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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect schools aim for higher than average?

56 replies

Couldntthinkofadecentname · 26/01/2025 17:37

Obviously I know how averages work and there’ll be those above and below but my point is that rather than aim for national average, surely they should be aiming for higher?

The reason this is currently bugging me is due to my two daughters school. The one daughter is just above average so spends most lessons waiting for those less able. The other daughter is below average, not quite EHCP level but enough that last year she had a TA next to her. They’ve removed this because she’s made ‘exponential progress compared to all others in the class and is NEARLY average’

So my question is surely we shouldn’t be facing glass ceilings already?! (They’re 7&8)

OP posts:
KittenPause · 26/01/2025 22:55

Primary schools are mixed ability

There should be extension sheets for all able DC that have finished their task or at least be able to go off and read a book in the book corner or whatever

Leafy74 · 27/01/2025 02:15

Snoopdoggydog123 · 26/01/2025 22:49

What a ridiculous response.
This is a standard expectation.
Something current PGCE students can't progress without.

Also something that's requested for in book looks.

Show quote history

Bless

BusyMum47 · 27/01/2025 06:59

You've heard about the utter lack of funding in schools these days, right?! Each class has 30 kids of varying ability, including several SEN, half of which don't have EHCPs & therefore don't qualify for any additional funded TA help, several have extreme behavioural issues, TA budgets have been slashed to the bone, etc etc. Believe me, the school wants to aim as high as possible for every single child, but they're running themselves ragged trying to make the best of a difficult situation. Take it from 1 very frustrated & knackered Primary School Teacher.

MumChp · 27/01/2025 15:21

TeamGeriatric · 26/01/2025 22:54

I imagine it depends to some extent on where you live. Our primary school has 12% of kids on free school meals, but also some much wealthier families too, almost like the two extremes. Realise that 12% is not particularly high, but it's much higher than the other schools around here. The schools SATs results are the lowest in the immediate area, presumably correlated to the fact that they have by far the highest number of disadvantaged kids. The capable ones though definitely get given more challenging extension work, but there doesn't seem to massive pressure on the more average ones to overachieve. To me it feels like aiming high where it's achievable. They did stream for a while when my daughter was in Year 6, but this was found to only really be benefiting the top set and they went back to teaching everyone together. Anyway my oldest did really well at the school, she was very happy there most importantly but in the end her academic results were great too, but she does now go to a selective high school which is 11 miles away, rather than the local high school.

Most resourceful parents move their children from a low-performing school. It becomes a vicious cycle.

MumChp · 27/01/2025 15:42

BusyMum47 · 27/01/2025 06:59

You've heard about the utter lack of funding in schools these days, right?! Each class has 30 kids of varying ability, including several SEN, half of which don't have EHCPs & therefore don't qualify for any additional funded TA help, several have extreme behavioural issues, TA budgets have been slashed to the bone, etc etc. Believe me, the school wants to aim as high as possible for every single child, but they're running themselves ragged trying to make the best of a difficult situation. Take it from 1 very frustrated & knackered Primary School Teacher.

I understand 100%. My gifted child just doesn't enjoy looking out the window most of days.
Many gifted children end up entertaining themselves making trouble.

anonhop · 27/01/2025 20:25

@MumChp completely agree. This was my experience. People shrug off more able children not needing support but by ignoring them they learn that school is boring, adults don't care about them & their progress, they don't need to put effort in etc. they often end up either very naughty or very miserable.

I ended up diagnosed as ADHD as a teen. I'm not actually sure whether the diagnosis is correct and I just masked in primary or whether I never had to focus on anything because nothing ever took me longer than 2 minutes and so I never learnt! Either way, made me very unhappy and I used to distract others a lot, get in trouble, then get upset. It is very hard for kids to sit quietly with minimal stimulation / challenge for hours every day.

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