'Foundation' GSCE Maths - what's it all about??

[SauvignonBlanche]

My DS, due to start Yr 10 and his GCSE options has been told he will be doing a 'Foundation' GCSE.He is at a non-selective comp which has special provision for ASD, DS has AS.

He has been in the next to bottom set for the first 2 years, the SENCO assured us it was the best set for him due to additional classroom support.
DS is reasonably bright, will be doing triple science and got a Level 6 for KS3 but will be doing this 'Foundation' GCSE.
We queried it but just got a snotty 2 line letter (the day after term ended) from the head of Maths saying that in their "considered opinion" DS was in the right set.

We haven't queried the set only the qualification he is being entered for as DS is very science-orientated.
Will try to talk to school again at the start of term, does anyone have any further information about this 'Foundation' GSCE and its implications?

Does the school do early entry?

I teach English & it may be different, but we enter students in November of Year 11. Everyone does Foundation unless their teacher thinks they are a safe B or above.

If they get a C, a discussion then takes place as to whether they could realistically aim to sit the Higher paper in June (obviously if they miss the C, they re-sit Foundation in June).

If your ds is C/B borderline, that may be the plan. Current level 6, with tuition, would suggest a predicted C & a possible B I'd think.

You may also be right that students with SEN are being kept together, with a TA & possibly a teacher who is more experienced or able in working with them. It's possible that the set above is much bigger, or has a less experienced/weaker teacher & this is why the HOD thinks your ds will do better where he's been placed?

You really need to talk to the HOD & ask him/her to outline the reasoning.

Level 6 leads to target Greade B. All subjects. It isn't 'different for Maths' in any school I've worked in: in fact our Head of Maths says it is pretty accurate for Maths. Pupils are expected to put on two levels during KS4, and Bis equivalent to Level 8.

If he is a Level 6, he should sit the Higher Tier Paper.

What I mean is, he should have the opportunity to prove that he will work and progress to achieve that target - taht can only be done on Higher Tier, so the presumption at this stage should be that he will sit it.

But the consequences of sitting a Higher paper & screwing it up are that you leave with zilch.

I'm a GCSE examiner for English Literature. I mark the Higher paper & I see a heck of a lot of crap entry tier decisions, the result of which is that some poor kid will not be having a GCSE awarded at all. On a Foundation paper, they'd have attained a useful grade.

If I taught this lad, & I thought his prospects of a B were not secure, I'd be considering entering him for Foundation. Yes, risk that he comes out with a C & could've got a B, but the Higher option is to risk that he comes out with no result at all & could've got a C.

The question to be asked is why the teacher doesn't feel he's a safe bet for a B, & is this a decision which can be revised as he progresses - which is why the OP needs more information from the horse's mouth.

cardibach, 2 levels progress is 'expected' from KS3 to KS4 and this would indeed lead you to 'expect' a B from a level 6. However, that is failing to acknowledge that the vast majority of students currently do not make the expected level of progress in maths between KS3 and KS4. In 2007 only 28% of students made this expected level of progress in maths nationally - in English, however, it was 56%, therefore I think that my comment that it is different for maths is fair.

It is one thing to say that a student with a level 6 should be expected to get a B, realistically looking at the data, I would predict a C - although obviously the higher the 6, the higher the chance of a B.

Justgettingonwithit, thanks for that, we will continue with his Math tutor (who has a son with AS) for extra support.

raven, i don't know about early entry, I could see the sense in that. I hope the HOD is more forthcoming in person!

I agree completely that a C is infinitely preferable to a fail!

I guess staff will be back in school from Thursday?
I'll try and get a meeting with the HOD and will report back.

Update

DH and I met the Head, HOD and SENCO today, It was all fairly ameanable.
HOD is clearly a bit of a patronising dinasour but the Head isn't.
We were told that if DS does well in the first module he could be considered for the higher paper.

Thanks to all posters - much appreciated!