KS2 scores (from SATs/CATs?) for GSCE pathway

[slightlyslumamama]

Hi, my DS is in year 9 and they are about to make final choices for their GCSE pathways.
The school have mentioned their KS2 scores (don't remember ever hearing about these!) - he didn't take SATs in year 6 (covid) and didn't finish his CAT exams in year 7 (long story but school agreed at the time that it wasn't worth him retaking them).
He seems pretty on target academically and is on route to good to above grades in most subjects.
I just wondered if anyone can shed light on to how schools would work out his KS2 scores in these circumstances?
He is asking - I was just going to let it come to light in the next few weeks at school during options meetings.
Thanks in advance!

How many GCSEs will he be taking, OP?

Do you have a rough idea of which subjects he will be doing?

Hi OP - do you mean the school will place him on a GCSE pathway (more or less academic for want of a better word) based on his KS2 SATs (which he didn't take)?

Schools will vary but ones I know about have sometimes used KS2 SATs to set DC in year 7 - not always helpful IME - or give them a flightpath showing the GCSE grades they might expect.

By the time you get to year 9 the school will have a clear idea of what a student is capable of in the specific subjects, which in any case ae different from primary, so IME KS2 grades should play very little part.

Are you concerned about a 'pathway' - so some students will take history/geography and MFL, while others will be steered towards BTEC animal care and health and social? Not putting down those quals btw the way, they can be excellent for the right student. I think if this is something your school does (it's getting less common as far as I can tell) then I would ask and argue your DS's case if need be. Otherwise I would tell him not to worry as it won't be relevant.

I have no idea how many he will be taking but he and I have discussed subjects that he is good at and will definitely take.
He has ASD and ADHD so I am not going to muck about with subjects that he really isn't interested in
He seems to be on track on maths/English, RE, geography etc and achieving above on those that really interest him

Hi, tbh, I really don't seem to know much about this but thought it was quite straight forward until the email yesterday which started talking about "pathways" open to students with particular scores ... and that those with a "KS2 score of 101 or below" had to follow a particular route.

As school weren't really bothered about him not retaking the CAT exams I was under the impression that they have an idea of his academic abilities and he would take most of the subjects that he is taking now.

At the end of year 8 they reduced the subjects they were taking - for example he has dropped art and food tech and has been taking music and D&T. I think he will drop French and History but keep geography etc.

I completely understand where you are coming from and I too am not putting down BTEC quals but he seems to be achieving quite well academically and would hope this would continue.

I have reassured him that none of this matters and I am sure he will be able to take the subjects that they have already discussed with him. I've
emailed his form tutor as a start so fingers crossed!

If it helps, 100 is the "pass mark" (for want of a better term) in KS2 Sats... so the level they are expected to get and what Primary schools are judged on.

OK thank you - he must be over that then as he is achieving at expected and above on his subjects.

If he did not sit SATS due to Covid then the teacher will have assessed him and given him a score. So he will have KS2 data.

It may or may not have been shared with you but his secondary school will have it.

In primary schools reports that come home usually say whether the student is meeting age-related expectations - meeting, or below if they are not or exceeding/greater depth if they are beyond them.

In secondary schools this is not the case. Your son will have his own targets which are generated from his KS2 data and his report will say whether he is meeting his individual targets or not.

If his KS2 data was below 101 I suspect you'd know about it as most of these students are pulled from languages/etc to do additional maths and English in the hope they will pass the GCSEs.

Thank you for the info and yes I had hoped I would know if he wasn't on target and falling behind.

Thank you everyone for your very informative answers!