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AIBU?

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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:
GrumpyHoonMain · 08/10/2020 17:50

90-110 for a dyslexic student without support actually suggests he’s really intelligent. Make an appointment with the head to discuss this in more detail because it sounds like they haven’t considered his condition when assessing his score.

I would also try and find a private school that doesn’t rely on academic selection. Not sure how a public comp is the right way to go for a dyslexic child if you can afford otherwise.

Orangeblossom7777 · 08/10/2020 17:50

I would look for a better school and read into benefits of dyslexia...as well. There are specialist dyslexia schools round here, private ones I think they are. Good luck Flowers maybe he is best out of that one.

Brighterthansunflowers · 08/10/2020 17:52

Why would you want him to be at a school that would write him off aged 9 anyway?

Move him to a school that will get the best out of him. Whether that’s straight As or a handful of Ds, as long as they support him to meet his potential. But no one should be writing off the future of a nine year old based on one test.

This is unfortunately what you get if you choose expensive hot house prep schools.

UntamedWisteria · 08/10/2020 17:53

OP, my DS has mild special needs.

When he was 3 he had his IQ tested as part of various tests. It came out at 99, the low end of average. We were led to believe he'd always be behind at school.

We did invest in some extra support but not sure it made much difference, he would have caught up anyway. And he went to a good independent school.

He's now in his last year of a Maths degree at a Russell Group Uni and scored the equivalent of a First in his last set of exams.

I really wouldn't take any notice of what the prep school is saying.

SourMilkGhyll · 08/10/2020 17:54

As others have said, 90-110 is average. However some high flying prep schools will have a (school) average of 110-120. What I think they are saying is that he is below average for the school rather than below average for the national standard.
I would ask to see the raw data. He may have done well in some areas and poorly in others. It would be more informative to know if one area has brought down his overall scores.

Nanny0gg · 08/10/2020 17:55

@omgitcantbetrue

Yes CAT is Cognitive ability test. I think average is 100, but have no idea. Teacher said DS scored below national average. I’m researching online but not managed to understand much.... i want to take him and move asap, but teacher pointed out that it might be easier socially for him to move in year 7, when many other children would also be moving.
They want to keep your money for another couple of years.

Look around for better

Slightlybrwnbanana · 08/10/2020 17:55

Shower of bastards, I wouldn't want my child anywhere near them.
Can't begin to imagine how much easier it would make my job as a state school teacher if we just punted off any child "who can only score a C". Ffs. So basically they don't want to support a child with a learning disability?

recededpronunciation · 08/10/2020 17:55

My dyslexic eldest turned in a particularly unstellar performance in that CAT. Finding the right support made all the difference and several years down the line they’ve submitted an Oxbridge application.

Strictly1 · 08/10/2020 17:55

@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

I would take him out as they don't want him and I feel furious on your behalf. We had similar when my son was awarded a statement of SEN. He still has years to develop and I think it incredibly sad they are predicting a child's future from one test. I hope you find a great school but please don't listen to them - it says so much about them and it's not good!
GreyBow · 08/10/2020 17:55

Do you know his full results? The bit that's important is the stanines. But definitely it's supposed to be looked at in context.

recededpronunciation · 08/10/2020 17:56

Also, having had to move schools several times an unusual break points because of work, my kids had no problems with that socially. And being in a more supportive school where they thrived made so much difference I just wish I had done it sooner.

ohnothisagain · 08/10/2020 17:57

Is the school a traditional hot house? It sounds like it, find one with a more pastoral approach and he’ll be fine. state (grammar) or private, hot houses don’t suit many kids.

Chanteuse · 08/10/2020 17:57

As a teacher, using CAT scores to predict GCSE grades is utter, utter nonsense. I actually can’t believe the school have said this. The cat score is holistic and based off 4 different areas of knowledge/skill. A CAT score is actually more useful to determine bias in the child’s learning, in order to figure out which way the child would learn best.

Ihatefish · 08/10/2020 17:58

So a school (which I assume you’ve been paying for) has written your child off At the age of what 9? In your position I’d be demanding my money back as the school is clearly shit and maintaining its results by only having kids who succeed despite the school not because of it.

