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Secondary education

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Original poster

Interim Report from school

90 replies

Trampoline11 · 27/03/2021 16:05

I feel a bit foolish but I am hoping that I can salvage something from this situation that my DS is in.

He is Yr 11 and studying Computer Science. I have obviously misunderstood previous reports as his target grade at the start of yr 10 was a D.

School have encouraged him re 6th form, college (needs 5 C's at least) but I was given his report yesterday and his target grade is a D. His work is up to date according to the report.

Am I missing something here? I have emailed school but no reply as it's the holiday now.

I mean, hasn't he improved at all since year 10? I feel I could get an E and I'm pretty useless with computers! Parents evenings have been positive and it's his favourite subject.

Maybe someone knows what criteria they use in year 9/10 that would make his target grade so low? Just for info, he's in top set for maths and 2 for English.

I'm baffled tbh and want to know if there's anything I can do for him? I won't of course but I feel like telling him not to bother putting any work in. A 'D'? Long time ago but when I was in school that was a fail.

Can anyone throw any light on this as I feel something isn't right but I may have left it too late?

Thanks

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 27/03/2021 16:08

His target was a D and still is.
For whatever reason, they think that's what he's capable of.
A D is a pass grade, just not a "good" pass.

jackieweaverforpm · 27/03/2021 16:08

His target grade means the grade he was targeted to reach. That doesn't mean he was working at that level at that point. If he was targeted to get a D and now is looking like he'll get a D, then he has met his target.

jackieweaverforpm · 27/03/2021 16:09

By the way, do you mean D? We've been using 9-1 for a while now.

Original poster
Trampoline11 · 27/03/2021 16:12

Yes I understand that but what criteria would have been used to give him a target of D at the beginning of year 10?

Maybe different parts of the country but we're still on A-G's.

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 27/03/2021 16:13

For us, it would be based on the FFT data. We're allowed to move up but not down.

Original poster
Trampoline11 · 27/03/2021 16:15

Thanks for replying. I'm so stressed! What is FFT?

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 27/03/2021 16:19

The Fischer Family Trust. Not all schools use it but it gives us set of targets based on prior data and demographic data.
If his target is a D, then he's fine.

Themsmedaps · 27/03/2021 16:19

Target grades are different to predicted grades - target grades are based on SATS and used to calculate the school's progress in the league tables. Their target grades do not change.
GSCEs have been graded 1-9 for a few years now, is he doing a vocational computer course and the D stands for Distinction?

Seeline · 27/03/2021 16:19

Have they given predicted/expected grades?

Are you in Wales?

Original poster
Trampoline11 · 27/03/2021 16:20

Have just googled FFT. So am I right in thinking that he will probably get a D? (Which is no use to him for 6th form or college).

OP posts:
TeenMinusTests · 27/03/2021 16:20

Just to double check.
Are you in Wales?
Are they iGCSEs?
Definitely a GCSE not a BTEC?

If it were a BTEC then a D (Distinction) would be very good.

Target (based on end primary data) to me means something very different from prediction (end of course anticipated) or working at (what would get if sat today based on topics learned so far)

FFT is something like Fuller Family Trust which predicts grades based on stuff like end primary and postcode and other stuff

MrsHamlet · 27/03/2021 16:21

His target is less important than what they're expecting him to get. What were you told about that?

Seeline · 27/03/2021 16:22

Yes - good point on BTEC.
D for Distinction = top grade

bicyclebelles · 27/03/2021 16:26

iGCSE could be using grades still.

Seeline · 27/03/2021 16:27

No iGCSE have been using numbers for at least a year, if not 2.

Original poster
Trampoline11 · 27/03/2021 16:39

Yes in Wales. Yes a GCSE. Teacher says he's on target for his D but could get a higher grade. How? Surely though if the results are all done by teachers this year, that's what he'll get?

OP posts:
idril · 27/03/2021 16:47

@Seeline

No iGCSE have been using numbers for at least a year, if not 2.
You can still get A-G for Cambridge IGCSEs. You choose whether you want A-G or 9-1.
RachelRoth · 27/03/2021 16:52

@Trampoline11

Yes in Wales. Yes a GCSE. Teacher says he's on target for his D but could get a higher grade. How? Surely though if the results are all done by teachers this year, that's what he'll get?
Exactly what the teachers says. His target grade is a D, will probably be an FFT grade prediction, and he is currently working at that grade. If he focuses on his school work, homework and full attention on his assessments, he could produce work to get a higher grade. If he gives up and does fuck all he might not even get the D.

So, if he wants to go to college, he needs to be working on his studies every evening until his exams.

RachelRoth · 27/03/2021 16:54

The teachers arent pulling the grades out of their arses op. They're based on the child’s work.

clary · 27/03/2021 16:55

OP did he plan to take computing for A level or post-16? If so, it sounds like he may need to rethink that. But a D in itself is not a disaster; he can still take A levels in subjects he does better at.

Original poster
Trampoline11 · 27/03/2021 17:17

I appreciate that teachers don't pull the grades out of their arse but how can it be based on his work when he hadn't even started the course? If it is this FFT thing, then that isn't the teacher grading him is it?

OP posts:
Original poster
Trampoline11 · 27/03/2021 17:21

@MrsHamlet - sorry to be a bit thick, but why are you saying he'll be fine? I appreciate that there are things I don't know about this - becoming more obvious I know - but I'm so concerned.

OP posts:
Solidaritea · 27/03/2021 17:21

What are his target grades in other subjects like?

Original poster
Trampoline11 · 27/03/2021 17:22

@Solidartea - couple of b's, 2 c's and two a's

OP posts:
clary · 27/03/2021 17:36

So his target grades will be based on how he did in primary and his general ability level as assessed, for example, by his SATs (if done) and other data.

It's a bit daft isn't it. My subject is MFL and a friend asked me the other day how we could set in year 7 if kids hadn't done the subject - I said, based on their ability in English, which is not totally ridiculous to be fair.

Anyhoo - the point is OP his target grade is a bit of a red herring in general, in terms of what it is based on. The point is now, in yr 11, what is he working at? If he is working at a D then that's most likely what he will get. If his other grades are As, Bs and Cs then that sounds fine in terms of post-16 - as long as he wasn't planning on studying CS beyond GCSE. DS2 got his lowest grade in Spanish but had no plans to take it further, so not an issue. He did fine at GCSE in his A level choices so all good.