Concerned about Y7 maths teacher

[NameyChangey666]

My DS is in Y7. He got a L6 (and was in the 'G+T' maths group) in his SATs last year so I was not overly concerned about maths this year, feeling that he has all the skills and confidence and it would be good for him to have the chance to consolidate his knowledge and not be stressed by maths for a year.

His secondary school is a good one, and the Head of Maths is an 'old school' type, very hot on knowing the basics, no messing about with him, etc (we know him outside school) so we thought this ethos would filter through to rest of dept.

I have now learned that in fact the school is very short of maths teachers, as two left last year amend they're struggling to recruit more. And apparently they are using other teachers to cover, after putting them through 'crash courses' in maths teaching (I was told they were already good at maths, just needed extra skills for teaching it)

DS has a maths teacher who is described as an ICT teacher on the staff list, and the same man teaches him ITC as well. DS claims to be getting on OK with maths, and I've looked at his exercise book and it looks alright. But all the homework they are given is on a computer programme called MyMaths, and teacher doesnt always put the work on there on the day he sets the homework, meaning that sometimes DS struggles to get it done because of extra-curricular activities.

Same teacher uses an ICT programme called Edmodo to give the class homework, and also uses it as a chat forum for class members. The 'quiz' programmes on it that he uses as homework are really badly laid out and confusing to use.

I have met the teacher once, on an Open Evening (for DS2) and I really didnt warm to him, he seemed very techie/geeky and not really used to talking to parents. The ICT kids think he's cool because he understands MineCraft, but that doesn't fill me with confidence!!

Parents Evening is tomorrow and teacher wants to talk to all the parents. I know DS's CAT results (all L6) so what should I say to this guy and how should I gently express my slight concern that I have in my gut? Should I ask what DS's expected progress is? Will the staff have that sort of info or is that only used in Primary school? I just feel uneasy about his ability to maintain interest and concentration and the old person in me thinks that using computer programmes for homework is rather lazy teaching. Am I out of touch?! Please advise before I make a tit of myself

[LoopaDaLoopa]

MyMaths = fine
Edmodo = excellent
ICT teacher teaching KS3 Maths = fine
DS not liking teacher = he can't be expected to like them all.

Therefore, no issue IMO.

[titchy]

You mentioned CAT scores just now, then said in your OP he got Level 6 in CAT scores? Did you mean L6 in SATS? CATS don't measure NC levels, they're VR and NVR tests AFAIK.

[bigbuttons]

yes, just to add, the cats levels would not adjust the NC attainment levels. They have absolutely nothing to do with it.
For cats you get a score and a level. I believe the maximum is a 9 or perhaps an 8 I can't remember, it is irrelevant really, this is not a NC level 9 or 8.
At my dc's school once the cats are done the children are given an end if key stage target. One is an agreed target between teacher and children and another 'expected' target set by teachers.

It is this target against which all work/tests will now be judged. If they are higher achievers in the sats and cats then the targets will reflect this, they will be high. That is not to say the child cannot exceed his/her given target of course, but it is means of checking that they are progressing well.

[NameyChangey666]

Friday no, I was concerned that the only homework being set is via MyMaths. Not having been to secondary school since the 80s, I had no idea that this is common practice.

The CAT scores are available online via Go4School. The same site shows his SATs results, and also any other NC levels for tests they have done. There are no expected levels yet. His NC attainment levels have changed in the last couple of weeks (is post CATs) so I assumed the CATs results had been somehow translated.

Like I said, there's no manual! DS doesn't know much more than us about the way things work, and my friends are in the same boat. I am not in the habit of asking the school to answer every little query, so I did think it was reasonable to ask on MN and explain why I was concerned. I am really not at all pfb but sometimes ones gut feelings about things need to be addressed and worked through. Thank you again

[Floggingmolly]

Are CAT scores generally available to the parents, then? They're not at dd's school.

[noblegiraffe]

Schools often perform their own baseline assessments as KS2 results aren't always reliable. My school would give Y7 a SATs paper a few weeks into term and use those levels for setting etc. So it may have been an internal assessment that caused the levels to change, not CATs, which are used to generate targets, not current levels.

[NameyChangey666]

Thank you Big Buttons, that's really helpful
He has been given no targets for anything yet, so maybe that's something to ask about this evening. I am only just used to KS2 NC levels anyway and now I have to learn something new! The curse of the SAHM with enough time to worry about stuff

[curlew]

The CATS won't have changed his NC levels. However, the figures you saw are probably the NC level he is currently working at. That will be based on the work he is actually producing at the moment. What is the difference between the level he started year 7 on and the level you're talking about?

[NameyChangey666]

So I just checked the website again and it's all changed (since Sunday, when i last looked) Anyone would think there was a parents evening

There's now NC levels given for his end of KS3 target, end of Y7 target, and current levels. This makes much more sense than what was on there before and gives me a bit more understanding before I go to talk to the teachers. They all seem pretty realistic.

Seems weird seeing L2/3s on there but of course if they've only just started the subject (eg German), then they'll hardly be at a L5 yet!

Does anyone know a good blog that explains all this stuff? I have another 7-9yrs of school to get through although with Gove in charge it'll all have changed 4 times by then

[curlew]

Pick one at random, and tell us current, end of year 7 and end of key stage. Then we can tell you whether they look realistic/challenging enough.

[NameyChangey666]

Update:
Great parents evening, the teachers that we saw seemed very positive and focused on challenging their students. All very on-the-ball with regards to current levels and targets. Maths teacher was very pleasant, sat behind his open laptop (a protective shield from stroppy parents perhaps?!) and was encouraging about DS's progress. So I have reassured DS that he's obviously a decent teacher who he just doesn't really click with. And I am reassured too . Thanks again for your comments

[Minime85]

I'm glad it went well and you feel reassured.

[Talkinpeace]

MyMaths is great for homework because it tracks EXACTLY what the kids do : how long they take between answering questions, how many tries they have, all that sort of stuff.
Its (almost) pushy parent proof.
And because it self marks most of the work it leaves the teacher free to analyse problem areas rather than churn through hundreds of the same amswer.

[bruffin]

Level 6 is only an average CAT score unlike NC levels that is unlikely to change. We have Go4schools and you can see raw CAT scores and what level they are.
Dc also use mymaths and it is very good.

[Asterisk]

Give the OP a break. There's nothing wrong with being concerned when non-subject teachers are drafted in to teach as important a subject as maths. OP, if I were in your situation I think I'd point out the problem with homework timetabling if there is a delay in the homework being set on MyMaths, but leave your concerns at that for the moment. That the teacher has asked to speak to all parents is a good sign. It's probably going to be okay.