of creativity for him - IMO, creativity is so important, you can teach kids to a test at any stage, but creativity really needs nurturing to be kept alive. Creativity is a huge part of the U.K. economy and will be more and more important as processes are automated.

Honestly, despite the shock, you should be so happy that your son has found something that clearly excites him and that he wants to develop further - that is the whole point of education after all!! So this school isn't a negative blip, just another part of the journey.

My dyslexic son achieved 7 C's at gcse, 1A &2 B's at a level. He excelled at university and got a first class honours in a science degree. I dread to think what his cat score would have been. GCSE's obviously didn't suit him for whatever reason but I think a realistic approach is that maths, english and a few other subjects is going to get them into most options .
He currently earns a great deal more than I do and really is very successful in his career. He attended a secondary school for all abilities and shone at sports inside and outside of school. He has a tremendous sense of discipline and gained huge confidence during his degree and year out.
Believe in your child and nurture him, challenge that teacher about what they'll do to help him.
If anyone had told me that my 9 year old son would have a first class honours degree I'd have been incredulous.At that stage he would have been in the lowest reading group with very poor reading skills.

Hi OP. I've read your posts but not all the 13 pages. I am a teacher in a secondary school with 13 years experience.

If a loved one came home with the story you told in your OP I would advise one thing - Get your child out of that school now and find one that will develop your child as a human being rather than an academic data point.

While I don't know your child I know for a fact that I've taught children with CATS tests in the 90s who've achieved 5s and above so there is literally no reason to stress now. Please be assured that your child has their whole future in front.of them but they will be better off in a setting that appreciates them for who they are, despite the fact they might not improve the schools data rating!

Op it sounds like you and your son are on the same page. I’d start looking for a new school and give him some input (find the ones you like and see what he thinks)

I’m not in Uk but where I live there are specialist dyslexia tutors I’d look into that as well. An hour a week to give him that extra support

I am not familiar with CATS tests but I assume they might be similar to the kind of verbal and non verbal reasoning tests they use for the 11 plus at many selective schools. My dd, for example, always got very average scores in those kind of tests. She is not good with puzzles etc, especially when under pressure. But she is now one of the top students at her secondary.

I think your DS's response has shown you what the right answer for your family is. Now you can happily move him, safe in the knowledge that he wants to move, rather than you feeling like the school has pushed the decision.

DS would thrive somewhere like Radley where they are tested constantly. DD would whither away somewhere like that and would suit a school where there was no testing ever. What suits one person doesn't suit another and what seems right at 7 isn't always still right at 11.

I can't thank you all enough for contributing your experiences and opinions on the situation we find ourselves in.
The bottom line is that I chose a school that does not suit my child's needs. Naively perhaps.
It's a system, and my child won't thrive there, so that's that.
I do wish we'd been told at the end of last year, it would have been more considerate of them to let us know before the beginning of the school year. The upshot is that now we do know. DS is keen to leave, is sociable and makes friends easily and is excited to have a fresh start else where.
We are also lucky enough to live reasonably close to a school which is inclusive, arty and welcomes dyslexic children.
I've read your posts many times over, and am calmer for hearing your success stories.I do feel guilty for choosing a school that ejects children that don't fit the mould, but my eldest DS is flourishing there, so I wasn't' to know. I'm not angry, just have my eyes open now and am ready to act!