Year 3 Science (school report, sorry!)

[Sittinginthesun]

Any of you lovely primary school teachers around today?

I posted a thread a few months ago about DS1's attitude to science at school, and sure enough, it is reflected in his report.

He's a bright, quiet, academic boy at a state primary. Very good reports for Engligh, Maths, History, Geography, ICT, but his science is notably less good.

He has had a different teacher for science this year (on the afternoon his class teacher does her paperwork) and he has complained that it is "boring".

I am going to have a word with his class teacher (who I get on very well with), and will ask what is happening next year.

Anyway, my question is, does it matter? I know they don't test for science, but is it reported at the end of Key Stage 2 (we don't get NC results as a matter of course), is it generally included in Secondary Entrance exams? I have absolutely no doubt that he can do better, but just doesn't seem to have any drive to at the moment. If you were his class teacher, would you be concerned if this subject was significantly behind everything else?

Thanks.

I'm not a primary teacher.

My son's science level has been sent home with his report, without a/b/c breakdown which is just how they do it I think.

For state secondaries there aren't entrance exams, key stage 2 levels will be past on to secondaries but often I think secondaries test them for streaming (not all stream in the first year anyway).

Science may just be an area he doesn't like (as opposed to something he would like if delivered differently).

If you think he would be motivated if science were approached differently - try CHAOS roadshow (free), BLAST roadshow (free), Mad Science summer course, Natures' science summer course, there are lots more similar hands-on events and courses and of course the National Science Week events throughout the uk, on in March I think.

Thanks Rosemary - around here, there are entrance exams for all of the local state schools. It's a nightmare. It's not my main concern, but it would be rubbish if he didn't get into one just because of this one subject.

The roadshows etc are what I am wondering. We are not a science focussed family, but I'm happy to step up the trips out etc, if it will help.

crikey, entrance exams for ALL state secondaries, where is that?

can't be all secondaries!!! You can't have selection everywhere otherwise some students will be left failing to get in anywhere, surely!

I think it can be boring in a state primary.

Is his teacher a specialist science teacher. Do they have a lab and access to proper equipment?

Where is the awe and wonder?

Herts - the nearest five secondaries are part selective ( up to 50% places) with TINY catchment areas for the rest (after siblings etc). All academies. Most of our town is out of catchment, so everyone takes the entrance exam and hopes.

The nearest state community school is in the next town, and is full! The next nearest is two towns away, and is also full! Plans to build two new secondaries, but not until the year after DS1 goes up to secondary. Application for a free school currently in process. Absolutely no idea what people are going to do if they don't pass the exam...

Anyway, that's only one point - my main concern is would you be concerned as a teacher if a pupil's science results were significantly behind everything else?

blimey!! That's a hideous situation!!

I would have thought that, to answer this, you need parents whose children have been through this specific entrance exam.

aybe starting a thread in which you specifically name the county and schools to see where that gets you??

I'm a KS3 science co-ordinator but cannot help as I've never worked in a selective situation. (ps clarebunting...I think you are harsh on primary teachers...I've always been impressed with what they come up with within their limited settings)

as a teacher though, i would expect SATs levels to generally match but by no means in all students. you do get students who are either more mathematical or more linguistic, so i would be surprised if his low science ruled him out of a place.

Migrating - thanks. If his English and Science are very good, would you expect science to catch up at secondary? He actually enjoys, what he thinks of as "proper science". He watches Brian Cox and the Christmas Lecture stuff and understands and enjoys it. It is just the class science lessons he finds boring.

Is a solid grounding in maths more important. Sorry, I'm sure I'm over thinking this, but it just jumps out in the report.

I don't think secondary science teachers give any credit to junior school science. They will start from scratch, with all their new intake on a level playing field.

I have seen some kids really take off at secondary science and I've seen other sort of hit a level. Each child is individual which is why we re-set regularly to take into account shifting attainments. Anything which fuels his interest outside the classroom must be good.

Again, I disagree with Clarebunting. Our entire targett setting system is based on what they got at KS2. However, our own assessments begin to kick in from about the first half term onwards...

oh, and we set on entry based on their KS2 performance, which is thhen reviewed regularly throughout our KS3.

sorry...me again. if he is following the christmas lecture stuff then he is doing very well indeed!!

I think it can be boring in a state primary. Is his teacher a specialist science teacher. Do they have a lab and access to proper equipment? Where is the awe and wonder?

Gosh - How RUDE! My science lessons are as exciting as possible, thanks very much. We have just as much training to teach science, as we do for maths and literacy.

All I would say OP, is that the level of knowledge/information I'm supposed to teach to my Year 4's is exactly the same as is taught in high school. My mum, who's a secondary school science teacher, tells me that regardless of what has been covered in primary, they start in secondary from scratch, as if it's the first time the child has ever been introduced to the topic. So looking at it this way, it's not exactly THAT important if your child hasn't taken to it like a duck to water! I can't comment on your son's school/teacher obviously - but yes, it may be that it's not being taught with the same level of enthusiasm and emphasis as the two key subjects.

Personally, I wouldn't sweat it!

itdoesn't...totally agree with your post.

However, we do, at KS3 adapt lessons based on our assessment of their prior understanding of a topic, sosome concpets will be covered again in more detail than others, IFSWIM.

It would be dreadful practise for a KS3 teacher to assume pupils have no knowledge at all!!

Keeping your DS's enthusiasm for science out of school will be the best thing you can do. There are great 'science in the kitchen' books you can buy (and similar ideas) for this.

Thanks again. I've got my head around it now, and have a plan! He watched the tv lecture about the diamond jumping out of the box, and raved about it for ages, so I know he has a spark of interest.

Different science teacher next year, and I am going to have a word with the class teacher.

DS1 just makes my head spin. I can never get to the bottom of how his head works. My youngest got his report today, and it was just a sunny, happy report. DS1, there's always an undercurrent of concern.

can totally relate to that!!

I have a dd1 (yr 2) who is artistically gifted but has struggled with phonics and reading has been a slog all the way.

Think how dull life would be if our kids were always straight forward