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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does a score of 80/90ish on SATs mean they'll not get pass marks at GCSE?

101 replies

beetuljoos · 08/05/2022 20:47

Worried about DC's KS2 SATs this week. Teacher said they'll scrape an 80, which I think is nonsense as they're getting more than 3 on each paper but I daren't hope for more than 90. I'm really concerned about DC's future. I'm a teacher and looking at my Y10/Y11 data even my grade 4 pupils seem to have achieved 102ish. AIBU to worry about this? Anyone had their DC get a low SAT score and get good GCSE grades? Good enough for an apprenticeship or something anyway, I'm not too fussed for Grade 9s, just want DC to have opportunities.

OP posts:
sparepantsandtoothbrush · 08/05/2022 20:51

80 is the lowest "pass" grade possible. Has the teacher not flagged this up to you before now? I'd be concerned if it was one of mine to be honest

Dixiechickonhols · 08/05/2022 20:53

My first thought is you can’t really compare as those sitting sats now have had such a disrupted 2 years.
Has he got any specific learning issues? It’s not uncommon for children to only be diagnosed at secondary age with dyslexia etc.

SherlockTomes · 08/05/2022 20:54

If you are a teacher then surely you understand that SATS this year are even more pointless than they usually are.

Lynnthesearesexnotgenderpeople · 08/05/2022 20:57

I have no idea what actual score my DD is expected to get, the teacher just gave a rough idea of whether they would achieve age related expectation.

How does the score correspond to the number of marks?

x2boys · 08/05/2022 20:57

My son is in yr 10 he got similar in Sats ,we are currently looking at grade 3/4 in GCSE,s hoping he will push it up to 4,s he recently got a grade six in an RE exam all I can do is encourage him ,come what may he will go to college he won't do A levels but I who cares .

Ahgoonyegirlye · 08/05/2022 20:59

As a teacher I would have hoped you’d have more sense/experience to give a damn about SATs . Given that you must be aware of all the variables that go in to those ‘tests’ and how much can happen between now and age 15/16

Sockpile · 08/05/2022 21:00

Have any concerns been raised about your child previously? My son scored 98 in reading and 90 in gps but we were well aware that he was dyslexic.

DogsAndGin · 08/05/2022 21:01

80 is very low OP, it may indicate additional learning needs. Have you not been made aware of this prior to now?

noblegiraffe · 08/05/2022 21:01

It's really hard to say. In normal times 100+ would probably translate into GCSE grades of 4+ (normal caveats apply, 5 years is a long time, but the most likely outcome for under 100 would not be to get 4+ English and Maths).

However, think about the adjustments that are being made for Y11 in order that the pass rate for GCSEs will be at the right level - advanced information being published, grade boundaries being lowered. We know that Y11 would perform significantly worse than a normal cohort, so we should expect the same for Y6. However, it seems that no adjustments are being made there.

Will we see a drop in GCSE pass rates when that Y6 cohort hit GCSEs? Probably not, that would be politically problematic. They'd fix it so it wouldn't happen. So pupils from that group who would not normally pass based on their Y6 results may still pass GCSE.

Overthebow · 08/05/2022 21:02

It is pretty low, but depends on the reason. Is it that they haven't been working well, and would be able to pull their grades up by working hard over the next few years? Are there any underlying issues that could be worked on with the school's help? Or is it that that is their ability, and therefore they will likely get the equivalent GCSE grade?

Hibye23289 · 08/05/2022 21:02

@SherlockTomes my thoughts too!!

My child has Sat's this week also, at the start of year 6 they did a practice test in one of the English areas and since they have done the test again dd has doubled her score and has definitely improved since she started school so I'm not sure why you think the results of Sat's will affect their GCSE's, they could really take off in the next few years....

Original poster
beetuljoos · 08/05/2022 21:03

Yes, SEN but making big leaps. School are largely useless though.

