Do Private Schools normally use NC levels to assess children?

[FuntoLearn]

We are considerig a move from State to private in Year 4 and are interested to find out about in-school year assessments.
The school states in its literature that its broadly follows the National Curriculum, but its not clear if this means specific NC levelling? We want to get an idea of what happens elsewhere in the Private system?
Already been told DD is prediicted to get Level 4 at end Year 3 - so we want to see how this will work if she moves to another school.

Also are Private School generally ahead academically compared to State Schools?

Thank you in advance for your replies.

I too am often at the assumption that it is only children in private schools that work above age related expectations. I teach in a run of the mill "normal" primary school yet have many children working at levels above those expected" including a year 5 child working at level 7 in maths and 6 in everything else! Clearly I may not have quite so many working above ARE as private schools do, but then we don't pick and choose the children we take in, we just teach every child to the best of their ability.

The 'private schools are always ahead' myth is very pervasive, though - one of my trickiest tasks in my 2nd week as an NQT was to explain to a parent why her previously private-schooled child, who had started in my class that term, had been placed on an IEP and in my lowest, SEN group. Apparently she had been 'middle of the class' at her private school, and the parent had assumed that she would be absolutely the top of my class since it was 'just' a state school'....

Thank you for all your very interesting comments.

DD has been offered a place at the school. She had an assessment day and performed "exceptionally well" in all the tests (V/NV/maths).
I will ask where that is likely to place her in the class, as she is currently in top groups in her state school.

Do Private stream in the same way as state?

"Do Private stream in the same way as state"

the point is - beyond EYFS - there are no "rules" so all private schools may be different - you will have to ask!

My children have experienced both setting and streaming.The children are set for maths from year 2 all other subjects are mixed ability until year 6 when English is streamed as well at the school my ds3 attends

The thing is all schools are different,no two schools whether independent or state are the same .The thing about independent is that you can choose the one whose atmosphere and teaching style etc best suit your particular child .

When I read some of the assertions
about independent schools by people who have never taught in one or visited one I wonder where they get their ideas from.I certainly don't recognise any of my children's schools from these descriptions.

Choosing independent education is a leap of faith,you will never know how your child would have done at another school or in another system so you have to stop comparing and use your own convictions.I really don't are how my child is doing in comparison to our local primary or theNC or in fact other independent schools.I can see for myself that he is happy and progressing well ,if he wasn't I would look elsewhere.If you constantly compare with other schools you will send yourself mad.

"When I read some of the assertions
about independent schools by people who have never taught in one or visited one I wonder where they get their ideas from.I certainly don't recognise any of my children's schools from these descriptions."

I appreciate that I do not teach in a private school, but I have visted all my local private schools, as I looked at both private and state when we moved to our current home. And as I say, I directly compare teaching methods and experinces with a good friend who teaches the same year group in a well-regarded local private school.

However, of course no-one has the same amount of experience of the 'other' system as they do of 'their own' system, as I have exactly the same reaction as you when I see the assertions made by private-school parents about state schools. Many of their assertions bear absolutely no resemblance to any state school I have ever visited, had my children attend, or taught in.

How do parents of private school pupils know that children are working '2 years ahead of state school pupils' (often quoted on MN!) if the schools don't assess using NC levels?

"OECD study finds countries that stream pupils into ability groups at an early age tend to have lower levels of achievement"

just to throw something into the mix

"Do Private stream in the same way as state?"

Not all state schools stream - in fact, round here it is definitely the exception rather than the rule. Small rural schools such as the one I teach in never stream - not enough children - and the large urban ones round where I live differ. The most streaming done in any of the schools where I live is for the final 2 years in Maths only, my DCs attend a school which doesn't stream at all. Final levels in all the schools are very similar so it doesn't seem to confer any particular advantage.