KS3 Levels

74jax

Can anyone point me in the right direction to find out what the levels are for what is expected of Year 8 pupils?

I have been told by the school receptionist the highest expected level is 6, however daughter's mark is a 7, does this mean she's at the lowest expected for a Year 9 pupil?

I've looked on the government website to hopefully find a list of all Levels under the Key Stage system but can't find anything.

I can't get back through to the school.

The only websites I can find are selling KS books and i'm not wanting to buy the books and assessments.

Desperado99

74jax wrote: »

Can anyone point me in the right direction to find out what the levels are for what is expected of Year 8 pupils?

I have been told by the school receptionist the highest expected level is 6, however daughter's mark is a 7, does this mean she's at the lowest expected for a Year 9 pupil?

The best thing to do is ask to speak to her head of year or form tutor, but a 7 is higher than a 6 so it sounds as if your daughter is doing really well :T

Hope you manage to get through to the school to get your questions answered.

Zoe

Elle7

From what I remember from meetings with my sister's tutor when she did these, 6 is the average. That's the expected grade, and anyone who achieves under that will be considered by the teacher for additional help, if they need it,

7 is a very good mark - it means your daughter is above average for Yr8. The grades don't correspond fully with the year above, so it'd be difficult to say she was working at a low Yr9 level, but probably fair to say that she'll do fine when she gets up there.

Congratulations! You must be so proud to have a daughter whose thriving. I hope she continues to do so well!

E x

mrcow

74jax wrote: »

I have been told by the school receptionist the highest expected level is 6, however daughter's mark is a 7, does this mean she's at the lowest expected for a Year 9 pupil?.

Not at all. NC levels are personal to the pupil. What you are looking for is progress. Everyone is different. The levels given will given an indication of predicted grades to be workin towards at GSCE (Which is the ultimate goal here).

A pupil at level 7 in a particular subject in year 8 will be expected to be working to an A/A* target at GCSE. Obviously it will depend on how much work is put in and whether her progress continues.

74jax

mrcow wrote: »

Not at all. NC levels are personal to the pupil. What you are looking for is progress. Everyone is different. The levels given will given an indication of predicted grades to be workin towards at GSCE (Which is the ultimate goal here).

A pupil at level 7 in a particular subject in year 8 will be expected to be working to an A/A* target at GCSE. Obviously it will depend on how much work is put in and whether her progress continues.

Thanks for that, is it written anywhere for parental guidance as to the levels and what they should be working towards?

I have been told each subject has different levels too, do you know if this is correct?

I'm not really a parent who follows Levels as such, I like to know my daughter is her best and not sitting back and 'slacking', however as long as she is happy I'm ok with her school work and haven't really paid attention as to what the Levels mean (bad I know).

mrcow

74jax wrote: »

Thanks for that, is it written anywhere for parental guidance as to the levels and what they should be working towards?

I have been told each subject has different levels too, do you know if this is correct?

The levels will be similar for each subject but each subject will have its own guidelines/dscriptors.

For example, for science, the descriptors are here:

http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/key-stages-3-and-4/subjects/key-stage-3/science/Level-descriptions/index.aspx

dangers

On my son's progress report, it has a chart at the bottom telling you what the levels are. However, he is Yr 7 and it only goes up to 6a which states exceptional performance.

scuba_girl

Just to add on to the comments, a level 7 is really good!

I don't teach KS3 any longer, just sixth form, but did up to last year.

For languages, levels tend to be lower especially for a second language if your daughter is doing two languages. If they have looked at either the past or future tense in a language, they would potentially be able to get a level 5, both the past, present and future, they would be able to get a level 6.

By the end of KS3 the highest level they are able to get is a level 8. There is also EP which is above this. To be at a level 7 at the end of Year 8 is a great place to be, and a level 6 is amazing progress as well.

As Mrcow said there are individual level descriptors for the different subjects. Some schools provide students with level descriptors which they will have stuck in their books, so they can see how to move up a level.

Hope that helps!

gratefulforhelp_2

74jax wrote: »

I have been told by the school receptionist the highest expected level is 6, however daughter's mark is a 7, does this mean she's at the lowest expected for a Year 9 pupil?

Receptionist is confuzzled!

mrcow wrote: »

Not at all. NC levels are personal to the pupil. What you are looking for is progress. Everyone is different. The levels given will given an indication of predicted grades to be workin towards at GSCE (Which is the ultimate goal here).

A pupil at level 7 in a particular subject in year 8 will be expected to be working to an A/A* target at GCSE. Obviously it will depend on how much work is put in and whether her progress continues.

The "average" at end of y9 is a 5, so well done your DD.

As Mr Cow says, she is statistically likely to be going for A/A* in that subject in y11 if all goes well.