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5.4.3 Education Expectations and Underachieving

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This Chapter is new June 2009, it provides guidance on the National Curriculum Key Stages and what procedures should be followed if a Looked After Child is underachieving.


Contents

  1. Educational Expectations
  2. Underachieving Children


1. Educational Expectations

1.1 Key Stages

The National Curriculum is organised into blocks of years called Key Stages.  The compulsory years of schooling are covered by Key Stages 1 to 4.  Each National Curriculum subject has a programme of study which maps out a scale of achievement.

In most Key Stage 1-3 subjects, these attainment targets are split into 8 Levels of Attainment.  The Key Stages are targeted towards specific ranges of Attainment Levels, however, each child can work at their own pace.

In Key Stage 4, most students study GCSE (General Certificate for Secondary Education) subjects, however there are a great number or vocational subjects; VQ (Vocational Qualification), NVQ (National Vocational Qualification), and GNVQ (General National Vocational Qualification) that are taken by many students.

GCSEs are graded from A*-G.  The vocational courses are assessed differently to GCSEs, however they can be counted towards the number of GCSE subjects passed by a student.

For detailed information about the National Curriculum and Key Stages, go to the Directgov website: Understanding the National Curriculum

1.2 SATs Tests

For detailed information about the SATs Tests, go to the Directgov website: National Curriculum teacher assessments and key stage tests.

When a child is in Years 2, 6 or 9, they will be completing their National Curriculum SATs Tests.  After the KS1 SATs Tests, a child will get levels in Reading, Writing (including Spelling) and Maths.  After the KS2 SATs Tests, a child will get levels in Reading, Writing (including Spelling), Overall English, Maths and Science.

The KS3 Tests are designed to not only assess a child's progress in the first three years of secondary school, but they also indicate their preparation for GCSEs.  The Maths and Science KS3 SATs Tests are tiered.  Schools will be able to predict the levels pupils are expected to achieve and will enter them for the appropriate tiered test.  The Maths KS3 SATs Tests are tiered into Levels 3-5, 4-6, 5-7 and 6-8.  The Science KS3 SATs Tests are tiered into Levels 3-6 and 5-7.  It is important to monitor a child's levels and ensure that they are indeed entered for the appropriate level test.

For many of the GCSE subjects, they are also tiered.  Maths GCSE Exams are organised into three tiers.  The Foundation Level Exams will cover D-G, the Intermediate Level Exams will cover B-E and the Higher Level Exams will cover A*-C.  Most other subjects are organised into two tiers.  The Foundation Level Exams will cover C-G, however the Higher Tier exams will cover A*-D.  Some GCSE subjects have only one Exam paper.

A child can still be entered for GCSE Exams, and sometimes achieve a pass for the subject (minimum of a G) without having handed in coursework.  It is therefore important to ensure that the schools are still entering a child for their Exams.


2. Underachieving Children

When a child is not working to a Level or Grade that is deemed their potential, or is behind in completing GCSE coursework, there are some interventions that the Children in Care Education Team can put in place.  The formalised interventions provided by the team include:

  1. KS3 SATs Study Club

    This is available for suitable Year 9 (14 year old) children who are living in borough or near-by.  The Study Club is held at the Williams Grove Tuition Centre on Wednesday afternoons in the half-term preceding the KS3 SATs tests.  Tutors are available to assist the young people in their test preparation and revision.  Computers are available to access the internet.
  2. KS4 Williams Grove Homework Club

    This is available for KS4 (15 and 16 year old) pupils who are living in borough or near-by and are serious about studying for and achieving GCSEs.  The Homework Club is held at the Williams Grove Tuition Centre on Tuesday afternoons during term times.  Tutors are available to assist the young people with course work, revision or understanding concepts.  Computers are available to access the internet or coursework.
  3. KS4 After School Home Tuition

    This is available for KS4 (15 and 16 year old) pupils who are living in borough or near-by and are serious about studying for and achieving GCSEs.  There are 20 hours of tuition available (consisting of 1 hour per week during term times) in one of; GCSE Maths, GCSE English or GCSE Science.  The tuition is conducted in the care placement and in the presence of the carer at a time that suits the tutor, the carer and the young person.

If a young person is behind in their school work or not reaching their potential and is not suited to the formalised interventions, the Children in Care Education Team may be able to put individualised interventions in place.

To notify the Children in Care Education Team about a pupil not reaching their educational potential or being behind in their school work, please contact Cherry Hunt on extension 3767 or via email: cherry.hunt@haringey.gov.uk

Once the team is contacted, they will determine the appropriateness of the interventions available.

End