Year 8 levels and gcses?

[littlelate]

Btw English isn't my 1st language. Sorry to have to ask this question if someone has already done so before. As I really don't understand the England's Ed system. My ds's school is still using the old money I think. His end of yr8 report showing 12 subjects ie Eng, Maths, Science....... Anyway he has achieved a mixture of 5As and 6Bs/Cs sort of half and half. I believe he must be very behind because most of MN's kids have got way higher than that by the end of year 8. Also my ds is very disappointed by his maths result a 5A so he has to move down to the second bottom set. He is worried that he will have to take a easier GCSE paper. Is it true that there are two or more levels of GCSE papers for maths or any subjects? He also want to do more science but will his maths score affect his options? Any experts' opinions?

Hi,
If your child's school is still using NC levels, then the results are pretty good, the expected at the end of year 9 is a 5 or a 6. With new GCSEs only maths and science will have a higher and foundation paper, but don't worry as your child will still be able to get a grade 5 (grade C) if he does the foundation/lower tier paper (the teachers probably won't decide which tier until at least the end of year 9). He also has 3 years until his gcses. If your school offers triple science, they may take the science grades into account , not necessarily maths as well.

His science is 6b so I think he s doing kind of okay.

Thanks livvvvv.
But when people say end of year 9 target 5/6 do they mean 5a/6c or 5c /6a?

If he were sitting old GCSEs then he would probably be headed for a C+ in maths, however the new GCSE is harder and the pass grade is higher, so he's got some hard work ahead of him.

Other subjects will be similarly harder when the new GCSEs are introduced. He should pass them, but as no one has actually taught them yet, there's not much info out there.

This s very unsettling is it? So we don't know what we are dealing with!

As he never like maths I just wish he will pass it the first time just to get it out of the way!

littlelate They mean 5a/6c . "a" is the top of the level and "c" is the bottom.

At my school, the expected achievement in Year 8 in core subjects (English, Maths, Science) is 5a, 6c, 6b. Getting 6a, which isn't unheard of, would mean they're working above their age group and 7c or above would be exceptional. We do tend to see slightly higher achievement in Maths.

Anyway, my reason for saying all this is at my school your son's attainment would be fine. I suppose you have to remember that people on MN whose children reach the higher grades are perhaps more likely to post about them...

Don't worry, unless the school has told you to worry / do extra work / get a tutor, etc. Send an email to the Maths teacher if you want some support work for your son to do over the summer so he doesn't forget what he's learned this year and starts strongly in September.

Thanks LockedOut