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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

I'm slightly worried that we are not pushy enough parents

48 replies

Mintyy · 10/07/2013 20:32

Dd is in Yr 7 at a bog standard London comp, which is exactly what I wanted for her and am quite happy.

There is a but, though, which is that she is a top level student in every subject and I am worried that she will not reach her full academic potential at this school because they, quite understandably, are very keen to get as high a number as possible passing 5 gcses inc Eng and Maths at A-C, and I suspect that they are happy to allow their best pupils to get, say, 11 gcses at all sorts of grades.

I have no doubt that dd would be an A/A* student at private or grammar school, but I don't want her to go to that kind of a school!

What do people do to make sure that very clever children are being stretched (not pushed) at state secondary?

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 10/07/2013 20:46

We are fortunate, dds school is very proactive about stretching children both in class and with enrichment activities. Each department has a g&t coordinator responsible for identifying children who are able and stretching them.

HilaryM · 10/07/2013 20:55

Watching with interest as this will be us in a few years. :)

nextphase · 10/07/2013 21:04

Let her do her school work, and lots of extra curricular activities to stretch her other than academically, and give her a boost into an area she might want to work in.

Highly recommend Duke of Edinburgh when shes 14 (go to an open award centre rather than through school)

creamteas · 10/07/2013 21:43

My DC are at an middle-of-the road comp, but that does not mean that they are not pushed to get their target grades. The top set are expected to get and achieve A/A* grades.

What makes you think your school won't?

Original poster
Mintyy · 10/07/2013 22:16

Good question creamteas.

Its just a feeling?? I suppose that sounds a bit lame.

How can I find more detailed breakdown of exam grades within a particular school?

And, also, if my dd comes out of school with all A or A*, then what are the private school parents paying for?

OP posts:
springtide · 10/07/2013 22:24

Nextphase - I agree about encouraging participation in extras like the D of E but really don't understand your sugestion it should be done through a centre rather than school. D of E is D of E - it doesn't have less value when done through the local comp!

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 10/07/2013 23:35

Schools are judged on their A/A results. You should be able to find out your school's results by googling. For statistical reasons schools are keen for pupils to get C grades and A/A grades.

Lots of comprehensives have pupils finishing with A/A* across the board. My DC are at comprehensive and are on track for these kind of results.

What private school parents are paying for is a whole different thread!

Another who doesn't understand not doing DofE through school. DCs school is really good at preparing/training for their expedition supportive for the other areas too.

tiredaftertwo · 10/07/2013 23:40

Mintyy, some schools publish a detailed breakdown of GCSE results - if your dd's doesn't, you could ask for it. If they won't give it to you, I would ask why not, and scour the websites of other preferably local schools to show that it can be done.

You can also look at the official league tables, as these now include information about high, medium and low attainers, ebacc and all the rets of it. It is not just about the 5 A-Cs inc E and M any more. You will see that the average GCSE grade for the high attainers varies a lot between schools, so your question is perfectly valid. Plenty of children come out of comprehensives with strings of As and A*s though - people paying for private education may be paying because they don't live in the catchment of any of them, for example.

When you say she is a top level student in every subject, do you mean she is right at the top of every single class? I would be a bit concerned in that case, whatever the type of school!

schooldidi · 10/07/2013 23:51

My school is a comp and our top sets are expected to get A/A* in most subjects (we all have something we're slightly less good at).

Dd1 goes to a different comp and is being stretched in a lot of subjects, I fully expect her to get A/A* in everything when she gets that far, she's currently finishing Y8. The only subject I'm slightly concerned about her being stretched in is Maths, because she is quite a lot farther ahead of the rest of the top set (who are quite good in terms of a comprehensive top set) and she's better than the best in my top set.

Most of dd1's high achieving friends from primary school went to a grammar school, with a couple going to a private school. They aren't doing any better than dd1 as far as NC levels go right now, and I suspect they won't do any better at GCSE or A level either.

StupidFlanders · 11/07/2013 00:14

I would talk to /email her teachers and tell them what you write here. Sounds reasonable to me (a teacher). Ask how they differentiate their lessons to challenge and extend her- and ask how you can support them as her parent. Ask them to contact you in a few weeks to see if there's been an improvement or if you could do anything else.

nextphase · 11/07/2013 08:47

Spring Tide not because the quality is any different, but because if you break away from school, you get to see a different set of people, a differnt perspective on life, and get suggestions from a wider range of people about what you could do for each section. If the OP wants to stretch her child, there is more chance of having something different suggested than the stabndard "we've always done an aerobics class at lunchtime so if you turn up we will sign that section off"

The award is the same, the process (from what i've seen) is much more guided in schools, and hence gives even more developemnt opps if you go external.

