Maths sets - daughter moved down after disappointing result M4

[Nanty]

Daughter got c* in gcse maths module (m4 paper ccea ), all other modules As. No formal communication from school, but her new timetable shows she’s been moved from top set maths to bottom set. She has opportunity to resit module in November. She’s upset as liked her teacher and doesn’t want to leave friends. Have emailed school asking for a meeting but appreciate any advice from parents who have been through this

They know what they are doing. Both mine moved maths sets several times. It’s dispiriting bring in a group where everyone else far better and you can’t keep up

She’s better off being in the set she should be in surely, regardless of friends and the fact she likes the teacher. At my DD’s secondary they move maths sets around often.

And also, to move someone up someone has to go down. The school can’t have another child who should be in the higher set not achieving their potential and putting their hand up getting everything right in a lesson they should not be in so that someone else can be with a teacher they like.

Is the C the sort of mark where they need to sit a lower paper so they don't risk a fail?
(This is based on my knowledge of the English system but I think you are NI?)

It’s a good idea to ask for a meeting to discuss but the school will almost definitely have very good reasons for doing this. It won’t be one bad mock result but also how she is doing in class and homework- everything is taken into account.

A meeting will hopefully give them a chance to explain their reasoning.

I'm not familiar with this exam, but if all her other modules were As, a move to bottom set seems quite drastic (how many sets are there?).

I'd definitely:
Check it isn't a mistake
ask the school their reasoning
check that bottom set will be aiming the level of study high enough that she can continue to get As in future. If not, it's the wrong set for her and she needs to be in a different group.
ask if she can return to top set if her resit result is high enough (how high?)

Get her a tutor. If you believe that maths is important for her futirw that is she will so A levels in this subject- she needs a tutor. If not...don't worry as long as she is within passing grade

Do you mean a 4? Or a 5?

Thanks for comments - to answer some points.
we are in Ni - C =5, B = 6, A 7/8 and A 9
Not hung up on straight As, a pass is a pass but I don’t want her sitting papers that will only allow a C (i’d be content if can aim for B). School previously said she capable of A.
I will be looking into tutor to boost her confidence which has taken a battering both with result and school moving sets.

Keen to talk to school and clarify options, I am disappointed with the school communication.

Edit c* =5

If your daughter got As in all the other modules, moving her to the bottom set is wrong.

Push very hard for this to be corrected. Best way is to work with the school to understand what went wrong with this module and if you can afford it offer to get a tutor to fill the gaps in her knowledge to bring her back to the standard of the top set.

Don't assume the school knows what it’s doing (they often do but you can decide after you’ve met with them and discussed the matter). And another child in the lower set pushing to move up (however justified) isn’t your daughter's problem.

Good luck.

Don't they do all the modules in the same sitting?

It was many (many) years ago now but this happened to me when I was doing my GCSE’s, moved from top set to bottom. It was for similar reason. The lower marked paper identified that I had some gaps in my basic knowledge of particular topic. A term in the lower set helped me to gain that, and I moved back up to a higher set the following term - and went on to get an A in my gcse.
so while it feels rubbish now, it is probably for a good reason, and will be helpful in the long run. But you do need to make sure the school explain their reason so that the issue is worked on.

No, the OP means C*. As she wrote.

Ignore me op has explained. Ta. It was the * which threw me.

I'm only vaguely familiar with CCEA maths - do I understand correctly that M4 is one of the three foundation modules students choose from to sit in Y11 (equivalent to Y10 in England) and that it will form roughly half their final GCSE grade? Then she'll sit M8 next year and that will be the other half of her GCSE grade?

If that's correct then this is the only maths module she sat (you mentioned other modules but those were in different subjects entirely, yes?), and it does seem like a move is reasonable, at least temporarily. I would empathize with your DD's disappointment but remind her that sets can change each term and the best choice is to work hard on maths in the meantime. Once school starts I would reach out to the head of department or her teacher and ask for recommendations on what she can focus on and any extra practice she can be doing.

Is she in a selective school? Bottom set in a selective school isn't the same as bottom set in a comprehensive school.

It happened to me many moons ago. It was the best thing that happened to me. Oddly i was okay on the harder topics. I was losing too many marks on the easier questions. I could solve a simultaneous equation but i struggled to convert percentages to fractions and decimals.