Can a child go DOWN a sub level or is it mistake of teacher?

[woody3269]

Got parents evening in a minute and I want to check with going down on a sub level happens? I think they made a mistake, as surely you stay the same - not get worse?

Thanks.

Compared with what? If it is compared with last year's data, it is entirely possible I think.

Children can move down one sublevel from one assessment to the next, they don't always perform to their best do they?

You should obviously expect a child to stay the same or move up. However...perhaps the assessment last year was incorrect?? This shouldn't happen in a school with moderated and consistent assessment procedures. I would go and listen to their explanation of what's happened. If they try to put if that the child is not showing what they can do or is not trying hard enough your next question should be "how have you supported him to improve this situation?'

Ps- also ask for his individual targets to get back to the 'original' sub level

Thanks for answering. There were grades given in February last year 4C, and then the end of year results result was 3A.

She always gets 1 for effort. Always gives 100% etc!

Say you're talking about writing. It is possible to obviously write a 4c piece then a 3a piece...however overall ability should not be 'going backwards'. Over that period of time a child's 'performance' or ability in a subject should be progressing- ideally by a sub level or two.

The effort is more than half the battle...a love of learning is what it's all about :)

• she...sorry thought it was a son!!

Well learning isn't actually linear and consistent - kids have spurts and dips, they enjoy some topics more than others.

Children shouldn't regress but it is possible if the school is using tests to award levels for a child to do well in one test and badly in the next.

Yes- was a test score or an overall level to indicate ability in that subject?

My daughters end of year two levels were 1b 1a and 2c according to her school report but at her year 3 parents evening in October she had 1b 1b and 1a although I did feel the levels were exaggerated at the end of year two, perhaps for the benefit of the school?

It is more likely to happen when moving from Y2 to 3 as sometimes the junior school teachers feel the levels given at infants are too low. This is not always the case of course but my friend is a Y3 teacher and says it can be frustrating for them and the parents, especially when a level 3 is given and the child is not really secure as a L3, parents often worry that their child is not progressing when in fact they are.

It could be a mistake of course, I am sure they will explain at PE. I did not realise that schools used tests to determine the levels as my understanding was that at this stage it should be ongoing assessment.

Sorry, obviously I know they use tests but not as the sole grade.