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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:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 09/10/2020 13:37

I could be wildly wrong but Isn’t there a word for excluding a child or anyone for that matter. It’s not the 1980s whereby they had what was termed ‘Special schools’. It’s the schools duty to cater for all kids, is it not
I wouldn’t want my child in there anyway so I would remove them. However I’d kick up a huge stink and make a cunt out of them before hand.

whattodooooooo · 09/10/2020 13:40

Op I have nothing else to add apart from please don't feel guilty. I was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult having hid it throughout school (independent). Your DS is already 1 step ahead of you and I purely by having a diagnosis age 9. With the correct support he can do well.

TheDuchessofMalfy · 09/10/2020 13:57

That’s the problem with private schools - and a lot of the type of state schools that the Tories have been introducing. It’s ultimately a business.

Janevaljane · 09/10/2020 13:59

@TheDuchessofMalfy

That’s the problem with private schools - and a lot of the type of state schools that the Tories have been introducing. It’s ultimately a business.
Do these Tory influenced state schools (i presume you mean academies) ask pupils to leave if they are only going to get Cs at GCSE?
ohnothisagain · 09/10/2020 14:01

@TheDuchessofMalfy it is aproblem of some private schools, and some state schools. Kids get bullied out of some state schools because of SENDs, and get removed (usually more directly) from some private schools. There is shit in both sectors, and great caring schools in both. The difference is in the private sector you have a choice, and if you made the wrong choice you can correct it fairly easily.

Newgirls · 09/10/2020 14:02

Some state schools will not take students into sixth form without certain grades. Academies are i believe a Tory idea.

ohnothisagain · 09/10/2020 14:03

@Janevaljane no, some schools tend to use bullying as a tactic to get rid of kids they don’t like. They just don’t provide anything until the kids flip. Have a look on the SENDs boards, they are full of stories like that. Of course there are decent schools in both sectors as well.

Janevaljane · 09/10/2020 14:05

Some state schools will not take students into sixth form without certain grades

That was the case many years ago - if you weren't up to A levels you went to college.

Newgirls · 09/10/2020 14:12

I think more pronounced now with academies. I did a levels at my school with grades that wouldn’t let me in now 🤷‍♀️

Newgirls · 09/10/2020 14:13

At my kids secondary school you need grade 6 and above in all GCSEs to stay in sixth form and 7s if doing maths and sciences.

Janevaljane · 09/10/2020 14:17

Do they not offer BTECS?

Janevaljane · 09/10/2020 14:19

A 7 in maths for maths A level is essential anyway. Our local state asks for similar grades for most A levels but those who get 4s and 5s and even less can do BTECS.

Comefromaway · 09/10/2020 14:24

@Newgirls

At my kids secondary school you need grade 6 and above in all GCSEs to stay in sixth form and 7s if doing maths and sciences.
Which is absolutely correct & reasonable if a school is only able to offer A levels.
smileyplant · 09/10/2020 14:25

My brother got similar results, wasn't asked to leave but the school basically gave up on him (also independent prep) my mum was furious, moved him to a different school and although he started academically ranked at 102/105 kids (he didn't know this, my mum was told many years later by the educational support team) he got 8 As at GCSE and full marks in two alevels, a c in the other.

Went to university to do history and is now on a graduate scheme. He bought his first flat last year. Don't be discouraged by what they have said, dyslexia is tricky but sometimes it just means doing things differently. Very disappointing that kids are still being written off in this way. Wishing you and your son all the best Smile

randomer · 09/10/2020 14:26

I have a couple of people with dyslexia in the family - one was military (weapons and computers) and the other studied something to do with brains...

Anybody with dyslexia who is average/ordinary/doing OK?

Nottherealslimshady · 09/10/2020 14:28

It depends how he is socially. If he'll struggle to make new friends and settle in a new environment then he should stay. If he makes friends relatively well then it's more important that hes in an environment that can best support his dyslexia. He would probably do better in a less academically intense setting.

Bbang · 09/10/2020 14:28

I reckon she’s talking bollocks and just doesn’t want the lower scoring kids in the school. Bit elitist in my opinion.

FYI I got all D’s and E’s at GCSE and a 1st at uni. Now I’m doing my masters.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 09/10/2020 14:36

It’s the breakdown of the scores that’s important too, so that you know where his strengths are and what he needs support with. I’m not impressed by a school that is using out of date terminology when referring to GCSE scores. They’re numbered 1-9 now.

My experience in the state system, has been that these tests take place early in Year 7, to indicate not just the raw score, but the profile of students. We used MidYis, which is a similar tool to CAT.

Don’t beat yourself up OP. You did what you thought was the right thing for your child. It has turned out that it probably wasn’t, but he is absolutely not written off at the age of nine and he has told you he’d prefer a different environment, more suited to his abilities and interests.

It sounds as though your boy is happy to move, make new friends and thrive somewhere that fosters his talents and works to improve the areas that need it. He sounds a delightful boy, happy to accept change and ready for a school that meets his needs.

Original poster
omgitcantbetrue · 09/10/2020 14:39

I don’t want to “ stand up to the school” Maybe I’m too sensitive or stubborn, but I feel that they’ve made their position clear, and I don’t want my DS anywhere near them any more. I want him to be valued, wanted, and nurtured. They obviously can’t fo this for him. I’m not going to fight for his right to be there. It’s a dead end road that will lead to my DS feeling not worthy. Not on my watch.

OP posts:
GaryUnicorn · 09/10/2020 14:40

Is the school in Surrey, begins with the letter C? Same happened to my nephew. His brother and sister went to the school, but after a year, they suggested DN go to another school. He had slight dispraxia, and a few other problems. They didn’t want him jeopardising their results they publish to sell the school to prospective parents. They took him out and he went to another school and blossomed. He is now doing a degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Warwick....

WhatifIfeellikeacat · 09/10/2020 14:54

I would move schools. It's not a good encouraging environment for him.

BobbyGentry · 09/10/2020 15:02

A score of 85 - 115 is average.
“ British Ability Scales (BAS3) are more likely to reveal the intellectual strengths of a severely dyslexic person than one that requires reading or performance under time limits.” from GLAssesmemt

www.gl-assessment.co.uk/support/cat4-product-support/cat4-information-for-parents/

Also, “ Some dyslexic students, especially those with only a mild degree of the condition, may have marked strengths in non-verbal” Can you ask the school for a breakdown of the results? “ Providing a dyslexic individual with assessment results that reveal that have such a strength is useful for their future learning and may also provide a much-needed morale booster.”

HandfulofDust · 09/10/2020 15:04

@Janevaljane

Yes absolutely lots of selective state schools will select out students who aren't going to get Cs at GCSEs.

LarryUnderwood · 09/10/2020 15:07

Don't know much about prep schools or teaching dyslexic children. But my BIL is severely dyslexic, with 2 masters degrees and a successful career in the NHS and private practice (dietetics). Your child has engaged parents who care about education- that's way more important than a test score taken in primary school.

glassbrightly · 09/10/2020 15:19

Hmm writing as a high achieving dyslexic here (in an academic area but was not academic at school) and Mum of a prob sky dyslexic DC in pre-prep.

Sounds like a badly handled conversation by the teacher and I would be furious. Equally however, I also agree that you need to find the right school for your DS and they are probably right in assessing this as not the right one for him.

Private schools can be quite hard to navigate with SEN children. The smaller groups more holistic focus of some and less likely good of having other kids with high needs, can make a really good environment. Equally, they can be high pressured and demanding and very self selecting.

Start looking now at options and find someone you trust (year head, head) at the school who will help navigate.