speaking to teacher about set problem

[inthename]

I need a little bit of advice from teachers as struggling to communicate with the real life ones!
ds is 12, just gone into yr 8 of a prep school (so final year)
He ended yr 7 graded A/A in Science (A being a scholarahip standard) B in Maths (sound common entrance) and A* English. Each subject has 2 sets. He was Set 1 Science, Set 2 Maths, Set 1 English. Started back for year 8 and was moved down with no explanation to set 2 science.
This was later confirmed in writing by the headmaster that they had changed their timetable so that both sets were to be taught by the head of science and it was no longer possible to be Set 1 Science and Set 2 Maths. He also wrote that but for this change ds would have stayed in Set 1 Science as ds was also on the 'accelerated learning' group.
So, what would your advice be?
The head asked me to give him 2 weeks to observe the lessons, now says he hasn't been able to gather concrete evidence that ds is in the wrong set and has asked me to give him 2 more weeks!
I can't seem to get through that ds is bored, frustrated and is disengaging because he feels like the teachers have lied (hes been graded A* for 3 school years) and that he might as well have looked out of the window the whole time.
Perculiarly other children who have ended up with a set split of Set 1 Maths/Set 2 Science (only moving into set 1 maths at the end of yr 7) have been automatically moved to Set 1 Science regardless of any previous grades!

Vote with your feet?
Seriously though, in such a small cohort, it shouldn't matter what set your son is in. If the work is too easy then he's not being taught appropriately. Setting in itself isn't enough, the work needs to be differentiated too. Focus on that when you discuss with the head. The chances are they won't budge on the setting issue - they will have had their reasons (perhaps he's only 'just' a B in maths? Perhaps in such a small cohort they've had to balance personalities? Perhaps they want to challenge the other students? Perhaps they want to make sure that both teachers have a shot at the most able?). How do you know what the other children's grades are/were? Is it your son telling you this? Or their parents? Could someone be telling porkies? I generally counsel to not bring other children in to the argument and make it focused on your child only.

Thanks. I know the grades as they were all given a sheet with the grades on at end of yr 7, presumably to stop parents asking why their children weren't moved up into set 1!
The top 2 on the list were moved up, ds was number 3, not a problem as I was repeatedly told last year that his maths set wouldn't affect any other subject and he was slightly weaker in some maths topics. Now, its majorally impacting on his science,
The work is way too easy. its a new teacher, last years was fantastic and really knew how to differenciate, as effectively the top set was everything from scholarship standard to high grade B. This year, ds is finding the pace way too slow with a lot of disruptive behaviour, he said that the others keep asking teacher to explain things and there is no extension work (headmaster confirmed this after observing the lessons)

oh and he was already top of set 1 science and in accelerated learning group, science marks were alsp given out at the end of last year

Well, I would give the teacher and head teacher time to see if they can fix the problem. Perhaps this new teacher is an NQT? We all have to start somewhere... :) It sounds like the head teacher knows what needs addressing so they may well be working on it already.

On a side note, I really don't think I'd be happy with my child's grades being given to everyone like that and I don't think we'd get away with it in my state school. I'm pretty sure we'd be told it was unprofessional and unfair. How different everything is!

I would give them the further two weeks to resolve the issue to your satisfaction, otherwise I too would be taking my business elsewhere! Your son is in too important a year for any blips which might impact on CE.

Common Entrance or potential scholarships sorry!

Definitely not an NQT, very experienced head of department. Have asked head to do one week rather than 2, otherwise we're getting close to half term with no resolution

Then what will you do if a resolution that you're happy with is not reached?

I don't know!

Thanks Coolas, do you mean wait for the next few weeks or completely leave it? I normally leave everything like this to teachers, but this time its really important they sort something quickly.

Thanks. At the moment the set 2 teaching is not good, the teacher says shes teaching them all the same thing, but even the head has said the dynamics of the group mean the pace is very slow. Will see what happens , thanks for your help

Had a meeting about this today, after the original meeting was cancelled due to the head having insufficient time.
Today, after waiting since the beginning of term, he has concluded that they will not be changing anything, that my ds should not be saying in class that he is in the wrong set and whilst the ideal thing would be to move him back to Set 1 they are not prepared to do this. They can do this in January as then both sets will be on revision tasks!
Fed up with it.