Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Year 8 targets/working levels

28 replies

Polgara2 · 17/07/2010 08:56

Can anyone tell me what is the range of average or expected levels for Year 8 maths?

I am worried about dd1. Up until now we have always had glowing reports about her maths but I have just received her end of year progress report and it says she is not on track to reach her Maths target. She is only slightly below I think but even so I am baffled.

We had a letter in March saying how pleased they were with her and that she was performing really well and now a few months later this. She has also come home saying that she will be in a lower set next year.

If she is underperforming why doesn't she know abuot it coz she is baffled as well. Although she has always said she doesn't understand things with this teacher as well as last years and I don't think he is very good judging from information from other sources either.

OP posts:

bruffin · 17/07/2010 11:09

what was her target?

Goblinchild · 17/07/2010 11:22

She should have gone up at least one full level from her Y6 SATS if she's making expected progress. So if she was a 5b, she should be a 6b now.
No good them saying she's not on track without giving very specific feedback as to what she needs to do, and the key areas she struggles in. Get a meeting before term ends and nail him down to specifics.

Original poster

Polgara2 · 17/07/2010 13:20

Her end of year target was 7c and she is at 6a apparently (and seems to have been at this level all year looking back at previous reports). Whereas last year she moved up several sub-levels (I think - am not quite as clear about what it all means as I would like!)

I intend to try and catch him on Monday Goblinchild but I am worried that he will try to avoid me if he is as bad as I have heard. I do need to sort it before terms ends but we only have one full school day, one activity day and a half day left!

OP posts:

mnistooaddictive · 17/07/2010 14:12

If it is a problem with the teacher then the whols class will have done badly and therefore unlikely that she is singled out to be moved down! The difference between a 7c and a 6a canbe a single mark on a test so it is not necessary a catastrophe. There is a nationally recognised dip in year 8 where pupils do not make much progress in this year due to a number of factors so that will explain some of it. She needs to be told exaxtly how to improve though.

Goblinchild · 17/07/2010 14:19

Phone the school and make an appointment to see him, rather than 'catching him' If he's not available, say that you are happy to discuss things with the subject leader, or the head of Y8.
Don't get fobbed off.

mnistooaddictive · 17/07/2010 16:14

You will need to speak to him to get an appointment- office won't be able to do this for you.

Goblinchild · 17/07/2010 17:01

I suppose it depends on the school, I go through the office. Sometimes the teacher phones me to agree a mutually acceptable time.

Original poster

Polgara2 · 17/07/2010 17:01

Yes I will ring before school starts on Monday and try and get him to see me.

That's interesting about the test result factor mnistooaddictive. For the last two tests dd has not been able to revise prior to it due to either being off sick and so not knowing it was taking place or him not telling them when it was, so that would most likely make a difference. (I know she should understand things anyway but everyone needs to revise don't they?)

I just don't like conflict of any sort and that includes speaking to teachers! I will have that as my mantra goblinchild 'I will not be fobbed off, I will not be fobbed off......' .

OP posts:

Goblinchild · 17/07/2010 17:06

We have Flameproof Vests and Bolshie Knickers for sale over on the SN boards.
Don't see it as conflict, see it as enabling them to focus on your daughter's specific needs and work together to agree a mutually acceptable way forwards.
Oh, we have Bullshit Detectors and Shit Shovels as well...

chibi · 17/07/2010 17:10

speaking as a teacher, any decent teacher is happy to discuss with parents any issues about their child

you have every right to ask for clarification

at this point in the term it may need to be email/phone conversation though

be assertive!

Original poster

Polgara2 · 17/07/2010 17:17

Oh I like the sound of them goblinchild keep them on hold for me .

Chibi - yes I would like to think they would, I am just sceptical of this teacher from stories I have heard I suppose. I will go in open minded tho and make my own opinions as I always do. I don't mind a phone conversation as long as I actually get 'a conversation' iyswim.

OP posts:

Goblinchild · 17/07/2010 17:20

I'm speaking as a teacher with an sn child. It would be nice to think that all teachers are decent and prepared to discuss issues surrounding a child with honesty and openness.
Sometimes they don't though.

ageing5yearseachyear · 17/07/2010 19:57

just a quick thought- is your dd going to have the same teacher next year?

if not, might be worth getting in to see her new teacher. TBH unless you are going to do loads of holiday work- she might be happier spending a half term in a lower set ( it would buck her ideas up if you know what i mean). also if she really hasnt understood the work this year, recovering it might be a good idea.

I have had similar with my dd1. In year 8 she was in set 4 out of 6. She is now on track to get an A or B at GCSE. This involved quite a lot of me emphasising to her that you cannot write on your CV Maths Grade D but i had a crap teacher.

