1a target for the end of year one

[Cortina]

I hear that this is the target for the end of year one.

Our class teacher talks a lot about getting the children 'where they need to get to'. I am keen that mine get further ahead than this if they are able to and would want the teacher to support pushing them forward if appropriate.

When I've queried DS's progress the teacher says 'don't worry I know where he needs to get to by the end of the year'. It just seems v prescriptive to me but I think I am missing the point? I think an 'average' child is capable of way exceeding expectations. I believe children fulfill our expectations on the whole.

Or am I just very pushy?

Why does that mean that she thinks your child should be a 1a? She might think he 'needs to get to' a 1c, 1b, 2c, 2b..... she will know your child's capabilities and will be pushing your child forward as appropriate to his abilities.

Children are allowed to achieve higher than these government set targets you know! I don't know of any teacher who would say to a child, "Oh Good, you are already a 1a, I won't teach you anything else then until next year" When your class teacher is refering to "where they need to get", perhaps she means, as I would, that they need to get as far as they can! Targets are just that, some children will reach them, some will not and some will exceed them.

teachers won't stop teaching a child once they get to their targetted level though, it doesn't work like that

Thanks. It's probably just the language used but I do get the feeling that a certain level needs to be reached and then the foot can come off the gas. But may just be my interpretation. Why not say 'the sky will be the limit for your DC let's push on forward ' not 'I know where he needs to get to by the end of the year'. The latter just sounds like you are aiming for the bare minimum? Probably just semantics though.

All very easy to say when you are not a teacher too I know.

Cortina because it wouldn't be realistic to say you are going to achieve your PHd in Astro Physics by the summer if you are just working towards a GCSE in science ...

I could try...

Is it really unrealistic for most to aim for more than a 1a?

No it isn't unrealistic some with achieve 1a some will achieve higher levels and others will struggle to get anywhere near, it depends on the child's starting point. Teachers are looking for children to make good progress from the point they are working at (setting a realistic target but with the thought that perhaps the child may progress more quickly).