Top set advice

[RestoreRinseRepeat]

My ds is at a very academic comprehensive school in year 7 and scoring an average of 90% in maths tests. He has always, without support from home such as practicing or tutoring, scored above 95% in year 6 and was working beyond since reception. He missed out on some algebra lessons (10 days self isolation) but feels he has the hang of it now. However, on the whole he is less easily high achieving in maths, his all time favourite topic than he was at primary.

He doesn't want a tutor as he hates to be instructed and wants to figure it out himself. What support materials can I give him so he can help himself? Are there any good websites or online resources that could solidify what he is learning in secondary school?

They haven't streamed year7 yet but will in the summer term. His teacher says that if he continues to score 90% on average he'll be in the top set. he did this without revising

What can we do to support him achieve his best? He really is a capable mathematician but I worry a bit that he will fall behind if he thunks he can remain in op set with minimal study.

If he makes top set, great but if he doesn't he'll be in a set where he is given more support anyway.

In year 7, he needs to be paying attention to all his subjects, not just one that he seems to be pretty good at anyway!

If he does feel that there is a topic that he had missed or isn't understanding as well, BBC bitesize website is pretty good. The CGP revision books are pretty good too.

If he 'gets' maths, he might not need to work at it that much. I have always loved maths. I went to a superselective grammar school and was towards the top of set 1. I didn't really need to work at maths until the end of A-level. I did my homework (quickly) and moved on to other subjects. Even at A-level I didn't do masses of revision compared to my other subjects. (I'm aware this all sounds boastful, I definitely did need the time for other subjects I didn't get e.g. French!)

I wouldn't worry too much. It makes sense that top set secondary and time off school has made him work a bit harder, but sounds like he has managed that fine. If he still enjoys it, then he will hopefully adjust his effort as needed if things become more challenging.

If he's getting good marks without revising and prefers to work things out himself than have them explained, I'm not really sure why you are looking for extra support. He might well be one of those people that naturally "get" maths and don't need to work at it particularly.

Are you worried about him "only" getting 90%?
Have a look at the marks required to get top grades at GCSE. On the random maths paper I looked at, 85% would get you a grade 9. You are not expected to get full marks to be achieving very highly. It's a bit of a mindset shift where you are looking for full marks in spellings and tables tests at primary.

He's scoring over 90% on tests at a very academic school and you're worried and considering a tutor? What?

Thank you everyone, reading back my OP, I hope it doesn't come across as a silly boast, although maybe it is a silly post.

Have a look at the marks required to get top grades at GCSE. On the random maths paper I looked at, 85% would get you a grade 9

I didn't know this, thank you. But are there any resources which he could access, books or online that would be useful? I'm sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, I didn't go to school in the UK and really struggled with math myself. My dh says he excelled in maths at primary level but couldn't keep up in the same way at secondary school. Thanks again everyone.

But your DS is keeping up OP! He's doing really very well.

he probably already has access to online material via school (e.g. MyMaths) but you could also use something like mathsmadeeasy mathsmadeeasy.co.uk/ks3-revision/ks3-maths/

But unless he really wants to do extra maths, I'd suggest he is better off spending his time doing more work in one of his weaker subjects. You don't want to end up with a child who hates maths because he's been forced to work at it so much.

Make sure he has a balance don’t ‘overload’ for him to then hate it!

I have a year 7 daughter and she is doing amazingly well in both science and maths, we haven’t thought to push any further at home as it’s about a balance. She is already streamed and in top set, interestingly she is only one of 7 girls and 18 boys. Having spoke to a friend who is a maths teacher she said around y8/9 that dynamics will change hormones kick in and looking cool - sadly it’s boys who slip :( So I would be cautious about anything else on top - allow him to love the subject!