Teacher doesn't do levels.

[morethanpotatoprints]

I really like my dds teacher, she is old school and quite a character. In fact I would say one of the best I have experienced. During the latest parents evening she told me dd was not doing as well as she could, pointed to where there were problems and that was it really. Obviously she said the positive things as well. I asked for her levels and she said she doesn't do them. DD is y3 and I wanted to see what progress she has made as it seems like very little. I know this is normal for ks2 as it only covers 2 levels over 4 years, but I really want to know where she is at. I have sub level descripters just to give me an idea but not sure how to administer them. E.g how much work over what time scale would I assess if she could do xyz. I know I may seem sad to be so concerned with levels, but I want to help dd reach her potential as I did for my other dc's. Oh her sats were 3 for reading and 2'as and 2b's for everything else.

She does do levels, she's just not prepared to tell you, which is poor in my opinion. Ask her again, and if she's not prepared to tell you, then write to the Head and ask them.

She does know the levels but is choosing not to tell you. Is this a whole school policy or just her?

But she told you there were problems, that's the best info you can have to try to help your DD improve.

Don't see why levels are so important.

Our school doesn't give out levels, other than end year 2 and year 6.

She's told you where the problems are...
Levels aren't going to give you any more information than that.

sitting they might not give parents levels, but I pretty much guarantee that the Head has a lovely SIMS or Excel spreadsheet with the NC level of every little test or Teacher Assessment the OP's child has ever done.

Ofsted need to see assessment data, so it has to exist.

Oh, I know it exists, but the school generally don't share it. I don't think I've ever heard another parent mention the levels, although I certainly roughly where DS1 is.

Certainly know...

But wont they tell you if you ask?

We even include them in our reports twice a year (middle school 9-13), and compare current levels to where the child was on entry, and say if this is above, expected, or below expected progress so far, for that Key Stage.

I think it depends on the circumstances. if you just ask at a Parent Consultation, they make an excuse, avoid the question, or just say they can't tell you. If you made a formal request or had a genuine problem I think they would (very approachable school and staff).

That makes more sense, I had forgotten it was at parents evening.

I was told, explicitly, to not share levels with parents. That is my school's policy, and so I cannot go against it.

We send them home in the end of year reports, but otherwise it's all very hush hush. I don't see why it needs to be.

To stop gossip, rumours and pushy parents? You know how it gets with reading levels in Reception.

I forgot to add, one of the reasons I want to know levels is that dd's school don't do too well on stats for literacy. only 66% reach level 4 whereas for numeracy 80 odd percent reach 4 or above. I just really want to make sure my dd reaches her full potential and is one of the 66%. I agree that levels aren't the be all, but it would put my mind at rest or allow me to see how much needed doing at home. The teacher thinks that dd isn't doing as well as she could do and that worries me as out of all dc's she is the most determined to do well. I think its a school policy as nobody in ks2 ever has them. I only know as school is small and I know parents from other years. Does anybody think that if parents were given levels that in cases where the school could improve on stats it would be beneficial. I won't push for them as I don't want to be pushy mum or upset her really good teacher, maybe I could get her to do some work for me and see if I could do a rough guestimate. Could any teacher tell how many pieces of work would be a good number to look at. I am a QT but not primary. Is this a bad idea as it would be too much homework?

Our school is like that. Reports and parents consultations are always very descriptive and we were told that DS is 'fine'. In Y2 I noticed he was behind in maths (despite being told he was fine), I supported him but his progress was not reflected in his school work so I went and asked what exactly he was doing and what his level was in maths. I was told that he was being differentiated for appropriately and that the school doesn't share levels with parents.

In the end, DS was tested in maths and moved up 3 groups!

I can't trust the school anymore to do the best for my DC, and as I have another DC going to the school I am writing to the Head about my worries.

You do have a right to be told where your DDs assessment information.

I feel quite angry about the school witholding information on purpose - I feel treated like a minor!

OP, I am a secondary teacher, maybe that's why? I didn't push for DS's level either as I thought that it wasn't relevant anyway as DS had progressed quite a bit. I found app grids and 'I can' statements and worked out what he should be able to do in Y2 so I had some sort of idea what level he was.

Thank you gabsid, I wasn't sure if doing that would give me a good enough idea without sampling lots of work. I am Post Compulsory so have no experience in this type of assessment at all.
I know what you mean we may just be unlucky where schools are concerned. Both my ds's went to different schools in completely different areas and they were all the same. What really gets on my nerves is when other parents ask what your kids levels are and you say I don't know, of course they know what their dc's levels are. I can't complain too much about dds teacher though, she did tell me what was wrong. (Not what to do about it though/ or what they were doing). She also said everything was average, literacy should be above average for her ability and her maths was better than literacy. I suppose thats enough really. Maybe its just me hung up on levels. I have experienced worse schools.
The best for levels was the v. small country school 30 kids in total. No results or levels were given there understandably as some years only 2 kids did sats.

DS (Y2) was working with the Y1s in maths and I was told that he was 'fine'? I moved him on over the summer and the work was way too easy for him, I kept going in telling them and it took me from Oct to Jan to get him reassessed. From Oct to Jan I was repeatedly told that he was fine and that he was being differentiated for - it was driving me mad! Why don't they talk to parents?

I can't trust them anymore. I have written to the Head now and would like to hear her views. But, whatever she says, when my DD starts in 2013 I will want to know levels. At least I know when she is struggling and can decide if and what to do about it.

I have never had a parent asking me about my DS's levels and I would never ask or tell anyone - just creates bad feelings for whoever is not doing as well as the other.