So is 2a good or average

[bookbag40]

Ds just got year 2 results all 2a which I was pleased with as I thought was slightly above expectations but then heard it was the national average? Also in terms of how they plan their trajectory would they be aiming for a 4 in year 6 or would a 2a mean they might push them to a 5?

A child currently a 2A at year 2 would have to achieve a 5c as a minimum to show good progress so schools would have been aiming for this. But as there will be no levels at all from next year, goodness knows what would be expected!!

2A is the higher end of average, the expected level would be a 2B at the end of KS1. There are no levels after this year so your DS won't be getting a 4 or 5 as they won't exist.

A good school with push your child to reach their maximum potential regardless of their level. My DS1 got a level 2b in his writing and 2a in reading and will hopefully get a 5b/5a in his SATS so there is no reason your son won't do well. Some children don't really come in to their own until they have mastered the basics. This was definitely the case for my DS.

Children don't always make linear progress. So one year they may make on sub level of progress and the next year they make three sub levels of progress.

Thanks I didn't realise the levels were going for year 6 too so maybe I shouldn't worry too much!

2b is the expected level for year 2 so 2a is slightly above! 4a would be the level expected at the end of key stage 2, but any level can be achieved really! Having said that most schools don't use levels anymore.

Although a 2b was the expected level at the end of KS1, it wasn't the average level! As an example, the average points score for reading in 2014 was 16.5 ( and actually 17 for girls) which equated to an almost 2A ( with a definite 2A for girls!). Given all schools are expected to be above average, then 2A is almost the requirement now ( or was until levels were abolished!!)

"Most schools are expected to be above average"

I have heard this before in relation to school results but it's actually impossible mathematically for this to be achieved as by definition half of schools will be at or above average and half will be at or below average.

You would think that those who set the targets would know this. A more sensible target is for each child to aim for an expected level of achievement or progress.

Well, you know and I know, in fact all my year 6 children know- that it's mathematically impossible for every child/school to be above average but apparently the Government doesn't!!

Tony Blair said live on radion many years ago that his aim was for "75 percent of children to be above average".

Thus demonstrating he either didn't understand the mathematics behind average.
As the possibilities for average are:
Median= the middle person, which has to have 50% above/50% below: not possible
Mode: Most common. That's possible, but unlikely. And also pretty meaningless really.
Mean: The only way this would be possible is if the bottom 1/4 sink so badly they bring the average down. I doubt he meant that, but is the only way of genuinely achieving the above statement.

deewee "the only way this would be possible is if the bottom. 1/4 sink so badly they being the average down"

New Tory education policy anyone?

I think the problem with expecting a high level of progress is that the curriculum has changed for KS2, but y2 children are still on the old curriculum. The new one is more challenging so for 2A children to get the equivalent of the old level 5 is a much bigger challenge than it was. They have a bigger gap to close. Previously it would also have been a challenge but slightly more achievable. Excellent teaching, the motivation of the child and many other factors will determine progress and often it is not linear.