Bonsoir · 11/07/2013 08:52

I agree with others - if you want to stretch your DC you should offer her development opportunities in a context that is different to school.

NoComet · 11/07/2013 09:14

Because DD is dyslexic she isn't in top set, but is still capable of getting As in several things.

What I try to do is be interested, talk about what she's doing, ask what she finds harder and talk through things that help.

These tend to be making sure she has her own copy of textbooks or revision books (as her notes aren't that great). Reminding her that she's good at using mind maps and notes on record cards and to do it and keep them safe.

Facilitating extra curricular things, both financially and as taxi service. One being music, which is directly relevant to her GCSEs.

NoComet · 11/07/2013 09:19

Just generally being interested and supportive. With school work, extracurricular stuff and in ensuring she gets to spend time with friends that make her happy (both us and her DFs live in public transport free rural places, so even at 15/16 they have to rely on lifts).

Bakingnovice · 11/07/2013 09:26

Interesting thread. Marking my place as I have a similar dilemma.

FormaLurka · 11/07/2013 09:31

"if my dd comes out of school with all A or A*, then what are the private school parents paying for?"

That is a bit like saying Ryanair gets you to the same destination as BA but for less money so what are BA customers paying for.

Tigerblue · 11/07/2013 10:15

If she is capable of getting A/A in many subjects, why wouldn't she get them at her present school?. If she works hard in every subject and is really capable, then she surely can achieve her A/As.

My daughter was recently asked her language tutor if she had to do a language as an option. Her tutor said she was shocked my daughter wouldn't want to, as she is in the top sets for French and Spanish and the school hoped for A/A*s from all children in the top sets. Okay, it's might be only a hope but they still have to put the teaching in within every top set so many are capable.

My daughter's friend has parents who want her to do well in particular subjects, have explained this to the school and the school have agreed to set her extra work in the holidays. This is one avenue you could go down. Also, could the school set extension work for her?

Talkinpeace · 11/07/2013 10:58

At DCs comp - and all the others round here (having been to the 6th form college open evening last night)

Top set : expected to get A*/A
Second set : expected to get A/B
Third set : expected to get B-D
Fourth set : expected to pass
Bottom set : glad to be literate and numerate

Year 7 you won't realise how hard they will start to be pushed as time goes on.
DD is year 10 : she had her revision notes propped up on the screen on the treadmill at the gym the other night!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 11/07/2013 11:01

The nice thing about being a really bright kid is that they can get top grades and have time for a good range of extra curricular activities that stretch. Does your dd do an instrument or other hobbies?

ShoutyCrackers · 11/07/2013 11:04

Tbh with you, I don't do anything really. My DD is in year 9 and is predicted 12 A/A* GCSE grades. I would not describe her as super bright particularly < err although I AM proud of her! > and I just enquire as to whether she has done her homework and tell her to revise. It may have helped that she has been brought up with the expectation that she will go to university so that has always been on the cards. I have never done the whole ' you can do whatever you like as long as you're happy '... I've always been more ' when you go to university ... '

Apart from that though, I am not pushy at all and leave her to it.

motherinferior · 11/07/2013 11:04

I think a school which is rapidly soaring up the local league tables really isn't one to worry about, Mintyy.

motherinferior · 11/07/2013 11:06

My daughter's at a comp - I wouldn't, actually, describe it as 'bog standard' because I find it a rather vibrant, energetic place though it is certainly non-selective and is utterly representative of the local area - and I've got a reasonably high expectation that she will do extremely well at GSCE.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 11/07/2013 11:12

Mintyy do you know any parents with older children there who you could talk to? They might put your mind at rest, or they might make you feel you do need to do something, but either way it might be a good idea to have a sounding board?

When my dd was in year 7 the school didn't seem to be talking much about what she'd get in her GCSEs, to be honest, but that certainly changed as we moved through the years.

Arcticwaffle · 11/07/2013 11:19

I have dds in yr8 and yr 7 of a bog standard comp. Their school has expectations similar to Talkingpeace's - top set expected to get A/A*. They obsessively track students from their yr6 sats levels and expect the top students to make as much progress as the middle ones - so there is certainly pressure, even in yrs 7 and 8, for the most academic kids to keep achieving.

One of my dds is doing very well, on current showing she'd be expected to get all A*s without breaking a sweat (though GCSEs are a long way off still and of course I know they can change a lot over these years), but the school does push her and the others like her. Lots of extra clubs, extra extension activities etc. Quite a few "G&T" clubs after school as well as separate activities within the class. Are you sure your school doesn't have these things going on too? Comps tend to be less obvious sometimes about what they're doing but IME they are pretty enthusiastic about bright students doing well, it reflects well on the school.

motherinferior · 11/07/2013 11:23

Yep, my lot appear to have various slightly obscure ways of identifying kids for special sessions/classes/subjects.