Levels for a Year 8 student

[sixthchild69]

Hi
My daughter is in the bottom class of the top sets (three sets, three classes in each) i.e top sets x 3, middle sets x 3, lowest sets x 3, so she is top 3rd.

She is currently working at a level 6 in most subjects and a 5/6 in maths. Her maths teacher has advised that she (and the rest of the class) will need to attain a solid 6 by the end of July in order that they sit the higher GCSE paper and do not drop into the middle set (top middle).

My daughter got a 4b in maths, 4a in english (writing), 5 in the reading, 4a in science in her SATS in year 6, so she seems to be on track. However, her maths teacher in year 7 was off sick for a long time last year and I feel this has put her (and probably the rest of that class) behind. They have a new exprienced teacher this year and he seems good. I'm worried though that she will not get the 6 in the test at Christmas and in July as she doesn't tend to do well in tests and so will not be on track to get a decent maths GCSE result.

Please can someone who knows what they are talking about advise me whether or not I am over-reacting and what grade they think she will get. I'm worried sick and cannot sleep. She is an only child and she works really hard and is a trier. I guess we just want to give her the best and make sure she gets a good education.

We have recently got her a private tutor, a NQT who teaches year 6 who comes once a week. If need be, I will continue with the tutor until GCSE!

Does the school enter early for Maths? Ours does, so Foundation students get one bite of the cherry now, November of year 11, and if they get a Grade C they can sit the Higher paper in June of year 11.

I know repeat entry ia a controversial process but it seems a good idea for the borderliners where higher paper versus foundation was a difficult decision to make.

Thanks - think they do enter early.

However, I just wondered if anyone out there could 'predict' some grades for me to stop me worrying! Anyone with experience of a child who attained 4b in maths in yr 6 SATS and working at a level 5/6 in yr 8 going onto to get a 'c' or higher in Year 11?

We'd be happy with a 'c' and anything above that eternally grateful!

Completely confused about the whole higher and foundation papers at this stage and don't know how they are separated in yr 9?

I've a thread running about Sats to GCSE grades I will see if I can find it and bump it up for you.

It's called national curriculum levels and how they predict GCSE levels. I've just bumped it up for you.

I can't see her doing too badly with those results. L5 at KS3 would makre her C/D borderline. I am currently tutoring a Y11 girl for GCSE maths who got a L5 in Y9. She is taking the foundation paper and should get a C. Don't panic about not going in for the Higher paper, she can get a C on the foundation paper and she may feel better not having to tackle the more difficult content.

One thing I would say about your tutor is that it sounds that you have a primary teacher? I would look to switch to a GCSE tutor at some point, the GCSE is becoming heavily dependent on 'functional maths', not just individual maths skills and that isn't something that is covered in primary schools. One of the things the girl I tutor struggles with is the functional aspects which on the paper she's currently preparing for are things like working out mobile phone bills and electricity bills from tarrifs and meter readings.

A quarter of students who get a level 5 in Y9 go on to get a C at GCSE in Y11, so a level 6 probably will get a C. Even if she sits the foundation paper, she can still get a C.

However, these predictions are for Y9 and Y11, I'm not sure what difference early entry makes

Hello sixthchild69. Not sure about SATs as my daughter got 5A from year 5. Has your daughter not had any gcse predictions given to her? Only asking as my daughter is also year 8 and came home with some predictions from some of her tutors. And also, what are her targets expected to be? My daughters are on her school report. It says what level she should be getting and what she is currently on - its all computerised. Last year in year 7 her targets were 6a and she was getting 7's. So her predictions are at the moment A or B. I thought this seemed low and so did my daughter and she was a bit upset over it. Does these seem low grade predictions, seeing as my daughter is 12 and getting 100% in assessments and working past her targets? And she is also set 1 for all subjects except pe. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Good luck sixth with your daughter. She sounds great.

Ibizagirl I'm surprised your DD has GCSE predictions in year 8 - I'm not sure how helpful that is when there is such a long time till the exams and so much can happen in between. I would completely ignore any prediction given at this age if she is at level 7s at the end of KS3 she can do very well at GCSE. I'm not sure why she is upset with the idea of an A though.

Our first predictions came in November of year 10. Try getting E predictions! (what my daughter was given for science). Tell her what I told mine - they are not your final grades, work like billy-oh and prove them wrong.

Daughter is now in year 11 and I have noticed they adjust predictions as the time goes on and also add in an 'on target' 'under target' 'ahead of target' note as well.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to respond. I take on the point about me swapping the tutor at a later stage and will definitely do this in Yr 9. At this stage, I just wondered if she would pass (get a 'C' ) for maths GCSE; being a level 6 now in Yr8. I would hope that she will be a level 6/7 in Yr9.

Suppose I need to stop stressing and just carry on supporting her and getting her the best help etc.

Thanks again all :)