That's pretty much my experience too. The effort went toward the A* students and the ones causing problems in class.

Very much the same as my lad then. He was at the top end of the 80%. He even got a level 8 (top level) in Maths Sats before starting GCSE's but when he wasn't put into the "gifted and talented group" it meant he was just left to get on with it and that is exactly not what was required.

At parents evenings we were repeatedly told he was "on target" and it took us a while to realise the "target" was pretty poor. He had been assessed, was deemed to be on to achieve certain grades and this was sold to us OK if he was on for those grades. He wasn't falling behind target so that was fine supposedly. I can't ever recall one parents evening where the discussion moved from talking about being "on target" to improving beyond that.

Contrast this to my experience many years ago. I failed my "11 plus" went to a "secondary modern" but was (eventually after parents insisted) given the chance to do "O levels". I then transferred to a grammar school for A-levels where the last thing they were aiming for was me or anyone else getting mediocre grades. The classes were not small either as for various reasons they had a big intake into the 6th form from my ex-school but the emphasis was on getting the grades to go to my chosen Uni.

It wasn't perfect because those that didn't want to go to Uni were left adrift and with little advice and help as to careers but the point is there was none of this "on target" rubbish. Your target was to do the best you could.

Now not only are targets set that are pretty low but they also encourages people to do "just enough". Need a C to get into Uni? Why bother trying for an A?

I see this to an extent in my work for the Open University where I tutor part time. I sometimes see students who due to the degrees now being points based have worked out they only need to pass my course or get a middle grade to get their Two-One or First and so that is all they do. They idea they might learn something useful if they put the effort in anyway is something that seems to be disappearing from our educational culture.

Generally speaking, schools don't know how to motivate lads. They seem to write them off rather than seeing their ability and trying to hook them with something that interests them.

My lad performed reasonably well at secondary school but because he wasn't compliant they did not expect him to do that well at GCSE. I realised that over the years that he had come top in every subject at least once but generally only did well in one or two subjects at any time. So I basically had a bet with him a couple of months the exams. Told him I'd give him £1,000 if he got 10 As but, say, 9 As and a B gets nothing. I added I thought he had no chance (when actually I thought he'd try to get one over me!). He got 10A's. Teachers assessments ended up looking as daft as they were. The school published the names an grades of those with top results in his year in the local 'paper but managed to omit his. I can only put that down to petty mindedness 'cos he'd made them look idiots.

Likewise at A level he didn't get the prize in his pet subject - in most subjects it went to the best student. He was by far the best in his but in his category they gave it to someone who they deemed "tried" the hardest! Small-minded teachers!

Mind you the bet came back to bite me a few years later. I had to offer his sister the same deal and she took the money too!

That is, in my eyes, down to overtesting and over stretching. It's commonplace to 'streamline' your studies nowadays and simply go for what you need to get the grades. I only ever really make sure I've studied 80% of materials, with particular focus on what's nailed on to come up in exams. Not so much at uni, but definitely through A levels I couldn't have learned every course cover to cover and be able to do well in every exam/assessment.

I agree though, that 'on target' stuff should be scrapped, you wouldn't tell a kids team to stop making tackles once they're leading comfortably. But you wouldn't have them playing three games a week either.