Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

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

Original poster

son thinks year 8 is pointless.

29 replies

caringdad66 · 06/09/2015 12:28

DS is about to start year 8.
Academically he achieved all his year 7 targets,it was attitude and behaviour that let him down.
Yesterday we were chatting and he said he was looking forward to going back to school because "year 8 is for having a laugh with my mates".
He also reckons the school are so busy looking after the new year sevens,and the year 11 GCSE takers,that they don't really care about year 8.
Is there any truth in his comments,and what can I do and say to keep him focused ?

OP posts:
howabout · 06/09/2015 12:33

Subject choosing comes around quicker than you think. f you pay attention and do the work you have a much better idea of what to choose and are much more likely to be supported by the school in your choices.

If he will be set for gcse and wants to be in the top set he needs to work now.

Other than that I would say as long as he behaves in class, pays attention and does his homework there is something to be said for not taking an "all work and no play" approach.

taxguru · 06/09/2015 13:09

Sadly he may be right. Our DS was in year 8 last year and we all felt that it was a "coasting" year rather than actually doing much, for most subjects. In year 7, there was lots of emphasis on homework, even if it was mostly fairly tame and easy - certainly something every evening and a good couple of hours for the weekend. Year 7 teachers were "tame" as the school head himself announced at the starter's evening, chosen specifically because of their pastoral nature to get the kids settled in secondary. Despite us warning DS to expect more hard work and homework in year 8, it just never happened. We also noticed a much higher amount of teacher absences which were covered by supply teachers or whichever other teach was free - often with no work provided so the kids watched videos or even in some cases just allowed to play with their phones for the lesson. He's been back and in year 9 for just two days and already most of the teachers have hit the ground running, handing out homework etc- he's had a very busy weekend already so it does look as if they're ramping it up again ready for GCSE years.

Shiningdew · 06/09/2015 13:10

He's right Grin

Snowfilledsky · 06/09/2015 13:12

We have Middle Schools here so Year 8 is the first year of High School. DS2 did Year 8 last year and never stopped working. He got to drop a few subjects for Year 9 which he starts tomorrow.

Original poster
caringdad66 · 06/09/2015 15:30

If I suspected the school were not treating year 8s as seriously as it should,is it best to complain or stay quiet and accept it?

OP posts:
clary · 06/09/2015 16:01

I think if you have specific issues with subjects/attitude of staff then you should raise it.

I agree that year 8 is a tricky year inasmuch as it is a bit without focus. KS4 is GCSEs, yr 9 is options, yr 7 is oooh new school! - what is year 8? (unless yr school chooses options in yr 8!)

But it is still vital to work hard and behave properly. What you learn in year 8 is the groundwork for your GCSEs, especially important in linear subjects like maths, MFL, English.

And please believe (and tell him) that behaviour issues are as much in focus in year 8 as any year. At least they are at my school.

BetaTest · 06/09/2015 16:18

Had an identical attitude from DS1. Bright boy who coasted Yr8 'chillin with his mates'. Admitted it to us when he did less well than he should in end of Yr 8 exam. Promised to work harder in Y9 but still coasting and did less well in end of Yr 9 exams. However did manage to pull an A* in English GCSE which he did one year early but now just started Yr 10 and we are being very vigilent indeed.

Would not listen to warnings on his failure to do anything but bare minimum work and so we let him fail. Now he has nowhere to hide. Teachers and us right on top of him. He did some extra work in holidays to catch up so he hit ground running this year. Bought revision guides, confiscate phone, made him work a sensible revision plan in weaker areas of key subjects.

Social media can be a big distraction. You have to set the boundaries.

ValancyJane · 06/09/2015 16:20

To be fair to him, Year 8 is probably the year group where there is the least 'going on' that year as Year 7 are new, Year 9 do options, Year 10 start GCSEs and sometimes work experience and Year 11 sit GCSEs, and it's been the same with Year 8 in every school I've worked in! I would emphasise the fact that if he doesn't do well academically it might impact the options he can take at GCSE, as they'll be choosing those next year.