Original poster

Polgara2 · 17/07/2010 20:12

No she isn't going to have the same teacher next year but tbh she has been told by other kids that the teacher she is having is not very good either - particularly at controlling the class - so I don't know what to think really. (Well I do, I think I want her to have her Yr7 teacher back - who incidently is head of maths - but that ain't going to happen!)

I don't actually have a problem with her being in a lower set if that is where she genuinely needs to be. As long as we get some feedback and can help her improve and it is being led by her performance and not his iyswim!

Ageing - did you dd move up sets through the interim years then and how hard was it to get this to happen?

OP posts:

mnistooaddictive · 17/07/2010 20:23

Just to be realistic, a full time teacher will teach between 150 and 200 pupils. If just 3 or 4 from every class want to see them to discuss end of year levels that could be 30 sets of parents. There is no way he will be able to see all them before the end of term. TBH he would struggle to phone that number of parents in a couple of days. If he can't meet you, he is not fobbing you off but genuinely doesn't have the time.
When I was working full time, levels going home could result in over 50 lots of parents phoning the head of maths wanting an urgent meeting. Whilst we all appreciate that every child is of prime importance to their parents, there are only so many hours in the day. You may have to wait until September for the information you want.

Original poster

Polgara2 · 17/07/2010 20:40

Yes I understand what you are saying mn. But that is why imo they should get the reports out earlier than 2.5 days before the end of term! I would be concerned that waiting til September means I won't get any answers tho.

OP posts:

mnistooaddictive · 17/07/2010 21:01

I agree re timing of reports although the process is so long, the teachers would have written them over a month ago, all you can do is ask!

chibi · 17/07/2010 21:08

You could also ask the head of maths what moving down a set means in terms of the teaching - it could be that she could make better progress where the class isn't moving at a breakneck speed

also ask if class size is affected

support sets at my school in my subject are smaller than other sets to allow pupils more teacher time

the moving sets doesn't have to be a bad thing

(I know I sound v little miss sunshine here! )

Goblinchild · 17/07/2010 21:19

My son's teachers have worked out that it's better to problem solve as we go, throughout the year.
Saves having all the birds coming home to roost in the last three days of term.

Goblinchild · 17/07/2010 21:21

Oh, I agree with chibi about more support in the support group, and more time taken to explain and ensure understanding.
We have our strongest teachers running the booster groups.

busymummy3 · 18/07/2010 15:25

this thread is interesting in that it may help to clarify something for me. My DC is in Y8.
When in Y6 achieved 92/100 for maths-dont know what sub level that equates to just know got a level 5.Was also given a level 6c for teacher assessment.DC is in top set at secondary school. End of year 7 target given by secondary school was 7c which teacher immediately queried as not even achievable even if full marks were attained on key assessments (there are three a year )apparently highest mark could get in Y 7 was 6a. Head of dept states nothing can be done as targets set by LA? DC achieved 6c at end of y7.
now in y8. target set last sept 7b, again told not to worry most could get on KA1 and KA2 was 6a.DC got 6b for KA1,6b for KA2 and last KA paper went to level7, DC got level 7c. But as you can see still did not get 7b target. We have been told not to worry still in top set is level with peers most of class got levels ranging 6c to 6a a few got 7c top pupil got 7b. Thankfully our DC is pretty level headed and mature although does get stressed understandably that is working really hard yet still being told not achieving. We are really pleased and have told DC that as long as getting level does not matter what sublevel awarded as these sub levels can be determined by 1 mark as mentioned by another poster-there can be 1 mark between a 6c and a 6b. We also feel that if DC had not been given a level 6 Teacher assessment at end of primary maybe her Y7 target would not have been set so high?

Original poster

Polgara2 · 19/07/2010 09:16

I have left a message for him to ring me (stressing the before the summer break bit) - bets on whether he does are welcome

OP posts:

SuzieHomemaker · 19/07/2010 21:16

The reporting thing is always a bit baffling.

DD1 is in year 9, she is a straight A for effort student but the end of year report shows that her total achievement grade has gone down - implying that she has been suddenly taken stupid and we hadnt noticed. In fact what has happened is that she was absent from a test for one subject (school council meeting) so instead of carrying over the previous term's mark she got a zero.

Thankfully DD1 is quite sensible and we can do the maths so DD1 is not currently locked in the coal shed but it does make me wonder what the point of the report is if it is constructed from random numbers.

I hope you get some joy Polgara!

Kez100 · 20/07/2010 05:26

Polgara - we've just had the same - two days before end of term. Daughter told she can't go up a set in English - which she was due to do - because it's timetabled with maths and she is moving downin that! Her maths has always been on target and she has been working really well in the group and been in that set for three years! No evidnce given to us at all that there was a problem. Like you, I only want her innthe right place but she is baffled as to why especially as it puts her in a lower than necessary set for English as well!

stockholm · 29/07/2010 10:53

my son was an expected 5a for his maths at the end of year 7 and has recieved a 6c is this higher than the expected ???

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread