Ds getting level 4a in year 5

[Blossomhill]

Just worried as think only needs to get up to level 5 and that's it. School have admitted that obviously main priority are the children that struggle.
Why do the more able children get pushe dto one side. Level 4a was for literacy and rading. He got a 4c in reading and apparently they all dropped for maths which again is worrying.
Any teachers that can give advice please? x

omg reading that back you can tell I have had a glass or 2 of wine

Sorry level 4c as for maths

That sounds about right for a 5a at SATS. What exactly are you worried about?

I hate SATs; disagree with them more and more each month.

If your ds is doing fine and is on target, then hopefully he'll be able to do some wider activities, rather than based on the narrow focus of SATs.

This is what has happened with ds1, which is far more likely to challenge, interest and extend him than by pushing on with a higher curriculum.

I don't know exactly what the percentages are, but I know ds1 is not the only child in his class who has always achieved the ceiling of each test in each year: it's not rare. It doesn't mean he's not being challenged, it just means that for sensible reasons that I approve of, they don't assess children beyond L3 in KS1 and beyond L5 in KS2.

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No they are expected to make 2 full levels (6 sub levels) throughout junior school. Some authorities say average of 1 sub level in year 3, 2 in year 4, 2 in year 5 and 1 in year 6= 2 whole levels from years 3 to 6.
Problem is that the optional qca tests for years 3,4 and 5 are flawed. The year 5 tests come out way too high when you compare them with the compulsory year 6 tests.

OK then would someone tell me what the highest level and sub level is in key stage 3 please.

Progress is expected to be approx two thirds of a level a year. E.g. average for end of Y2 is Level 2b and Y6 Level 4b. Children are expected to 'plateau' in Y3, so may only reach a 2a by the end. A bit wishy-washy, but isn't everything that's government led? Anyway your ds is doing very well. There should be provision for 'gifted and talented' pupils in your school and your school should have an 'ABCo' (teaching co-ordinator monitoring provision for more able pupils.) We have Epal, Summer school clubs etc. outside the classroom but also extension work avaiable in every subject in the classroom, to make sure bright kids are being stretched. Ofsted check this. The new Literacy and Numeracy frameworks that have been introduced this year state clearly that kids' previous knowledge should be tested at the start of every topic, to make sure they are learning new stuff and not going over stuff they can already do.
My advice to any parent who's not happy, is to make a nuisance of yourself. I used to be a SENCO (monitoring provision for special needs pupils) and it's generally the parents who shout the loudest, that get the most support for their kids. I used to encourage parents to moan to the Head/phone county hall etc. if they weren't happy with the help their kids were getting. Sorry for waffling on, but I feel really strongly that kids only get one chance at their education and if the school is half-soaked you need to nag them into action.

Thanks smilesam. That's what I am worried about. The teacher has admitted that she really hasn't got the time to extend the ones who need it and tbh I think that's unfair. Each child should receive the same amount of time/help regardless (totally impractical I know!).

I cannot believe the teacher left herself open to that one!! Crazy admission!

Well she did!!!!

If the 4a was for writing then don't assume he'll naturally progress 2 levels. Writing sats are difficult to mark - one person can mark it at a totally different level to another.

The teachers at the school I work at often use this site with the children already reaching higher levels in Maths - perhaps you could suggest it to your DS's teacher?

Don't quite see the problem - am I being thick?Looks as if he's well on track for level 5s in year 5, which is very good. Level 5s aren't formally split into a b and c like 4s are, but the school gets the actual test marks and passes them on to the secondary school. If your school is anything like my dds there are lots of fun things that happen in year 6 and he'll be abkle to enjoy them all the more if he doesn't ahve to work too hard to get brilliant SATS results

SmileSam, I really don't want to start a "heated debate" but I don't think that good 4s in year 5 (although excellent) counts as gifted and talented. Or am I wrong?

I think the point is more about stretching bright kids. My ds is in Year 1 and has achieved level 3 already, but teacher unwilling to give him any additional work as it will make him 'feel different' yet he is 'drifting off' in some lessons and complaining some lessons are boring.
There are plenty of bright kids in his class - I can't believe they can't just give them a couple of extra questions at the end of a worksheet to keep them interested.
Ds school is a very good school, good SATS, lovely caring atmosphere, but I wonder if teh gov obsession with getting x number of kids to x level means that some, who don't need so much help are left to get on with it.

Inevitably the teachers will concentrate on the strugglers. It's not fair and it's not right but it happens. I'm sure someone will have some ideas on ow to get round the problem. Good luck.

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Cod ~ not "spoken" to you in a long time ...

Yeah I guess my problem is that if he is 1 away from a 5 I guess he has ticked the done box so to speak. All children deserve the same level of education imo

but hhow can you say he is 1 away from 5 when we all know that 1 sublevel is supposed to take 3 new terms (1 and half old terms)

As I said earlier - you can get a 5, or a very good 5. Get him to aim to get 95% in all of his SATS. I would say "bet you can't get 95%" and see what happens!

Interested to hear of level 6s - I didn't realize you could still get level 6s in Primary school!

You can't. Not in the SATs anyway. And the results as reported to parents just give a blanket 5 - no sublevels - however high they scored. Bit of a letdown for those who attained a 5 at Year 5. Looks like they've plateaued (sp?)

You can ask the school for the percentage marks thought - and the marks are sent on to secondary school.