KS3 levels help please.

[Debris]

My DD is in year 7 , yesterday she came home with a progress chart on the front of her science book.
Her grades were :
Half term 1 level 5b
Half term 2 level 5A
Target for the end of year 9 level 6.
I'm confused, if she's at level 5a now, why only level 6 target for end of year 9 ?
Could someone who understands these things, shed a little light on it please ?! Thanks in advance.

Level 6 is higher!

Hi Debris:

First of her target for end Year 9 (end of Key Stage 3) will be roughly 1-2 full NC Levels higher than her achievement on KS2 SATs. For example - if your DD scored NC L4 in English at KS2 SATs her target would be NC L5/6 end of KS3.

The government expected progress is next based on progress at end KS4: www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/archive/schools_10/s11.shtml - but this very general guide to NC Levels at KS3 may help: www.princehenrys.co.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=61

So very crudely NC L7 = C at GCSE (end KS4 - or Year 11) - and what they do is roughly divide progress between KS3 and KS4 (1.5 Nc Levels up from NC L4 would be 5/6 boundary and 1.5 levels up from NC Level 5/6 would be 7/8 boundary or GCSE C/B achievement).

Unfortunately NC Levels are going to be abandoned and replaced at GCSE with a 1-9 scale. info here: www.gov.uk/government/news/setting-standards-for-new-gcses-in-2017 - so just as we're getting our heads around the NC Level system we have to adjust to a new scheme.

----

I think you'll need to talk to her teachers but if she's achieving 5A work right now not even half-way through Year 7 and she achieved NC L4 at KS2 SATs in that subject (say it was maths) - what this is indicating is she's progressing rapidly and on a trajectory to exceed her expected target. This is good for the school - they'll be measured (VA Measure) in terms of how far beyond her expected target they get her and rewarded for exceeding the expected target.

HTH

I thought that in 2 years you progress more than 1/2 levels!

It doesn't matter what her targets are. They bear no correlation to what she'll achieve.

What matters is that she's doing very well and making good progress.

Grace - avg targets used to be:

End of Y6: 4
End of Y9: 6
End of Y11: C

Now most schools have more ambitious targets. But yes, you are expected to achieve 2 levels over 3 years at KS3.