Support for Y7 science
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Support for Y7 science
My son who is in year 7 was level 5 at the end of year 6. However since he has gone to secondary he has made no progress. We saw his science teacher at the consultation meeting last week and she seemed hopeless, withlittle idea about what he had achieved in the past and seemed to think he was working at an acceptable rate. he and his friends have complained that she just lectures them and there is limited time to ask any questions. I want to be able to help him at home as this should be one of his best subjext. In maths he is already at level 6a. Can anyone suggest any books or websites which we could look at at home to help him? We are going to meet his teacher again, but see her as a hopeless case unable to see that she has any input into this situation. Any help appreciated.
Almost half the school population get a level 5 at KS2. I think the last statistics were 44% getting a level 5.
Several people have mentioned science in relation to little or no progress in year 7. I think there is a huge gap between a level 5 at KS2 and Level 5 at KS3. IMO it is more marked than in any other subject.
http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcs ... c=force_uj
It may be useful to have a look at the requirements/expectations of levels 5 and 6 at KS3 rather than just the content of year 7 science.
Several people have mentioned science in relation to little or no progress in year 7. I think there is a huge gap between a level 5 at KS2 and Level 5 at KS3. IMO it is more marked than in any other subject.
http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcs ... c=force_uj
It may be useful to have a look at the requirements/expectations of levels 5 and 6 at KS3 rather than just the content of year 7 science.
Indeed. The 'level 5' obtained in Year 6 does not equate to that in KS3. Some people even think that the level 5 in Year 6 might be falsely inflated...and might even be meaningless... (moi?)
There was a lot of discussion on here about this very subject a few weeks ago - forget the exact thread but think it was called something like 'booster sessions for Y7 science'.
A final word - please don't assume the teacher is a 'a hopeless case' - it is more likely to be 'a hopeless system' which leaves parents of perfectly able children believing they need to worry about NC levels in Year 7.
There was a lot of discussion on here about this very subject a few weeks ago - forget the exact thread but think it was called something like 'booster sessions for Y7 science'.
A final word - please don't assume the teacher is a 'a hopeless case' - it is more likely to be 'a hopeless system' which leaves parents of perfectly able children believing they need to worry about NC levels in Year 7.
There is a thread somewhere on here with links to interesting science resources that might stimulate his interest again.
There are plenty of the standard KS3 guides to Science if you want to go through the basic concepts with him.
Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about the teacher at this point in the year. Unfortunately there is a great shortage of really good science teachers so often those teaching year 7/8 aren't the best in the school/ are not teaching their 'specialist' subject.
They will go through pretty much everything they have covered this year again anyway so I would concentrate on keeping DS interested in the subject & hope he gets a better teacher next year.
There are plenty of the standard KS3 guides to Science if you want to go through the basic concepts with him.
Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about the teacher at this point in the year. Unfortunately there is a great shortage of really good science teachers so often those teaching year 7/8 aren't the best in the school/ are not teaching their 'specialist' subject.
They will go through pretty much everything they have covered this year again anyway so I would concentrate on keeping DS interested in the subject & hope he gets a better teacher next year.
Thank you all for your posts. I have looked up past posts and made a note of the websites others have found useful. It is interesting that the KS2 results are of little use in helping us know where he should be. It would have been more useful if his teacher found a way of telling us this as well rather than leaving us feeling disappointed in his attainment. I am going to meet his teacher in a couple of weeks to think with her about him. My fear is that she is putting him off such an interesting subject and one where with good input he could excel. Lets hope for a more dynamic teacher in year 8.
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hermanmunster
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G&T Provision does it for me.
And the statement issued by the Government which said that of course schools are not spending months preparing for SATS - it is just part of the normal school year....
...and then Mr Balls' equally convincing statement that it would be most unprofessional of the teachers to boycott SATS, as the children have spent so long working towards them.
And the statement issued by the Government which said that of course schools are not spending months preparing for SATS - it is just part of the normal school year....
...and then Mr Balls' equally convincing statement that it would be most unprofessional of the teachers to boycott SATS, as the children have spent so long working towards them.
