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Original poster

Math Sets at new School

26 replies

Sparklingbrook · 05/07/2012 17:54

DS1 Year 8 started a new school last week.

He is (for now) in the top maths set. At his old school he was in 2nd set.

They had a maths test today, and he came out a bit fed up because it was really hard, and some topics he had never even done. So can I assume as top set they are doing Year 9 maths already?

I need to drop a line to his Maths teacher, but not sure what to say. He says theses tests are to set them for September. I have no idea what will happen.

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soonbesailing · 05/07/2012 18:21

I think it depends on the school, our school all work a year ahead (they start year 8 maths in yr 7 as a high number of pupils join the school already at level 5) and the top two sets work from a higher level book than sets 3,4 & 5.
Set one just works faster than set 2, but some years there isn't much difference between the two sets as you can only fit so many in top set.
It's also hard to compare school to school, so it may be that he is good enough to be in top set at his new school, but the bar was a bit higher at his old school, so he ended up in set 2.
My DC was in the top group of his primary school, but started out in set 3 in maths, he's now in set 2 and would love to be in top set but to get there he needs to be top of set 2 and better than the person at the bottom of set 1, so it may not happen.
2 of his friends from primary who were also in the top group went straight into top set at their school and have stayed there.

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 05/07/2012 18:29

Thanks soon. I think reading between the lines he probably shouldn't be in the top set.
But I am worried about how they will find an appropriate set for him taking all the factors into account.

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TheFallenMadonna · 05/07/2012 18:34

Do you have information on his current attainment from his old school. IME, some schools are very poor at handing information on, and I have had to set based on no information, which is crazy.

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 05/07/2012 18:42

The new school have a copy of his school report from February. I have contacted the old school to get the results of a Maths test he took just before he left plus the end of year report and also his Maths books.
Would the new teacher be interested in seeing them do you think Fallen?

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bigTillyMint · 05/07/2012 18:44

What kind of a maths test was it? On the topic the class has been covering or an overall test?
Might it be that he is good at maths, but hasn't been taught all the subject matter or to as high a level as the children in his new set? So they think he has the ability but not all the coverage yet? What kind of a maths test was it? On the topic the class has been covering or an overall test?

Having said that, there is quite a range of ability in DD's set - they have all been taught the same stuff, obviously, but DD tells me that the children who are best at maths in her set get high level 8's. They then range down to quite a bit lower. They are going to be re-setted next term apparently as they start on their GCSE courses, so I'm not sure how that will pan out. It's a comp.

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 05/07/2012 18:53

It was an end of year test covering what they had learnt from what I can gather, the non-calculator one. The calculator one is tomorrow.

I have just had a look at his Feb report and it is as follows-

Current Grade 5b
Most Likely Grade 6c
Aspirational Target Grade 6b

Confused
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bigTillyMint · 05/07/2012 18:58

Well it depends on the ability of the other children in the top set, but as it's so close to the end of tern, they may have just put him in there whilst they assess?
If he is feeling out of his depth, I would go in with the stuff from the previous school and have a chat.

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 05/07/2012 19:00

Thanks Tilly. I feel a bit sorry for him. He was really chuffed about being in the top set. Sad

He is loving the new school though, so I think he will be where he needs to be eventually.

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soonbesailing · 05/07/2012 19:32

I would def talk to the school, our school would never move a child down based on one lot of tests so perhaps you can make sure that they keep him in top set until at least Christmas next year, as he hasn't had a chance to really show what he knows yet so it would be rather unfair if they moved him based on this one set of tests.

complexnumber · 05/07/2012 19:41

Back in the 70's, as a 14 y/o I was in set 2 for maths.

I now have a degree in the subject, and have been teaching it for 20+ years. I have never stopped loving the subject.

Good luck to your DS1

noblegiraffe · 05/07/2012 19:56

Our end of year exam for Y8 is a SATs paper, so that we can accurately level the kids. This will probably contain some questions on topics that they haven't done because they don't have to have covered all the level 7 topics to sit a level 5-7 paper. If he is sitting a non calc and a calc paper I imagine it will be something like that.

That said, a kid at level 5/low 6 in my school in Y8 would not be in the top set in Y9. I also had a student start school recently who was put in my top set until next year simply because I had a spare desk - she will be moved down next year.

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 05/07/2012 20:02

My feeling is that he shouldn't be in the top set. Obviously we don't know what his current level is, so hopefully will find out with a mixture of results from both schools.

Would the kid even be in the 2nd set noble?

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noblegiraffe · 05/07/2012 20:06

We have 8 sets in Y9, it's a big school and quite high achieving, so a different school would probably have very different setting levels. A student on a low level 6 at the end of Y8 would probably go into set 3.

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 05/07/2012 20:08

So shall I just butt out and let the school get on with it? I hate interfering, but I would like them to know that DS is concerned.

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Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 05/07/2012 20:14

Thanks complex. It is his least favourite subject but you never know. Grin

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noblegiraffe · 05/07/2012 20:21

If it's decent exam it should give a reasonably accurate level and they can set him based on that. I'd wait until the results come out then he can compare himself to others in the set. On SATs papers you can get the highest level with only 100 marks out of 150 (so that would get a level 7 on the 5-7 paper) and he might not have done as badly as he thinks.

Remind him that even if he gets moved down a set it's not about being demoted for poor work, it's about finding the best place for him to do as well as he can.

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 05/07/2012 20:25

Thanks noble that all makes good sense. He does get very anxious over tests which doesn't help.

I would much rather he didn't stay in a set he was struggling in, as you say he needs to be in a set where he can get his best results. Smile

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Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 06/07/2012 16:36

He did today's Calculator one, and said it was 'pips' (easy). Confused

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bigTillyMint · 06/07/2012 19:05

Ah well, wait for the results and see what the school say. Maybe he's just a panicker in maths tests like my DD!

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 06/07/2012 19:17

He is bigTilly. Have you manged to say anything to your DD to make her less panicky? DS has always looked like a frightened rabbit if the 'test' word is mentioned.

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Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 06/07/2012 19:17

*managed even

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bigTillyMint · 06/07/2012 19:20

Well, after 2 years of her panicking and then coming back and saying she has flopped...As they do tests every half-term, my patience has worn a bit thin, I take no very little notice and just tell her she'll be fine and just to try her best, etcSmile

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 06/07/2012 19:30

That's what I do now. As long as he has revised. He's actually better than he was but it's quite a struggle.

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bigTillyMint · 06/07/2012 19:36

I think we have to take a small step back as they grow up and let fate take it's course (ie they take ownership of their studying/teste, etc) whilst being upbeat and supportive, of courseWink

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 06/07/2012 19:39

Yes we do. DS is very conscientious, and always wants to do everything right, so he's very good. Just needs a bit of confidence, so I am hoping the new school will help.

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