I need some guidance please.

[caringdad66]

My y6 son is currently at levels - reading5b;writing5b and maths 5a.
I have the following queries- is he on target for top sets at secondary school?
do I need to ask schools to include him onto their gifted and talented register?
Are his current levels all that good?
is he in top 10% of pupils nationally,or top 25%?
his teacher says in maths he is a borderline level 6.
all advice and comments welcome...thanks.

I think it will vary by secondary school. My DD1 got all level 5s in her SATs and is in the third set out of six at her (high achieving) comp. In less high achieving schools she might have been in a higher set I imagine.

I think iirc level 5 is expected in year 6
Not above the average

I have the following queries- is he on target for top sets at secondary school?

• maybe depending on intake and size of school. Certainly higher sets. They will probably do CATs at secondary and set based on these and SATs. Any good school will review sets each term in y7 anyway.

do I need to ask schools to include him onto their gifted and talented register?

• no

Are his current levels all that good?

• define 'good' (see below)

is he in top 10% of pupils nationally,or top 25%?

• I think ~30% get level 5 nationally

his teacher says in maths he is a borderline level 6.

• that would put his maths closer to top 5% I think.

My advice, he's doing fine, don't stress yourself or him.

pusscatdoll No. Level 4 is expected end y6.

As Marmite says, it will depend entirely on the rest of the cohort in year 7 at his secondary school.

They're good levels but I know from experience that solid level 5s are no predictor of achievement at secondary - much depends on the motivation of the student and how hard they work.

I also find with maths that it's difficult to predict how students will continue to progress. My eldest 2 seemed to plateau at GCSE and then struggle with A level maths, whereas my youngest seems to have got better and better at maths and seems - so far - to be finding A level maths a doddle.

I'm not sure how much secondary schools bother with G&T - I've always found it to be more of a primary school initiative. But if they do then it is up to the school to decide who is on their register - certainly not something you could or should request.

there is still 4 months of year 6 to go,so can we expect those current levels to increase further?

SATS are done in May so only two months to go! Don't sweat it - secondary will do their own assessments to determine the most appropriate set.

A good level 5 would put a child into one of our 2 top set for Maths (we have 8 classes altogether but 2 parallel set 1s, then 2 parallel set 2s, etc). A 5b for Reading and Writing would probably put them into one of the 2 top sets for English but he may end up in one of the set 2s. We're a fairly average comp.

Asking to be put on the G&T register would just get you labelled as a pushy parent in our school. We decide which pupils are G&T about halfway through the year and there is no different treatment for them at all, they are given extension work in the top sets, same as any pupil is given extension work that needs it, whatever set they are in.

all good replies,i am grateful.

I think it depends on the area, as in our school the top set and half the middle set are expected to get Level 6s in maths.
My Y7 DD went into a partially selective secondary school that gets very good results and is near the top of the top maths groups but is not THE top student IYSWIM.
She's getting solid level 6s ( bs and as) in her work this year.

Depending on how selective the school is, and how able the rest of the year group is, he could be anywhere from top 5% to top 50%.

Every child in DS2's Maths set (and most of the set below) got a L6 in KS2 Maths.

DD is in year 7 middle set out of 6 (comp). She is working at a level 6B. Her friend in the top set is a 7A, so think top sets are much higher.

Sorry - meant to say in maths.