Gcse targets & levels really are pie in the sky srn't they?

[AlexanderHamilton]

Year 11 Parents evening last night. Almost without expection were told by dd's teachers what her predicted target grades were but that they had decided to ignore them. She was given these targets back in Year 9. It's a good job she's not a sit on her laurels kind of girl.

English Target 8 current level 7 Achieving
Maths Target 7 current level 7 Exceeding
Biology Target 6 current level 5/6 Achieving
Chemistry Target 6 current level 6 Developing
Physics Target 6 current level 8 Exceeding
French Target 6 current level 6 Exceeding
RS Target 7 current level 7 Achieving
Music Target 6 current level 7 Exceeding

I could sense the teachers frustration with the system. In maths, English, music & RS she was told to aim for 8/9.

It also gives us the dilemma in that a couple of 6th forms are asking for predicted grades on their application forms in one case it's consideration for a scholarship. Predicted targets of Grade 6 won't even get her an interview.

Does her school not give predicted grades in addition to targets? It sounds like her target grades are computer generated bobbins, so there should also be space for a teacher-generated predicted grade.

That said, with the new GCSEs, predicted grades are quite difficult to assess so should also be taken with a pinch of salt.

I'd ask teachers for predicted grades to put on the application forms if the school doesn't already produce them.

No. We've had a few verbal predictions which have mostly consisted of she should get at least a 7 or possibly an 8 & last year x got a 9 (in maths & English) & she could aim for that as she's that kind of student.

She will have aspirational targets as well - usually +1 on forecasts. Ask the school for these ?
Also check if what you were given were predictions or forecasts as they're not the same. Also ask what the school's progress 8 will be measured against.

Predicted grades on the report that we were given were based on CATS. There are just four columns an effort Grade, Target Grade, current level & developing, Achieving or succeeding.

The targets generated by a computer been given their Yr6 SATs results are a load of poppycock of course, even before the fact the whole exam system has changed. It is completely ludicrous that teachers are judged against these sorts of generated physics.

In terms of predicted grades for 6th form applications, then ask the staff currently working with her to give you their predictions, otherwise it is meaningless. I mean, it is still going to be a guess at best as it is new and staff won't know, but they will have a slightly better idea than a computer working off tests they were given aged 10 or 11.

Teachers have no idea how many marks you need to reach each grade. We are all guessing.

Dd didn't do Year 6 SATS but she did get offered a place at a selective independent school. The CATS were done in Year 7 & again in Year 9.

DS has targets of A across the board (private school where >90% of grades are A/A, mostly not using 9-1 system). AFAIK this is based on his CAT scores which are very high. However he has SEN and IMO has little chance of getting A* across the board, as he is very weak at essay writing/comprehension type subjects.

pisacake you might be pleasantly surprised. In a school such as the one your DS is at you feel like he isn't good at those skills but when compared to the rest of the country you'll find after all he is!

Well his sister is a comparator and whereas her CAT scores are about 15-20 points lower, she is clearly much better at expressing herself. His specific processing difficulties don't show up on the CAT test at all.