Year 4 levels

[Middlesexmum]

I've never really understood these attainment levels apart dorm the face they should be making two thirds of a level of progress per year.

Dd2 is in Year 5. From what I can see she is bright and we are looking at various selective schools for her.

Her levels at the end of year 4 were 5C in literacy and 4C in maths. But I have no idea how good or otherwise this is. Is there a top level they can achieve in Year 6? And how do I know if she's academically capable of somewhere like NLCS?

[Mindset]

Hi,

An 'average' child will finish Y6 at level 4 (4b). So to be hitting level 5c in Y4 means well beyond the average for her chronogical age, and 4c also good- it suggests a 5b at the end of Y6.

There is a level 6 paper which some students will sit, perhaps yours will. But i wouldn't be too troubled by this- there isn't any real advanage to it, (well, not for the child- for the school maybe!) and in fact it's likeky that if they finish Y6 with a primary level 6 they will be told they are y5 at secondary school, which may be a little demoralising.

Hope that answers some of your queries, M

[Daogroupie]

To answer your question about NLCS. I can send you examples of creative writing done by students who have just received interviews at NLCS based on their exam results and you can decide for yourself if your dd would be able to get to the correct level in 12 months time. 5C is very good for the end of Year 4 but the question is has she been building on that momentum? That was six months ago. Where is she now? When did you last have a parents evening? What are her levels now? Sign her up for some mocks and you will soon see where she is in relation to her cohort who will also be chasing some of the same places. I would try and get her to a 5B in Maths and I think that would get her the interviews. In my opinion all schools are much more concerned about literacy levels than maths levels. Being able to write underpins everything like History and Science and Geography. DG

[mystery]

In my naivety about secondary school selection I find your last comment re. literacy versus maths very interesting. My own personal feeling would be the opposite if I was selecting. Maths and non-verbal skills underpin all the sciences; children can be taught at secondary school to write well enough to study arts and humanities up to A level quite successfully at a good secondary school so long as they have a reasonable level of literacy on leaving primary school. Surely 5c at the end of year 4 and some progress beyond that should be more than enough? However, a child who struggles with grasping mathematical and NVR concepts is going to have difficulty with most science A levels.

[Kingfisher]

A high level of literacy is very important as it affects so many subjects. The Head at NLCS is an English specialist. if your DD wants to get in there she will need to be equally good at English and Maths. Many parents think they can neglect literacy and focus on getting excellent Maths then regret it later. Another person on the forum said that her DD noticed the recent Consortium paper looked easy but on closer inspection was not so easy and needed closer investigation.

Those Bond books just don't cover the material. That's what my DD found last year.

[tabasco]

DD was level 4A in both Maths and English at the end of Year 4, level 5 (no subdivision given) at the end of year 5 and in the first term parents meeting the form teacher said she expects DD will be Level 6 in both at the end of year 6. So 5C in English and 4C in maths at the end of year 4 is good. We have applied to NLCS as well and DD just had her interview. Keep up the good work.

[Daogroupie]

Your dd sounds like a very strong candidate Tabasco, how did the interview go? DG

[omismum]

Hi middlesexmum,
Your DD is definitly on good level specially on english...if she keep it up, then nothing can stop her in getting in good school like NLCS.
My DD just gave her interviews and we are keeping fingures cross.
lots of positive encoragement and hard work will help.
good luck.

[tabasco]

I think it was fine. She was asked to solve four puzzles and she really enjoyed it as she loves solving puzzles. Music audition to come we should see what the result is on 26/02/2013.