GL Progress Tests in English and Maths - understanding scores

[Loverofoldfilms]

Our son goes to an independent school. He scored 117 in an English progress test and 120 in a Maths progress test in year two. School told me this bang on average and he could work harder.

Have talked to a mum whose child goes to another independent school. She told me that there are seven categories and that 115-129 is the second highest ("above average") with above 130 the highest category.

So he isn't that average (and lazy) then being in the second highest. Seems a bit harsh.

PS I just want to understand the scores.... which seem cryptic. Is the school right or the other mum?

It's relevant against what the rest of your sons peers are scoring though and what he has scored in the past. My daughter is relatively high achieving in a high achieving school. I expect her to be in the top cohort.

Independent schools tend to average higher than the national average. Are they perhaps suggesting that the results do not match his performance in class?

We use GL. 100 is the age standardised average score. I take it the independent is selective... perhaps with automatic admission from the juniors to the secondary school?

So 117 and 120 is not that average then for the progress tests?

Should I ask where he sits vis-à-vis his class mates?

Thanks for all the quick responses.

I believe that the number you've been given is a standardised score (with 100 being the national average) and what they mean is it is an average score in comparison to his cohort at the school.

Does this help?

www.stjamesschools.co.uk/prepschool/curriculum/standardised-test-results/

I know these tests quite well, they are based on something like 35000 kids and work on 100 as the standardised average for that year group.
Those scores are high... if the school says that they are average I'd be tempted to question that a bit more! That means the average for his year group is way above the national average.
I also work in a private school. We expect our averages to be above the norms, but a year group average of 120, sorry. That sounds crazy. I have about 10% of my current form in that band, and about 10% below 100.
I guess yours could be a small cohort and really able children.
It's hard to say because individual schools keep these scores very close to their chests!

Thanks Penyu and Quarter!!

My Dc goes to a non selective prep and lots get above 120 (although apparently both DC are in very able years). It's not average though and country wide would be something like top 10%

Thanks Bottle!