Do any other schools mix up so called 'streamed sets' so the more able can help the less so?

[MyballsareSandy]

If so then how can this be described as 'streamed'?

DD is in year 10 and at the end of year 9 she was told that her end of year exams were very important as the result woud determine which set she was put into for GCSE years. DD got a B1 in English and has been put in set 3 out of 4, with 1 being the highest. She said the class is mainly kids that need help with this subject, not too badly but not on track to do that well in at GCSE apart from perhaps 5 others like her.

When she queried it she was told this is common practice to encourage the others and although they're covering basic stuff DD can catch up at a later date!!

Haven't spoken to school yet but wanted advice.

On phone on train so excuse my crap English

I would be incandescent with fury about this.

This happens in my children's primary school. That is, no streaming as it is good for the class as a whole to remain mixed up. Fine, they are little. But when she is preparing for one shot only exam that will make a big difference to her future, I cannot see how it is moral to use her as a tool for the benefit of others, rather than allowing her to prioritise her own learning.

Hopefully, someone will come along with the right thing to say to the school. I would definitely query it. I suspect they will tell her that there are many bright DC and that all the sets are basically at the same level. (I don't think I would believe it, but I think this is what they will try to placate you with.)

That's appalling. Lots of schools don't have sets and teach in mixed ability groups even at GCSE,particularly in options subjects where there aren't necessarily enough kids to create meaningful setting anyway. But creating ability-based sets and then choosing a few kids to bung into low ability sets to help them?! No fucking way is that ok or normal!

My DS was on track for L5 by the end of Y5 ... he spent the entire Y6 helping on the SEN table, making colouring books, cutting out. He wasn't bothered, certainly didn't improve his maths but helped teacher and other children. Probably was for the greater good but probably wrong ... I don't remember being cross at the time ...

I would be really cross about this. nothing wrong with kids helping eachother out but not at the expense of being able to do correct level work yourself.

this happened to me.in primary. I was sat next to a child who struggled with stuff. o was constantly disturbed and on one or two occasions I had to stay in at lunch to finish my work cos I hadn't been able to complete it in class due to said disturbance.

I would email her English teacher now and ask her to ring you. Then ask for an explanation. There might be a good reason-but you really need to talk to the teacher.

Are you sure there are only 4 sets? How many dc in the year group?

This seems almost unbelievable. Talk tothe school but don't go in guns blazing until you are told the same from the horses mouth - then take it as far as is necessary.

Well, on the plus side, helping someone else means explaining key issues, etc, which can really clarify your own knowledge. That's probably the school's reasoning.

However, I wouldn't expect this kind of reciprocal arrangement to be made permanent via mixed streaming for the entire course, just for some tasks. That's because there are also advantages to being able to discuss things with students on the same level as you - that goes for pupils of all levels. And as a school pupil you should never be obliged to help another pupil beyond just being friendly and nice - you are not a teaching assistant.

And being in group 3 of 4 will definitely not be perceived as good by any pupil.

Thanks all. Does seem odd doesn't it. I def won't go in guns ablazing but will email her teacher. ??Dd is a bit disillusioned that she tried hard for test having been told the sets were dependent on it, to then end up in set 3.

Mayb a B1 isn't that great, pergaps the top two sets all got As! Doubt it though as its a very mixed school with over 200 pupils per year. I think there are two classes in each set

Its what schools have always done,manipulate their intake to make the school look better.Has anyone ever gone to court to get a cut of a teachers bonus when the class got an increased pass rate,which was entirely due to other pupils helping each other.

yes unfortunately my dd has been called into classes more than one occasion to assist with children at a lower level than herself then she didn't do as well in her mocks as expected and now she is staying after school to catch up im fuming my daughter is not a TA!

Our school do not set for English at all.They say it is differentiated by outcome.It is a grammar school but still some kids are really poor at English

My dds have had the misfortune to go through a school that hasn't set them for English - that is the 'philosophy' of the HofD, and apparently it's up to each HoD to decide what they do in their subject area.
However, frustrating though that is, nobody would consider saying what your dd has been told. I would be furious if that were actually the case.
I would, however, get the school to clarify what the situation is first, as there can be a lot of misinterpretation and rumour that isn't quite the true, total facts, so my approach would be to say 'dd is under the impression that.... Obviously this can't be the case, so I was just wondering if you could let me know how the sets have been sorted, so I can clear it up for her'

I don't believe your DD's version of events.
At a push i could imagine her being asked to go in once or twice for specific pieces of work to help the less able.But no way in this world, where a subject is set by ability, would a handful of able children be put in a low set to help bring the others on.
Either the sets are mixed ability , or you and your DD have been misled about her ability in this subject.