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Boring, boring, boring I know - Question about SATS

6 replies

alienbump · 06/12/2010 14:37

I'm just steeling myself to go a have a chat to DS1's teacher about the maths work he is being given in school and for homework. It's at a level that wouldn't have stretched him in infants and I can't take another 7 months of him moaning about it so feel I must go in and do my impression of a pushy mum! A friend who teaches maths at High School has told me I need to ask what target he is working towards. As he was a level 5a at the end of last year she reckons the school should be aiming for a level 6 - she and I both are pretty sure they will tell me his target is 5a still. My question is, has anyones child (or pupil if you're a teacher)achieved level 6 at the end of Yr 6 in recent years?? Just so I'm armed with some info that it is doable for the school.

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Feenie · 06/12/2010 15:17

We would usually teacher assess a few children at level 6, and there are several references on MN where other teachers have done the same. It makes sense to teach a child the level 6 objectives when they can already meet the level 5 ones at the end of Year 5 - or how can they demonstrate that your ds has made progress?

If you look at this website, you'll find examples of Year 6 children's work levelled at level 6, for teachers' information.

Feenie · 06/12/2010 15:19

It's not really a SAT question though - it's about NC levels, and ensuring your child is taught correctly - if SATS didn't exist, they would still have to do this.

alienbump · 06/12/2010 16:26

Oh that link is just what I needed, thanks for that. And you're right, it's not a SATS question at all. I have to admit to never having been very interested in levels and SATS in general and feel a bit cringy going in to ask for harder work. If I could pick your brains a little bit more could I ask how you rate the BBC Bitesize(?? I think that's what it's cvaled) Maths. When DS1 was moaning about how boring school maths is I got him to have a look at the BBC KS3 activities. He started off with tests and found them all very easy, didn't see him get one wrong. This has deflated him even further as he now thinks High School is going to be "more of the same boring work". Is KS3 really as easy as the BBC made it look?or will there be more scope for more challenging work than KS2 seems to have given

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spanieleyes · 06/12/2010 16:50

I had children working at level 6 at the end of year 5 ( albeit only just) They are now working at a 6B and my aim is to get them to a 6A by the end of the year-otherwise I'm showing very little progression over the year and this is just as important for the higher ability children as the lower.
I find KS3 bitesize a little worrying-it is way too easy in the main for my boys. I would look at the nrich site-this will keep him occupied! Emaths has lots of activities geared towards KS3 ( including KS3 SATs papers which my bright children love!) and you can also look at the STEM site, especially the SMILE cards.

Please don't let him be bored, maths should be fun!

crazymum53 · 07/12/2010 13:55

My dds school teaches the Y6 children in sets according to ability in Maths so they get more targeted homework.
However she has reached the 5a target in English so is now moving onto Year 7 work in class. I have the impression that although they can do class work at this level the highest grade they can achieve in KS2 SATs is 5a. But this may depend on the school.

Feenie · 07/12/2010 17:54

That's true - the tests only assess levels 3 to 5. However, the teacher assessment - which is supposed to have equal weighting - has no ceiling. That should not depend on the school, since it is a statutory requirement.

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