Sets/Streaming

[Cornishbelle]

Currently experiencing some issues at school with my eldest yr8, and wondering about other's experiences

We were originally led to believe that the school would set groups based on ability for the core subjects of maths English and science. So far this has not materialised and there has been no communication as far as I am aware of any changes to happen and the reason for this. My son is bright but also easily distracted it seems (this did not seem to be mentioned at primary so maybe an age thing). He has been set only in maths and he says they have no plans for setting in other subjects. He says he gets frustrated isn't challenged and feels he is going over content he has done previously. His last report snapshot showed he is still doing well but i can see he is slipping as he did achieve exceeding up to now. He is frustrated I think.

So my questions are:

Does your school set/stream if so in what way and was any rationale ever given?

How often do you have parents evening

Do your children start gcse in year 9

This is a "good" state academy mid affluent area mixed intake PAN approx 1200

Thanks

They set from STEM from Yr7 (based on Maths grade). English/humanities from later on. (Based on English grade). For timetable purposes, MFL also done in Maths set. Reassessed twice a year, its based on attitude and learning. So if you are messing around and not doing work in Set 1, you can be moved done.

One parents evening a year, plus termly reports

DD in Yr9 just choosing GCSEs, they start in Yr10

Normal village Comprehensive, 11-16, year size just increased from 210 t o 240.

DD Yr 8 but in an independent school
Maths + English set from start of Yr 7 based on entrance exam results. Reviewed at end of first term.
Sciences + MFL set from start of Yr 8
Humanities set from start Yr 9
GCSEs start Yr 10, in theory, but maths + science content is started towards end of Yr 9.

Yr 7 = 2 x face to face subject teacher parents evenings + 2 x online Tutor meets
Yr 8 + 9 = 2 x online Tutor meetings + 1 x face to face with subject teachers
Yr 10 + 11 = 3 x online Tutor meets + 2 x face to face subject teacher parents evening + Mock results online follow ups

My DD's school didn't set until year 9 apart from maths. They then set for the core subjects only (maths, English and science) but not for anything else.
I think they should be able to give additional work to the more academically gifted kids though

Parents evening is once a year but we get reports at the end of each term.

GCSE - yes they do start in the last term of year 9 in some subjects like maths and science

The way they stream is for maths based on end of year 6 results and performance in term 1 of year 7. Other subjects based on class work and test results in year 8.

I think I would be looking into his easily distracted behaviour. Maybe his work is not as good due to this. He may think he knows the content but is he showing his skills? For example children will have been taught about using synonyms and sensory language in their descriptions on many occasions. However many students still do not show they have understood this and that they can implement it independently.

Does your school set/stream if so in what way and was any rationale ever given?

From what I can work out, year is split in two and then setting is used within each half.

Tutor groups are set based on NVR banding scores - in Y7 and Y8 the majority of lessons are taken with your tutor group. Setting used for maths for definite, and for languages depending on if you are new to the language or not.

From Y9 onwards, setting for pretty much everything - maths, english, sciences, languages, music etc. Sets are finely tuned and you can move up and down pretty easily till you get the right fit.

How often do you have parents evening

Once a year - 5 mins per teacher online, week after the long written report is sent out. Short reports in other terms, and you can just email the teacher.

Do your children start gcse in year 9

Yes - options chosen in Y8 and a 3 year GCSE programme with one GCSE taken early in Y10 starts from beginning of Y9.

This is a "good" state academy mid affluent area mixed intake PAN approx 1200

Outstanding academy school with 435 pupils per year. Probably c. 3,000 students.

Does your school set/stream if so in what way and was any rationale ever given?
Only set in maths in most years, sets are based on effort, achievement and results of assessments and students move between sets every term (or sometimes more frequently).

Also split into foundation/higher groups for science in Year 11

How often do you have parents evening
Once a year

Do your children start gcse in year 9
Yes

Larger than average mixed ability comprehensive (480 students per year)

Are Maths and English in Year 7 set as a pair for timetabling purposes, or independently? Similarly for Sciences and MFL in Year 8?

Separately for all of them

Reassessed twice a year,

That depends on the school @TickingAlongNicely . On ours 1 x per year

The question how it works at your school.