Levels in school at year 8

[madme]

We have a parent teacher meeting shortly. Any ideas what level a child should be at in year 8. At KS2 he got a level 5 for science, 3 for maths and level 5 and 4 for his english. He has had intensive support for his maths. We have worried that he hasnt been pushed academically in Year 7 as we recently saw some of his work for that year which was far too easy. He seemed to be being treated as if he was dyslexic when he isnt- one problem of the type of school he attends I suppose. They have reasured us that is no longer happening. He has an Iq over 130 and so should be capable of getting GCSEs and Alevels. Last year our main focus was getting him settled and working on his maths and OT. His dx is severe ADHD, Aspergers, Dyspraxia and Dyscalculia. He attends an independent school for children with specific learning difficulties. The head of lower school left and so he now has a new more with it teacher. I know that academics arent all but I do feel that he deserves to be pushed in the areas that he enjoys. As most kids dont like reading there is little emphasis on that outside school hours so we worried when he went from an avid reader to nothing! However he now reads a newspaper each day and informs me that he prefers the style of the Times to that of the Independent ( !)- so at least that is back on track. I know that he couldnt cope in a large state secondary but I am concerned that academically he may be held back. He has a fantastic maths teacher who has turned arond his maths difficulties. His OT amd SAlt are also very good. I just want to be re-assured that he is on track and at the same level that he would be if he was in a mainstream school. Perhaps I'm asking too much. Anyone with any similar experience?

[Suze]

Hi.............don,t know if this helps, but my son is in yr 8 also.We had our parents evening this week, my son is dyslexic, aud proc probs, dyspraxic and ASD.He has very poor handwriting so this hampers him A LOT .Because of this he has a very uneven profile he got a level 4 in english and a level 7 in science.My son also has a similar IQ to yours but he can,t achieve his full potential because of his handwriting issues.His history teacher scored him a level 5 but said he actually works at a level 7 during discussion etc ,and he is one of the best in his class.I was also lead to believe that scoring a level 5 is average and what they need to be working at.My son attends a unit in a mainstream H/S , he has support all the time.Hope this helps suzex

[Mumble]

Any ideas what level a child should be at in year 8.

Level 5

 

(there, I've been good, I've avoided writing an essay on the subject )

[madme]

Thanks Suze. I think our sons sound quite similar. Getting his pen to paper is so hard- he also has handwriting problems as v dyspraxic. Thankfully he is allowed to use his laptop and the computer in school for his assignments. My son can talk for England but it often fails to impress on paper. We have been advised that he will need a 1-1 session weekly as he moves into Year 9 aimed at improving his abilty to write essays etc. Now there will be my next battle with the LEa at getting this funded! Sendist here we come!

Mumble thanks. If he was on Level 5 at year 6 should he still be level 5 now? What improvement should be seen in a year and two years? His maths has really improved but I don't have any idea what level and will be checking this out at the meeting. I just worry that the early achievement will have been lost. Where can I read about this?

 

Many thanks

[Mumble]

What improvement should be seen in a year and two years?

Children are expected to go up one level every two years (or half a level - which doesn't exist but I won't start that debate now - every year).

[madme]

Thanks Mumble.

[SSK]

my son has the same problems expressing what he knows on paper, but he is being allowed a scribe in his assesments, he is only in year 7 at the moment but his statement for his next school, has in it that he will be given copies of all board work, rather than being asked to write it down, he is expected to get 5's in his next lot of stats,whereas he didnt get very good results in his last lot, if that is any help.

[Bard]

B's in Year 8, managing 5/6s for Science, Maths, Humanities and the bits of English not marked on spellings

Like his sister before him, however, he's a 3/4 for PE

And I must have the only Aspie on the planet who is no good on the computer, prefers to research using books and who types even slower than I do. His ICT teacher looks tense and despairing in equal measures whenever I catch sight of him, because B does badly in his class, and everyone knows that Aspies love ICT, so it must be the teacher...

Back to the point of the thread. In Y8, the spread is usually L4-6 in my area, with some reaching 7s for particular areas, and some managing a 3. Level 5 is average. But who is average anyway?

[Mumble]

But who is average anyway?

Mr Mean, Miss Median and Dr Mode.

[madme]

Thanks all. The meeting went well. He is doing v well. On target. Science teacher reckons he should get a level 7 next year. In maths he came third in his year and around a level 5- I'm so proud of him. He has worked really hard. When you think he got a level 3 at maths in year 6 this shows how the intensive help has worked. His specialist maths teacher should be made a saint. What is important is that I could tell that most really liked him and his quirkiness. They are finding that he is better behaved if thy give him harder work so they have taken on board what we said. A real proud parent moment.

[sueeltringham]

That's fantastic news madme! Well done to you, your son and all the teachers! It's so nice to hear of education and SEN working so well.

 

sue

[Clare63]

That's great news, Madme and a well deserved "proud parent" moment.

 

Clare x x x x

[Karen A]

Madme A very proud parent momment.Karen.