Yr 10 - grades going backwards.

[OrmIrian]

DS1 is in yr 10.He gets a learning review every 6 weeks with target grades for end of the year and currently. His targets are all Bs. First report says everything apart from music are currently grade D! Now that is fairly poor but DS tells me that most students are way off their targets atm. OK, fair enough I guess - only 6 weeks into yr 10. But the latest one that we had last night is worse! He had gone backwards in 3 subjects, and up in only 2. His levels for attitude and behaviour are all good or outstanding. So I guess that makes him just plain thick

What really confuses me is that DS said his last English test was one mark of a B - either he's lying or that hasn't shown up in the grade as yet.

DS can't tell me what the problem is - he is struggling with maths, he admits that, but doesn't know why science (which used to be his favourite subject) is so low.

I am feeling pretty desperate now. He's never been great in school - but held his own - and most of his school reports were along the lines of 'OK but could do better' but this seems really serious. And it's going to get more so. And it seems he is trying reasonably hard.

DH reckons we should make an appointment to see his tutor next term but I don't know what difference it will make. So disheartened.

It varies so much, there are some students who coast for 2 years with little effort at a low grade and then get an A* at the end - this tends to happen more often with boys than girls.

"It varies so much, there are some students who coast for 2 years with little effort at a low grade and then get an A* at the end "

Oh I wish....

At least DS has the coasting off to a T!

TBH he is at least 2 grades off his targets for some subjects ! And that has been marked as 'cause for concern' but according to DS so do most of his mates (large pinch of salt might be needed). But no contact from school otherwise. Definitely a failure of communications here I think.

We have a plan!

DS has all three science GCSE study books. They are really quite good - lots of information but laid out quite simply. So he is going to read 10 pages each day of the parts he has already covered and we'll go through them at night when I get home. DH is going to deal with the dreaded algebra

DD also in yr 10. e were warned by some subject teachers at the end of yr9, that grading this year is GCSE standard, so don't be surprised if an A/B grade student starts yr10 on DDs.

Her first terms report showed one grade below the end of year target grades on most subjects and this was flagged as 'on target'. The subject she is already working at her target grade on was flagged as 'above target'.

We were told it is expected for end of year 11 targets to go up a grade on end of year 10.

Thanks circular.

If that happens I guess DS will get his Bs. We just need to stop the slide.