Is it normal for a school to refuse to tell you what national curriculum levels your child is achieiving at end of Y1?

[Obergene]

DD has received her Y1 report and it simply grades her for effort and attainment in each area (numeracy, literacy, ICT, geography etc) as either "needing more work" "average" or "strength".

I am considering putting DD in for prep school exams in the autumn and I understand she needs to be nearing level 3 attainment to stand a chance in the exams. I asked the teacher whether she could indicate what NC levels DD is currently attaining and she said it was not school policy to reveal NC levels at the end of Y1. Is that normal? Why would it be?

Ours do, a lot don't but they usually tell you if you ask. Can you explain your reasons for asking?

They probably don't reveal them because they don't see them as helpful (and most parents don't understand them).

If you are aiming for a selective prep school you need DD to be strong in numeracy and literacy (or whatever the test includes) - does the report not give you enough guidance about this?

Most state schools don't cover all the material required for selective pre school tests - so regardless of whether she's doing well there are probably gaps to plug.

Do you know what is involved in the selection process? You'd be better measuring your DD's chances against that, rather than NC levels, I would have thought.

My children have been attending the local school for the past 4 years and this year was the first time they have revealed NC level for Year 1. (new headteacher so maybe that's why)
Before then I had no idea there was such a 'thing' as NC levels before Year 2. I have to say though it's nice having a proper idea of where my DD is. I know that she is actually slightly below level expected of her for writing. I will be working on that over the summer holiday.

We are putting our dd in for prep school exams as well - and, as you say they ask for around Level 3. I went to see her teacher a while back to see if this was practical or possible for dd to be achieving and simply asked her what levels she thought dd would be at the end of year 1 and she told me. They were also on her report though.

Thanks. I don't want to tell the teacher why I am asking because I do not want to reveal to the school that we are thinking of preps. Given she refused NC levels when I asked yesterday I do not see that I can change her mind.

Her report says she is strong in effort and attaintment for every subject (or nearly every subject, she got strength for effort in PE but "needs work" for attainment... she clearly inherited my uncoordinated genes). The comments are all very positive too. The thing is I have no idea in what context they are assessing her as strong. Is she strong compared to where she was last year, compared to her class (and if so is it a strong class?), compared to the national average etc? And is she just a bit strong so a bit above average or very strong so maybe approaching level 3? Basically the word "strong" could mean anything and I think it is a shame they don't give NC levels as presumambly they have to record them.

Does the prep suggest the children be nearing L3 at the end of year 1?

They need to be around level 3 when they take the exam - which will be next January (so beginning of term 2 of Y2). However, we need to put the deposit down for taking the exam (!) very soon and as we are thinking of three preps that adds up to a lot of money that I would prefer not to waste if she stands no chance.

We've put down the deposit! I was a bit but then I thought well, let's go for it. If she gets a place it's another £250 'acceptance fee'!!

I don't think they can deny you their assement levels. Why don't you want to tell them??

DD's school don't make the pupils NC levels known in the report at the end of Year 1. However I specifically asked my DD's teacher what she had been assessed at and she was happy to tell me. I don't think they can refuse if you ask. And I don't think you should have to give a reason for knowing either. If your child has been assessed and a grade has been attributed then you, as a parent, have a right to know.