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 06/09/2015 16:20

He's clever isn't he? Not many children would work that out.

jorahmormont · 06/09/2015 16:23

In my experience, Year Eight is the coasting year Grin my sister has just finished Year 8 and had much the same experience.

definiteissues · 06/09/2015 16:26

One of our teachers actually told us year 8 was pointless.

Year 7 settling in
Year 8 pointless
Year 9 preparing for mock exams
Year 10 and 11 preparing for GCSE.

I wouldn't be surprised if he has picked up on that.

Snowfilledsky · 06/09/2015 16:30

I am quite glad we have the 3 tier system reading all this. Smile

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 06/09/2015 16:59

I felt guilty for my post so have come back to clarify. I'm a teacher. I do not see Year 8 as pointless. In fact, I think it's really important. It's a consolidatory year. What did you learn in year 7? Can you still do it? How can you make it better as you work towards GCSEs? It's also a year where you can relax a little (no exams) but that's a GOOD thing. Relaxed learner = someone who's going to take things in.

So yes, I think he's pretty bright for arguing it's pointless, but I hope his teachers don't agree.

NoArmaniNoPunani · 06/09/2015 17:01

Year 8 is pointless, this was the case when I was at school 21 years ago.

Marmitelover55 · 06/09/2015 17:06

Year 8 was DD1's favourite year for this reason

CoodleMoodle · 06/09/2015 17:12

I left school 10yrs ago. Year 8 was pointless then! The only thing that happened of any interest was 'specialising' in German. In year 7 we had to do both French & German, in 8 we chose one to carry on to GCSE.

Other than that, pointless.

Penfold007 · 06/09/2015 17:22

I've had two go through year 8, it's a pointless year.

Scarydinosaurs · 06/09/2015 17:24

Year 8 is crucial. It's when significant set changes happen and once you've been over in year 8 it becomes very difficult to ever move up again, particularly if you have gained a bad reputation for behaviour.

We begin KS4 in year nine, so typically the end of year 8 set is your GCSE set.

Junosmum · 06/09/2015 17:51

Total truth in it. Year 8 is a nice relaxing year no SATs, options, starting GCSE's not being new. Teachers genuinely forgot about us. Keep him on track but let him enjoy it, the next 5 years are pretty stressful.

AtiaoftheJulii · 06/09/2015 21:42

Y8: the year that education forgot Grin

It's certainly a lower pressure year, ime, and that's not a bad thing. Their remaining time at school will be tougher.

yeOldeTrout · 06/09/2015 21:54

hmmm, that's a shame. In yr8 DD:

did loads of competitive sport representing the school
did a competitive D&T competition
Went to county maths challenge event & they did lousy, but Sir bought them milkshakes on way back so all good
Spent hours at musical rehearsal & performances
Moved from Grade4 to Grade5 violin songs (lessons at school), helped out with the BTEC Music group
Learned to cook a few new things
Came home with detailed social life stories most days
Made GCSE choices and started GCSEs in July
Did a few trips
Challenge week in July (sporty outdoors)
Set her sights on being Head Girl & got on the interview committee for Head Girl/Boy
Helped out at several Parents' evenings
Worked her socks off at academics and improved in all (finished 8A in history, I don't remember the rest)

Bog Standard comp and all that. Maybe they get out of what they put in.

cressetmama · 08/09/2015 08:31

IIRC from the PGCE year, Year 8 is the year when they do stroppy and uncontrollable -- for all the reasons OP's son noted!

electricflyzapper · 08/09/2015 08:40

Yup, my youngest has just started Yr 8 and he already 'knew' by the end of Yr 7 that this year was going to be the least important of his secondary years. His older siblings made it quite plain to him but I think there is a general recognition of this fact.

Sadly, I know not to expect much homework this year, but I have to say, my son knows full well that I will not tolerate any slip in behaviour. You need to make sure your son knows the same otherwise he could really affect his overall performance, not just this year but in subsequent years too.

NoahVale · 08/09/2015 08:45

Perhaps it will be the best year of his school life?

NoahVale · 08/09/2015 08:54

do they do year 8 camp?