As a teacher I know they're pointless BUT I also know that if a child achieves a high mark and then their predicted Maths GCSE grade is, say, a 6 or 7 then they will be pushed to achieve that as not doing so will impact the school's P8. Pupils who are targetted a 3 are left at their 3 (by SLT, anyway- they're not priority) as it doesn't make a difference.

But I am also a worried mother and just wanting some personal experiences to be honest.

OP posts:
Wrecked123 · 08/05/2022 21:05

this year group have had 2 years of major disruption. I really can see that when I work with year 6 (and year 5). It’s just so unfair on them

Original poster
beetuljoos · 08/05/2022 21:06

I do really hope they continue to make great progress. They work so hard. No behavioural issues but a range of SEN. No formal diagnosis of dyslexia but I wouldn't be surprised. Dyspraxia unofficially confirmed by SENCO.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 08/05/2022 21:08

so I'm not sure why you think the results of Sat's will affect their GCSE's, they could really take off in the next few years....

You see this a lot on MN but statistically, kids with low SATs go on, on average, to get low GCSEs and vice versa. Prior attainment does matter.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 08/05/2022 21:10

Surely as a teacher you know many many kids who exceed their target grade formulated from cats tests.

what a bizarre post!

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 08/05/2022 21:10

I meant sats not cats!

noblegiraffe · 08/05/2022 21:10

Pupils who are targetted a 3 are left at their 3 (by SLT, anyway- they're not priority) as it doesn't make a difference.

I think you misunderstand progress 8. It is as beneficial to progress 8 for a grade 3 student to do well from their starting point as it is for a grade 6/7 kid.

In addition, a grade 3 student would be pushed to get a grade 4 because that affects the headline figures (that are better understood by parents than progress 8 anyway).

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 08/05/2022 21:13

Pupils who are targetted a 3 are left at their 3 (by SLT, anyway- they're not priority) as it doesn't make a difference

This really isn’t true. A grade 3 student is included in the progress 8 and equally we try hard to move a grade 3 student to a 4 to be included in the data for those achieving 4+

SafelySoftly · 08/05/2022 21:17

Is this 100 mark an average across the papers? How do you all know this??

MerchSwyddEfrog · 08/05/2022 21:18

It’s a long time from primary to gcse exams and children massively mature in that time. My son was very behind in reading, writing and spelling at primary school although he always did well in the national tests. He’s now in year 12 and he achieved 9a* and 2 b at GCSEs and a distinction in further maths. We are in Wales. My son is hoping to do Medicine at University.
Is your child working at the expected range for their age? Has the school not raised this before? Can you help your child with additional learning?

redpandaalert · 08/05/2022 21:21

Start by having your DS diagnosed then you know how to help him achieve. An Ed Psych report will give you an IQ much more accurate than a SAT score. Are you really a teacher

Original poster
beetuljoos · 08/05/2022 21:21

noblegiraffe · 08/05/2022 21:10

Pupils who are targetted a 3 are left at their 3 (by SLT, anyway- they're not priority) as it doesn't make a difference.

I think you misunderstand progress 8. It is as beneficial to progress 8 for a grade 3 student to do well from their starting point as it is for a grade 6/7 kid.

In addition, a grade 3 student would be pushed to get a grade 4 because that affects the headline figures (that are better understood by parents than progress 8 anyway).

I meant a Grade 6/7 currently working at a 4 will be higher priority than a Grade 3 pupil working at a Grade 3. Sorry, just tired. I do understand P8, promise!

OP posts:
bigmumsRbootyful · 08/05/2022 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
beetuljoos · 08/05/2022 21:23

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 08/05/2022 21:13

Pupils who are targetted a 3 are left at their 3 (by SLT, anyway- they're not priority) as it doesn't make a difference

This really isn’t true. A grade 3 student is included in the progress 8 and equally we try hard to move a grade 3 student to a 4 to be included in the data for those achieving 4+

Maybe just my school then who aren't remotely fussed for the minority targetting 3s.

Currently plenty of intervention for targetted 4s working at a 3 but nothing for 3s working at a 3.

OP posts: