Maths higher or foundation level

[TrollMummy]

I am trying to get my head around the new GCSE grade system. DD is in Y8 and currently in the middle set for maths and she is worried that she will be taking the foundation level at GCSE. I understand that in maths there is now a higher and a foundation level paper. Does doing a foundation level limit the grade you can achieve to about a C? It seems a little unfair for those who are average or capable and could possibly improve or move up to a B in the old system.

Foundation now goes up to grade 5. Which is kind of a an old c+/b- (for now). She's year 8... too early to be stressing about GCSE papers.
Btw... there have been higher/ foundation for years. The old foundation only went to C so arguably "average pupils" have more scope. Time will tell.

Thanks for clarifying I am not that familiar with the system here and I agree that it is too early to worry about GCSEs. I think DD is worried as a teacher has said that the maths in Y9 determine what paper at GCSE you are sitting. It all seems a bit predetermined without giving kids a chance to develop.

I agree - your school is prematurely evaluating the kids. They should be evaluating right up until year 11 when they are entered into their gcses as to which paper would be the appropriate paper for the child.

Tier of entry doesn't need to be finalised until March of Y11 and many schools make changes right up to the wire.

Any school that suggests currently that tier of entry will be decided in Y9 is completely ignoring the fact that we don't even have the first set of results for the new GCSE yet and that schools don't yet know if they made the correct tier of entry decisions for the kids who have just sat the exams. There will be lots of movements for even current Y10 I think when the results come out.

There has been lots of discussion and angsting this year about which tier to enter middle set kids for, and the real answer is no one knows.

If your DD does end up entered for Foundation, it should be because it's the most appropriate paper for her, and for a middle set kid, it's entirely possible that it will be.