You will be aware of the much publicised problems with the marking and reporting of key stage 2 SATs examinations this year. Unfortunately this has had an adverse effect on our ability to organise our ability-based teaching groups as we are still awaiting data on a significant number of pupils.
The consequence for some pupils is that they may initially be placed in teaching groups where the work does not best match their ability. We have taken all possible measures to minimise the scale of this problem and can only apologise for any upset that your child or you may experience at what is already a potentially stressful time.
We shall be conducting our usual battery of tests with new pupils and taking account of the professional observations and assessments of our own staff in remedying the situation where pupils have been misplaced. This will however mean rather more movement between teaching groups than would otherwise be the case in the first few weeks.
Your child’s tutor group will not be affected by this problem as allocation to these classes is not ability based.
If you have any specific concerns about your child’s teaching group please do not hesitate to contact his/her year coordinator, Ms Henshaw, or one of my leadership team.
I hope that in every other respect your child has had a positive first day experience and I apologise again for a set of circumstances which is beyond our control.