what would be a sensible approach for school to take with dd? (Maths)

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

d is Year 8 and very talented at Maths. School is lovely and doing their best with her. At the moment they have her self teaching from the Set 1 Year 9 book whilst the rest of the class are taught the Year 8 curriculum. She finds the work pretty simple, but she is coming across things she hasnt seen before. They are also challenging her through the UKMT program.

It's not ideal, we'd quite like dd to be actually taught maths, rather than teach herself. Partly because she isnt really learning formal ways of writing proofs and what not (which will become important I guess) but also, we are a bit worried that at some point she will need to learn exam technique and also we are concerned she might develop misconceptions that nobody picks up on.

Happy for her to muddle on this year, but next year she would be starting on teaching herself GCSE if they go down the same path. Not so happy about that. If she is going to do that level work, we think she ought to be taught.

In an ideal world, I think we'd like to see her moved up a year in maths now, as her maturity is really coming on and she has lots of friends in the year group above, but we think that it would be impossible for the school to timetable. But what would be reasonable for the school to try and achieve?

Thanks :)

[Schooldidi]

I hope that's good interesting rather than worrying interesting.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Both!

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

School phoned us and asked for a meeting after a rather unproductive conversation with dds maths teacher. First week back after half term, so hopefully they have a plan!

[Magdalena45]

I think the school is dropping the ball a little. SOME self teaching is fine, but she also needs to be shown, to enure she understands standard methods This way risks her not knowing for some time if she is on the wrong track. She should have a specialised teaching plan, the same as if she had a learning difficulty. I do think you should (politely) persue it!

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Will let you know what they come up with at the meeting magdelana. It's with the head of the department and deputy head, so I'm hoping for something useful. Dd has been asked to meet with the head of department this week, so I'm really impressed with how responsive they are being so far.

[Phineyj]

OP, these articles may be of interest (2nd one requires a Times subscription but is general article about the new specialist maths schools)

www.exeter.ac.uk/news/university/title_255009_en.html

www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/newsreview/education/article1197374.ece

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Thank you phiney :)

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Considering my weather obsession and the fact that actually it's within sort of reasonable distance for me, I might enlist