Dont understand "fast tracking"

[chocaddiction]

My DD goes to an outstanding secondary school.

She is coming to the end on year 7. Apparently they were put in sets for maths and science at the beginning of year 7 based on primary sats and cats tests. They are not put in sets for english until year 8.

There are two classes each of French, German, Italian and Spanish. The children had no choice in what language class they were assigned to. As far as I was aware they were not put in sets for languages because they had not been taught in primary.

When I went to parents evening earlier in the year, I was told my DD was predicted 7a-7b in French by end of year 9. I thought this was good as she had not learnt French previously.

Some children in all the languages classes have been told they are being fast tracked.

DD said she is in the second set in french and no children have been fast tracked. A lot of children from her primary are in the same French class.

Speaking to various parents it appears they were put in sets for languages even though they were not previously taught that language. Set 1's are being fast tracked. Most of DD's friends from primary are in set 2 for which ever language they are being taught.

I really dont understand how this works, what isthe benefit of "fast tracking". How were they put in sets at the start of year 7 when they were not taught the language at primary?

Sorry it's long!

Thanks

I don't know how they were put in sets in your dd's school, but in my dd's school, they put them in sets according to their English sets from the start of Yr7, then kept an eye on who "took" to languages and who found them more difficult, and tweaked and reviewed the groups throughout Yr7. They said that - acknowledging there are exceptions - they had found that there was quite a strong correlation between being good at English and good at MFLs, and the fact they monitored and reviewed it so much, 'mopped up' those that didn't fit with the correlation.
Not sure about the 'fast track', or quite what you mean by that. By 'setting', then those who grasped things quicker do move on quicker than those who need more repetition and practice. In Yr8, some of the year get to do a 2nd language, while others concentrate on doing just the one.
dd didn't do any MFL at Primary. Some of her set did, some didn't.

Thanks backforgood.

Friend just told me the fast tracking is taking an early GSCE.

Definately different at my DD's school because no setting yet for english. There hasn't been any movement between DD's french sets (none in my nephews Italian) so not sure how they are working it.