I’d be taking my child and putting them somewhere where they actually care about the kids more -probably every single state school. I struggled all through primary and left 6th form with the highest grades in the school.

Jigglypuffler · 08/10/2020 17:58

Not advice as such, but I went to a grammar school and there was a girl in my class who was dyslexic. It wasn't a good place for her; rather than getting the support she needed, she got in trouble for low marks - detentions etc. We all saw it was unfair, even as her peers, and it makes me feel very sad for her looking back. I really think it would have been fairer on her to go to a school that had a lower benchmark of expectations - make her less of a tiny fish in a big pond and broaden her opportunities, so to speak.

My point is, if a school is that way inclined to be so focused on grades and its reputation off the back of that, then having the opportunity now to seek out a secondary school that will be more supportive and nurturing may end up being a real blessing in disguise when you look back on this as your DS is moving through his education.

GU24Mum · 08/10/2020 17:58

You've said that the teacher told you gently so it doesn't sound as though they're completely unreasonable. You know your child but they know what the senior school is like.

There's a difference between being the bottom of the class academically if you're close to the person ahead and they're close to the person above that - and there being clear blue water between the other children's ability range and your son's.

You'll also know how resilient he is and whether he's encouraged by the level of some of the others to do better or crushed by not thinking he can reach it.

Unless he's unhappy and/or there is somewhere you'd like him to go to at secondary school which has an attached junior school, I'd be tempted to keep him where he is for now.

maddy68 · 08/10/2020 17:59

If they have a selection process in the high school he won't pass the enterance exam. She's right to prepare you can you look at a non selective school instead ?

Original poster
omgitcantbetrue · 08/10/2020 17:59

He's happy and has friends at school, and only started in year 2. I'm hesitant to move him as I don't want to unsettle him. But MY.GOD.
Knowing he's in the "wrong"
place makes me deeply uncomfortable.
He's had the dyslexia report, and has extra lessons in English and Maths.
Lots of you seem to be saying that 92 score isn't that low, which is making me feel quite indignant on his behalf. He's not beyond help and is a lovely child.

If I were to move him now I THINK he'd find it unsettling. Just want to do what's best for him. Even if it means gritting my teeth for a couple of years.

OP posts:
EmpressSuiko · 08/10/2020 17:59

OP I went to university with 11 C’s, 1 B and 1 A.
My parents were told in junior school I would fail my GCSEs.
I went on to improve both my maths and English to B’s but the C grades never ruined my future prospects, even if he only gets C’s he will be fine! There’a no way for the school to predict his future! It’s absolutely absurd!

Ginfordinner · 08/10/2020 18:00

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

It sounds like he isn't getting the riht type of support, and I am staggered that you are paying for such shit teaching!

edwinbear · 08/10/2020 18:01

This happens in DC's private school too, it's horrible but I don't think uncommon. I'm aware of 4-5 pupils who had similar conversations in Y5 when it became apparent that the children wouldn't pass the entrance exam to go into the Senior school. I'm aware of one parent who insisted their child stay and is very unhappy and finding things very tough. generally, they needed to be scoring over 110 to stay.

It's a shock and it hurts, of course, but it does sound like it's not the right school for your DC, the ones who left are thriving in their new schools and in the long run, though disruptive for a while, was the right decision.

Muddypuddlesinthewoods · 08/10/2020 18:02

My ds first secondary school wrote him off because of dyslexia /medical issues which meant about 80% attendance. Neither looked good for the school.
I moved him schools and he went from predicted grades of Es to actually getting b/c's in his gcses. More importantly his confidence grew and realised he does have the ability just often needs to do things differently.

BaseDrops · 08/10/2020 18:02

It would be worth getting the breakdown of the score and possibly a full Ed psych report. Ultimately the school are saying that they aren’t interested in supporting him to perform to his ability so I’d listen to that and find somewhere that will.

Volcanicorange · 08/10/2020 18:03

So private schools only accept children who will get great results anyway?

What a waste of fucking money, both for the kids who will get 8s and 9s anyway, and the kids who won't.

AgeLikeWine · 08/10/2020 18:03

They want to keep your money for another couple of years.

Correct.

Private schools are businesses. They want your money for the next two years, then they want rid of someone who might adversely affect their precious exam results. They don’t give a toss about your DS.