Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Secondary education

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Honest answers please! Year 9 levels - what level is your child at in their Option subjects?

46 replies

WiltsWoman · 30/01/2015 14:26

This is not just for MN genius offspring - I'd like to hear from everyone!
I think DS is doing well at school. He has quite a few subjects he would like to take for GCSE, and is finding it hard to narrow it down to four.

Along with whether he enjoys the subject, I think achieving well at it has to be a key deciding factor too. However his teachers are notoriously vague about making any sort of predictions about what he might end up with.

So, if your child is taking a subject as an option, what is their current NC level in that (and yes, I know these are being phased out), and do you have any expectations (from teachers) as to what they might (all things being equal) achieve at GCSE (in old GCSE currency ie A*-G)?

For example - in French DS is at 4c. Is that worth a go, or would he most likely only get a D at GCSE... (he's only been doing it two, not three years though)

Thanks so much. >

OP posts:

Hakluyt · 05/02/2015 13:11

Chief Brody- a a level 7 or two- or 7B in all subjects. A bit different.

VivaLeBeaver · 05/02/2015 13:37

I can quite happily accept that some children in year 8 could be Lvl 7 in all subjects.

I find it hard to comprehend that all the kids in that school are Lvl 7. It really must be the top school in the country.

catslife · 05/02/2015 13:40

ChiefBrody the KS2 values at the end of Y6 are only for Maths, English and Science.
Other subjects such as MFL have not usually been studied before KS3 so tend to have lower levels.
It is hard to achieve a high level for MFL after 2 years study as pupils will not have covered the work needed for higher levels.
On the levels sheet handed out at dds school we are given info about the average level obtained for her cohort (year group) and the national average expected for Y7, Y8, Y9 etc.
I really wish more schools did this as it would mean less of this type of thread!

chiefbrody · 05/02/2015 14:20

In never said all the kids i said most of my sons peers. [ The social group that surrounds him]

chiefbrody · 05/02/2015 14:22

And just to confirm he has an expected level of 7a or 7b in every subject.

Hakluyt · 05/02/2015 14:23

You also said then school has never mentioned him being particularly able. Which presupposes that he is by no means exceptional.

A year 8 child getting 7b in all subjects (not one or two, all) is exceptional. Particularly in the subjects he would only have started the year before.

SensibleIshoos · 05/02/2015 14:27

chief I didn't want to mortally offend you. I'm glad you have now found a home over on G&T. I am sure they will be more than happy to help you with your query.

As to my dilemma. It is mainly to do with languages. DS is doing well at other subjects, but not so at his two languages (actually a 4b and 5a currently). Much as I would like him to do a language, it doesn't seem a great idea if he only gets a C in it, when he could get a lot higher than that in a non-language subject.

Teachers just won't say how they think he might do, which seems foolish really, as surely fewer people will take their subject without a clearer idea of likely progress?

Anyhow, we have till after half term to decide. Maybe there will be some revelation before then to help us decide!

As to this thread, thanks for those trying to dispell the 'all MN offspring are genius meme'. It can tend to put folks off . I still think schools should offer more information so we are better placed to actually understand how our DC are doing.

chiefbrody · 05/02/2015 14:38

School just says he is doing very well............................

This is great as he feels no pressure/

Hakluyt · 05/02/2015 14:43

Just in case anyone is reading both threads, you do NOT NEED to be getting level 7s across the board in year 8 to get A*s and As far GCSE!

Hakluyt · 05/02/2015 14:49

"to my dilemma. It is mainly to do with languages. DS is doing well at other subjects, but not so at his two languages (actually a 4b and 5a currently). Much as I would like him to do a language, it doesn't seem a great idea if he only gets a C in it, when he could get a lot higher than that in a non-language subject"

It all depends on what sort of kid he is, I think. My ds is a 6c in Spanish at the moment, and is aiming for an A. But he'll have to work hard to get it. He is very keen on the idea of all As because he wants to do better than his sister

chiefbrody · 05/02/2015 15:53

hakluyt.... yes 7a and 7b in every subject.................... He is on course to achieve this at the end of year 8.................

So according to you he is exceptional.... ;-)

chiefbrody · 05/02/2015 15:56

Someone said grammar schools do not expect this............ pah they certainly do in this area......and a lot more

Hakluyt · 05/02/2015 16:25

"Someone said grammar schools do not expect this............ pah they certainly do in this area......and a lot more"

Tell us more about life on your planet-it sounds fascinating!

chiefbrody · 05/02/2015 16:31

It is thanks

life is what you make it.

Hakluyt · 05/02/2015 16:36

But please donmt spread alarming misinformation. Grammar schools do not expect all level 7s at the end of year 8. And you do not have to have level 7s at the end of year 8 to have a chance of As and A at GCSE.

Arsenic · 05/02/2015 16:44

Someone said grammar schools do not expect this............ pah they certainly do in this area......and a lot more

So you don't need any guidance then? You already know what the levels mean?

tiggytape · 05/02/2015 16:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ExitPursuedByABear · 05/02/2015 17:19

Well hot diggerdy do.

My DD's school never told us what level she was at in Y9. She is now Y10. Is she doomed?

PeachyTheSanctiMoanyArse · 05/02/2015 18:50

I have one in year 9, one in year 10. options are very familiar to me right now!

I have just found out DS2 got an A* in french exams this week- and his options just can't be rejigged to take french without losing something dear to him, it's a shame. he gets to do short course Welsh though.

They don't attend the same school (eldest is at an ASD resource base) so had different choices. by the end of year nine he'd already got a BTEC art equivalent to two good GCSE's. His GCSE choices are academic ones as that's him all over, bookish child.

He went in so far behind that we were told he was unteachable; he is hoping to do a degree in politics after A-Levels in English, RE and History. So really please don't anyone worry- he's climbed so many levels (level 4 in year 8).

DS2 is choosing right now, no levels given but he has exam grades coming through. He didn't get to do BTEC art as they don't offer it. He's not entirely academic so has added Event Operations BTEC and Health and Social Care BTEC to his list (can't decide whether he wants to be a paramedic or follow his dad into event light and sound), alongside more academic subjects.

it's not all about grades when you choose: look at their nature as well (academic or would they benefit from a variety of forms of teaching?), career aims (vaguely), and we try and pick a fun subject- history and art were those for mine.

TBH we thought his grades at this point would be mediocre as he was level 5 in a few things, the exams are showing that's not the case at all (top six in his class)- like his sibling he has climbed and continues to climb. I checked with potential universities (not a control freak- happen to have links anyway, husband having just graduated), and they would be happy with the BTEC for what he wants. He can't sit still so I think it will help enormously. DS1's strength is words so that is reflected in his choices; ds2's is very much the practical and the social.

We don't have Grammars fortunately, so glad they didn't have that at age 11, wouldn't have reflected where they are now at all.

TooHasty · 06/02/2015 09:33

Are NC levels still really a 'thing' at KS3?
They haven't been externally tested and hence moderated, for many years and even then it was only in maths , science and English.So how do we know that NCs are being assessed in the same way across all schools?

nicknamerunout · 07/02/2015 09:49

op in MN average dcs get level 9s by the time they are 9!

Flip

1 2