KS3 Levels Clarification

[Fairysdad]

Hi,
Daughter in Yr 7
When I try to find books for KS3, it comes with various terminology like foundation / higher, Level 3-7, level 5-8, etc.

Are they government defined terminology?
Can someone please help to understand the various levels and how it is mapped with Yr7 or higher.

Thanks in advance

[ToadMum]

Hi,
Daughter in Yr 7
When I try to find books for KS3, it comes with various terminology like foundation / higher, Level 3-7, level 5-8, etc.

Are they government defined terminology?
Can someone please help to understand the various levels and how it is mapped with Yr7 or higher.

Thanks in advance

I think - at least hope - that you are looking at GCSE course books by mistake here. And yes, the GCSE 'levels' are official and refer to the 9-1 classification and the differentiation between the Foundation Tier papers, which have a maximum assessed grade award of 5 and Higher Tier, which make no award below 4 (3 in the first year of assessment, I think).

Alternatively, are you somehow finding books mapped to the old National Curriculum levels?

KS3 is not / should not be differentiated into GCSE attainment grades, as the students aren't following the GCSE course at this stage. Although yes, year groups may be streamed or set according to prior / current assessments and yes, unfortunately, some schools actually tell year 7 and 8 students that they are working at 'GCSE grade x'.

[Fairysdad]

Thanks for the clarification. I suppose, I need to search books KS3- Year 7 to avoid GCSE related books.

Actually these terminology found with CGP books.

[ToadMum]

Have you asked your DD's subject teachers which, if any, books they recommend? CGP are the usual ones, though. BBC Bitesize (online) is good, as well.