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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Is it normal for there to be no change in reading or maths levels from the start of the year to the end?

28 replies

virgil · 28/06/2013 20:19

We've just has DS1s report and whilst he is doing well there is no change in his English and maths scores. Is this normal or should we be concerned that he has not progressed? He is just eight by the way year 3.

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Periwinkle007 · 28/06/2013 20:23

could it be that his levels at the end of yr2 were a bit over estimated and so he has made progress but it just isn't obvious in the levels?

OddSockMonster · 28/06/2013 20:26

There is usually an increase, even a small one. Have you spoekn with the teacher about it? How does it compare to how it seems at home?

And as periwinkle said, could yr2 results (when they may have pushed extra hard due to KS1 SATS) have been high. Did he have a big jump last year?

SandStorm · 28/06/2013 20:27

Depends on how his levels are reported - it could be he was a low level 2/3/whatever and is now a high level 2/3/whatever. Talk to the teacher for clarification.

simpson · 28/06/2013 20:29

Well DS is in yr3 and although I have not had his school report yet I know he has made no progress (NC levels in his writing) and is the same as he finished yr2 on.

I am not concerned in the slightest as in his case I think it is down to maturity (or lack of!).

Tbh I would be a bit annoyed if I first found this out in his school report though. I have had several chats with DS's teacher about this...

lastnightidreamt · 28/06/2013 20:30

There is supposed to be an increase of 2 sub-levels, in a year, on average.

However, I have been told that in year 3 there can be a bit of a standstill.

Abra1d · 28/06/2013 20:32

My son, now 16, had an apparent standstill at that age. It didn't really mean much. I think they were just evaluating his work slightly more strictly in Y3 than in Y2.

simpson · 28/06/2013 20:32

I think it is a whole level in 2 years so there will be one year where it may be one sub level and another year where there is 2 sub levels iyswim.

Original poster

virgil · 28/06/2013 20:34

I think he's been coasting this year. But I would have expected some progress even if just up a sub level. His level is good I think for his age but it hasn't moved from his assessed level in September during the first week of school.

OP posts:

Feenie · 28/06/2013 20:40

Two sub-levels a year is good progress, NOT average.

As a previous poster said, a whole level in 2 years is average. That's one and a half sublevels per year in perfect sausage factory land.

You need to find out what his teacher says - ask why they think he hasn't made progress?

simpson · 28/06/2013 20:54

I can see progress in DS's writing and technically he is putting everything in his writing that he needs to but it does not "flow"

With his reading he has made progress (none till May this year) and a lot of it is inference related (that he finds tougher).

His teacher said it is very easy for able children to coast in yr3 but she won't have it in her classroom

Taffeta · 28/06/2013 21:06

Our head teacher told us recently that level 3 was enormous, much much wider than any of the other levels.

simpson · 28/06/2013 21:07

Taffeta - I was told the same thing too and for a child who may be the youngest in the year (my DS is 31st Aug) they need to mature a bit before they can progress.

IMO as long as they work hard, the progress will come.

Original poster

virgil · 28/06/2013 21:10

I'm not sure whether to speak to his teachers since he is bright and I don't want them to think I have ridiculous expectations. He is level 4c in maths and English. But that's where he was at the start of the year. (This isn't a stealth boast). It has been made clear that parents evening is only for those who have concerns following their child's report (although I guess I have!)

OP posts:

simpson · 28/06/2013 21:14

I would definately have a word with the teacher.

Did he finish yr2 on a 4C?

Periwinkle007 · 28/06/2013 21:18

just because your child is bright doesn't mean you aren't entitled to discuss their progress or any concerns. I would speak to them.

Elibean · 28/06/2013 21:21

I'd guess the old 'marking a bit too high at the end of Y2' and 'more strictly in Y3' thing may have reared it's head, Virgil.

But I would definitely go to parent's evening. You do have a question, or concern, don't you?

Original poster

virgil · 28/06/2013 21:27

To be honest I can't remember how he ended year two but they were assessed in the first week of year three and his report says that his scores haven't changed.

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simpson · 28/06/2013 21:48

I am just wondering whether he had changed from end of yr2 to beginning of yr3 that's all.

Agree with what Elibean said.

PatsysPyjamas · 28/06/2013 22:33

Yes, ask the teacher. It's right to expect progress, and even if the explanation is she gives totally reasonable too, she should expect to explain it. I am feeling a bit huffy today as my DD (6) told me she sometimes only has to read one page of her book during 1-1 reading 'because I am a good reader'. Partly I see that those who are struggling need more attention, but I also think that just because she is doing well doesn't mean she can't improve.

juniper9 · 28/06/2013 23:25

It could be that they haven't taught enough of the level 4 curriculum for him to make much progress.

For example, level 4 on assessment grids involves things like decimals and using calculators, which are things we don't routinely include in the year 3 curriculum.

I always find that the jump from a 2a to a 3c seems massive, in my opinion, but that's not the case with your son if he came to year 3 as a 4c. How did they assess him in year 2? Was he really a 4c?

TheBuskersDog · 29/06/2013 00:26

It's more important to know if he was levelled at 4c at the end of year 2 (which would be unusual), because in September his teacher would not have had time to assess if he was consistently working at that level, as opposed to getting that level in tests. What I mean is if at the end of year 2 his teacher assessed him at level 3 then he has made progress.

goingmadinthecountry · 29/06/2013 01:13

Feenie, the lovely people at Ofsted expect 2 sub levels a year as average, not good progress.

Virgil, was he really a 4c at the beginning of the year? Not doubting you, just expect from that level that he's pretty exceptional. Teacher may well have graded too high.

mrz · 29/06/2013 07:48

The expected progress over a Key Stage is 2 full levels so in KS2 that equates to one and a half sub levels per year anything more than that is considered good ... as feenie says 2 sub levels is good progress.

redskyatnight · 29/06/2013 07:54

DS's sublevels didn't change in Y3 - but they really jumped in Y4.

I'm wondering if the 4c assessment at the start of the year was a one off test? If a one off test, it may have taken the rest of the year to prove he was working consistently at that level.

mrz · 29/06/2013 08:00

A 4C in writing requires a level of maturity not often found in 7 year olds

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