News1 min ago
Any Secondary Avhool Teachers Out There?
28 Answers
My daughter who just started year 7 has always done well at school, she seems to be doing very well in her subjects but has a little critic in her head telling her it's not good enough when she doesn't get an anticipated grade.
She left year 6 with a 5a in English but recent exams gained her a 4a, she is quite dustraught, out of all the subjects this is one that she usually excels at, apparently the reading was excellent but the written let her down.
The class did the exam before my dughter as they took it on the day we had snow here and she couldn't get into school so she had to sit it at a later date on her own, I think this may have factored in a bit.
I've told her to go and see her English teacher to ask exactly where she went wrong and where she can improve but she is really reluctant to do so, she feels she'll be an aggravation or worse get told off.
I hate seeing her like this, she's far too serious and should be worrying a bit less, do you think I should write into the teacher to ask her to have a word?
She left year 6 with a 5a in English but recent exams gained her a 4a, she is quite dustraught, out of all the subjects this is one that she usually excels at, apparently the reading was excellent but the written let her down.
The class did the exam before my dughter as they took it on the day we had snow here and she couldn't get into school so she had to sit it at a later date on her own, I think this may have factored in a bit.
I've told her to go and see her English teacher to ask exactly where she went wrong and where she can improve but she is really reluctant to do so, she feels she'll be an aggravation or worse get told off.
I hate seeing her like this, she's far too serious and should be worrying a bit less, do you think I should write into the teacher to ask her to have a word?
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by rockyracoon. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.RR - don't worry about it, it's just one assessment. If they were really worried about her they would be in touch with you. The assessments done by the primary school can be a bit hit and miss but the secondary targets are usually based on the grades achieved nationally by students with the same level of achievement in certain tests (they use CAT tests in some areas so all of the students who achieve x mark will be given the same target grade at a GCSE). Also, I believe secondary school teachers are more cautious about giving high grades as they are held to account if the student doesn't achieve this grade at GCSE. (I have a son in year 8 who is below some of his predicted grades but he has high grades to achieve, I am also an ex secondary teacher). Tell her she is doing brilliantly and to keep up the hard work.
goodness, if I'd got my mum to go see the teacher every time I did worse than expected in an exam...
In your own opinion, how serious is this? Will it actually affect future marks, or is she genuinely falling behind? Or could it just be a one-off?
My own instinct would be to reasure her it doesn't really matter - if it doesn't - and not to worry; there will be other exams. Otherwise you might just be reinforcing her inner critic and make her stress about exams even more.
But if you think she'll get more reassurance by you taking her concerns seriously, then best do as excel suggests.
In your own opinion, how serious is this? Will it actually affect future marks, or is she genuinely falling behind? Or could it just be a one-off?
My own instinct would be to reasure her it doesn't really matter - if it doesn't - and not to worry; there will be other exams. Otherwise you might just be reinforcing her inner critic and make her stress about exams even more.
But if you think she'll get more reassurance by you taking her concerns seriously, then best do as excel suggests.
It takes time to adjust from being a big fish in a small pool to a smaller fish in a big pool. One of my nieces had the same problem but has now got into her true stride. The conditions under which she did the test must have influenced her too.
It must be hard for a youngster to accept that it is only a small hurdle in a long race and a sympathetic chat with her teacher should help. Teachers are influenced by caring parents who are prepared to get involved, according to my son, who is teacher.
It must be hard for a youngster to accept that it is only a small hurdle in a long race and a sympathetic chat with her teacher should help. Teachers are influenced by caring parents who are prepared to get involved, according to my son, who is teacher.
Thank for all your replies, Alba, she's just turned 12. I'm not worried about the grades at all, I just think she's putting too much pressure on herself, I thought if she speaks to the teacher she'll hopefully get a bit of reassurance, she thrives on praise. My son who's 2 years older than her is completely different, he couldn't give a carrot! I don't know which way is worse. Thanks Sherr, the crux of the matter I think, is in the fact that her target was 5a and she dropped a level, to her thats a mortal sin.
I'll speak to her again when she's calmed down and see what she wants to do.
Once again, thank you all xx
I'll speak to her again when she's calmed down and see what she wants to do.
Once again, thank you all xx
I am a secondary school teacher. If you are worried you should ask the teacher for a meeting or telephone call.
I know it's easy for me to say but I wouldn't be too concerned about the result for several reasons:
- you may find that many other students scored below their Year 6 score. I found that year 6 SATs levels tended to overstate the true level. In my experience primary schools spend weeks or months preparing children for the SATs and use every opportunity to maximise the levels as there is so much pressure to do so. Assessments in Year 7 may be set with little notice and preparation and probably give a better snapshot of the student's true level.
-The system of levels and sublevels is not as scientific as some may think. I have had many students in Y7, for example, whose scores on different tests can vary from say 4a to 5a on different tests. Boundaries are often set using the teacher's judgement of where the boundaries lie.
- Some Y7 teachers may err on the low side when setting levels as they may be set targets for improvements- e.g. raise all students by 2 sub levels by end of Year 7.
-The scores are just likely to be used as an indicator or may be used to place students in sets. There is plenty of time for them to find the correct levels and be placed in the right sets.
Good luck. Let us know how you get on.
I know it's easy for me to say but I wouldn't be too concerned about the result for several reasons:
- you may find that many other students scored below their Year 6 score. I found that year 6 SATs levels tended to overstate the true level. In my experience primary schools spend weeks or months preparing children for the SATs and use every opportunity to maximise the levels as there is so much pressure to do so. Assessments in Year 7 may be set with little notice and preparation and probably give a better snapshot of the student's true level.
-The system of levels and sublevels is not as scientific as some may think. I have had many students in Y7, for example, whose scores on different tests can vary from say 4a to 5a on different tests. Boundaries are often set using the teacher's judgement of where the boundaries lie.
- Some Y7 teachers may err on the low side when setting levels as they may be set targets for improvements- e.g. raise all students by 2 sub levels by end of Year 7.
-The scores are just likely to be used as an indicator or may be used to place students in sets. There is plenty of time for them to find the correct levels and be placed in the right sets.
Good luck. Let us know how you get on.
Thanks factor, I'll definitely let you know how it goes. When I went my son's first parent evening the teacher said they believed most primary school levels where over inflated. Fortunately they don't stream for English as there'd be hell to pay in racoonland if she didn't make the top set, they do for maths, thank god she's in the top set for that.
I would worry more about her taking this so seriously at her age. She sounds just like my sister who was burned out by the end of secondary and had a breakdown at uni - and all because of the pressure she put on herself. Maybe she'd be better sitting down with you and the 2 of you having a wee chat about that than going to the teacher. It's all well and good being concientious, but good marks aren't everything. (ps this is in no way a criticism of you - you have already stated you are worried about her pressurising herself) good luck x
Related Questions
Sorry, we can't find any related questions. Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and submit your own question.