GCSE Foundation Tier - How to appeal decision?

flashnazia

Hi

My brother is very upset about this. He is in year 9.

He has been told he will be doing the foundation tier for English GCSE. We are all very concerned about this. He got a 4 A in his SATS (in year 6). We don't believe there is any deterioration to warrant a decision that means he cannot achieve more than a C.

He is not in a low set either.

We are going to email the head of English to ask for the decision to be reconsidered but what do we do if they don't?

My brother is not the only one affected (and shocked) by the decision. The teacher told them "don't be upset, a C is all you need to walk out of here".

claire16c

Why not start with the email or his guardian calling the school and ask to make an appointment with his head of?

flashnazia

claire16c wrote: »

Why not start with the email or his guardian calling the school and ask to make an appointment with his head of?

We are going to do that but wondering what the process is after that (if any).

lika_86

If he's in year 9 he won't have even started his GCSEs yet so decisions on entrance for levels seems a bit premature.

You mention his year 6 SATs, how were his results from this year?

Also, what were the reports from Parents' evening/his school report?

thegirlintheattic

There is generally some wiggle room, although as far as I'm aware schools don't have to change tiers just because a parent wants it.

We've provisionally decided which tier our Year 10s will be doing (Year 9 is a little young) but don't tell them to nearer the Year 11 exams. Most are decided on a mixture of target and performance. It's the tier we think the child will do best at. If a parent is worried we will often agree to allow a child to sit the higher tier, but making it clear that if the child doesn't do well they may not be graded (e.g. below a D on higher).

flashnazia

lika_86 wrote: »

If he's in year 9 he won't have even started his GCSEs yet so decisions on entrance for levels seems a bit premature.

You mention his year 6 SATs, how were his results from this year?

Also, what were the reports from Parents' evening/his school report?

I don't think they did SATS this year. School stopped doing them? Perhaps someone can clarify?

merlot123

flashnazia wrote: »

Hi

My brother is very upset about this. He is in year 9.

He has been told he will be doing the foundation tier for English GCSE. We are all very concerned about this. He got a 4 A in his SATS (in year 6). We don't believe there is any deterioration to warrant a decision that means he cannot achieve more than a C.

He is not in a low set either.

We are going to email the head of English to ask for the decision to be reconsidered but what do we do if they don't?

My brother is not the only one affected (and shocked) by the decision. The teacher told them "don't be upset, a C is all you need to walk out of here".

My son too is in year 9, and they have been sitting end of year exams to determine which tier they will be sitting from September onwards.

My sons school has very little wriggle room for the student to be moved onto the higher set after the decision has been made due to timetable and student classroom numbers.

If you are concerned, do you have a house Tudor you can communicate with in the first instance.

merlot123

flashnazia

He's just told me his whole set have been put on foundation tier. He is in a top tier set (group 3 set 1).

Save_me

A few years ago now ;-) I was moved down a set in Maths and wasn't challenged at all. I completed lessons within 15 minutes and was told to just sit and wait for the others to catch up. What made it worse was the decision not to let me even try to gain a Grade C at GCSE. My parents complained and I got moved back up to the previous set. At the Mock Exam, I achieved the highest mark in the class. It's worth speaking to the teacher as Maths is so important and your child will only have to re-take at a later date! The best thing I did was get myself a revision guide and learn at my own pace. I improved no end from this! Good Luck!

flashnazia

merlot123 wrote: »

My son too is in year 9, and they have been sitting end of year exams to determine which tier they will be sitting from September onwards.

My sons school has very little wriggle room for the student to be moved onto the higher set after the decision has been made due to timetable and student classroom numbers.

If you are concerned, do you have a house Tudor you can communicate with in the first instance.

merlot123

That sounds good. Exams mean they have been assessed at least. My brother hasn't. His whole class have been lumped together.

We are going to email the head of English.

laurad85

Which spec? Which exam board? You can get a B in the foundation exam I teach. All speaking and listening and controlled assessments will all be the same as higher and you can be changed to higher right up to the last minute (school will have to pay though). The exam is different but only through the wording of the questions and the amount of help given. I think you are worrying unnecessarily, especially if he is only in year 9!!!