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Secondary education

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Original poster

your Y8 top set children - what levels?

93 replies

kitnkaboodle · 29/12/2014 00:29

... in maths, English and science? ? Finally dug son's Christmas school report out of his bag. He's been coasting since starting secondary and is happy to do the minimum to get by. He did great at primary and got the academic prize when he left. Did level 6 ks2 sats etc. Current levels according to report are English 6a, Maths 7b, Science 7c. I know these are all really good, but I would have predicted him being a real high flyer and I think these are not exceptional for top sets. Please don't flame me. I can't exactly go around his peers' parents asking what they got - so trying to get a perspective on it here. He is very bookish n bright n I just want to be sure he's fulfilling his potential

OP posts:
MissMillament · 02/01/2015 14:41

Kitties -I'm not sure where you got the idea that a L8 was only possible in Maths, but as an English teacher let me reassure you that L8 is possible at KS3 in English (and all other subjects AFAIK). At least for the next year or two until we have all made up our own new systems to replace levels.

TalkinPeace · 02/01/2015 14:51

Marmitelover
but parents must be a bit more motivated/organised re application.
which definition rules out the low motivation families
so its not a comp
any school with an entrance test is not a comp

Hakluyt · 02/01/2015 14:55

"I think it is fully comprehensive in terms of ability range, but parents must be a bit more motivated/organised re application."
Otherwise known as a selective
school......

Marmitelover55 · 02/01/2015 14:58

I don't really agree that it's selective as that implies selection by ability or income. eg like a grammar school. No amount of tutoring will help you get into this school, not will having the money to move into the right catchment area.

TalkinPeace · 02/01/2015 15:02

Marmite
Its like the faith schools
only organised parents can comply with the requirements
so children of lower ability parents do not get in
and it shows when you look at the demographics of the schools

any sort of test means its not a Comprehensive.

Marmitelover55 · 02/01/2015 15:05

I think it has quite a high proportion of FSM but not sure where to check this?

TalkinPeace · 02/01/2015 15:06

dfe website : shows what the school is and what the local area is : can be revealing

Marmitelover55 · 02/01/2015 15:10

Also don't agree that it's like the faith schools - don't they require a massive commitment from birth etc ?

All this is, iis a non verbal reasoning test and There are several opportunities to sit it.

Marmitelover55 · 02/01/2015 15:16

% requiring FSM over last 6 years is 30%, not sure where comparative for our area would be.

catslife · 02/01/2015 15:54

I really don't understand why on MN parents are so concerned if their dcs are not in the top set.
The ability range of this set is going to vary across different schools depending on intake.
All pupils achieving more than level 6 at the end of Y9 should have the opportunity to take Triple Science if the school offers this. This entitlement is a national requirement. Also all pupils achieving above average levels at the end of Y9 should be more than capable of taking Higher tier GCSE papers and achieving at least 5 A*-C grades.
Marmitelover55 is quoting the figures for 2013 exam results. Knowing which school her dd attends, I have looked up the figures: for this cohort of pupils there were less than 10% low attainers (less than 5% with SEN), just over 30% middle attainers and the rest (more than 60%) high attainers. That's a fairly high ability intake and not fully comprehensive IMHO.

Marmitelover55 · 02/01/2015 16:03

Wow impressed carslife - have I outed myself somehow? Sorry notv good at this obviously!

catslife · 02/01/2015 17:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hakluyt · 02/01/2015 18:13

What's the etiquette about trawling people's posts to "out" them? Somebody did it to me and I found it very uncomfortable- even thought their Sherlocking in fact led them to the wrong school................

KittiesInsane · 02/01/2015 18:27

MissMillament: this page says level 8 in maths only, but could well mean something entirely different.

I go more on 'seems bright-ish to me'.

Hakluyt · 02/01/2015 18:53

As far as i am aware, there are no published criteria for a level 8 in any subject but Maths.

chumaniward1 · 02/01/2015 19:00

My daughter was 8a equivalent in maths and sciences, 7b in history unsure about the rest

Hakluyt · 02/01/2015 19:04

What's an 8a equivalent?

Picturesinthefirelight · 02/01/2015 19:42

Hakluyt - could I have your thoughts on my post above about a dd who feels she isn't being challenged in science & after we approached the teacher her levels fell from 6c to 5b.

MissMillament · 02/01/2015 20:37

Kitties - that page relates to KS3 SATs tests, which disappeared years ago. KS3 has been teacher assessed for many years now and we have the ability, certainly in English to assess up to L8 and indeed award a level of EP (exceptional performance) to a pupil working beyond that level.

Hakluyt · 02/01/2015 21:51

I don't know, pictures- I would certainly be asking the teacher as soon as the new term starts.....

MissMillament- I'd love to see the criteria- could you link to them, please?

MissMillament · 02/01/2015 22:10

Sure thing, Hak, here you go ks3 levels

They have disappeared from the DfE website now, because levels no longer exist, but most schools are still using them while we make up some other ridiculous criteria to replace them with.

KittiesInsane · 03/01/2015 09:01

Ah, that makes sense. DS1 had a couple of 8s (for art and DT, of all things) a few years back, so I was a bit puzzled myself.

DD's school report had a list of 'levels and approximate GCSE predictions' which mentioned that they were only assessing up to level 8 for maths, but I think they may have meant just their end of term exams.

thelittlebooktroll · 03/01/2015 09:16

My ds is in a grammar and only just achieving a few levels 6 now in year 8. He is mostly scoring 5a and up to 6b in what are his core subjects. He says he is middle set and only a couple in his class score the occasional 7. I am not worried at all. I wonder if some school inflates their figures somehow

gobbin · 03/01/2015 09:49

Levels mean absolutely bugger all, in reality. The only time it will ACTUALLY matter is when your child sits proper, externally- (and independently-) assessed exams. Levels are a loose guide. Don't get hung up about them and definitely don't get worked up about a, b or c within levels as these don't actually exist.

Hakluyt · 03/01/2015 10:00

As I said, the question to ask your child is how difficult he is finding work at school and homework. And what sort of feedback he is getting for the work he does. The ideal answer is good marks and good feedback (with useful EBI comments) after having to put a bit of effort in.