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I know it's been mentioned on a lot of threads but I thought a separate thread might be useful.
I really feel strongly about this after hearing the schools minister spouting on the news yesterday "SATs are useful because they get children used to exams before they take GCSEs" - AT 7 FFS?!?
Exactly my thoughts- I mean ffs why do they need to practise for effing GCSEs for 10 years instead of learning stuff. (and let's not forget that a not small number taking KS1 sats are still 6)
I will never understand how they have managed to make people in this country believe that learning how to pass exams is more important that actually more important than learning wonderful, magical and astonishing ideas and facts, and developing children's minds to be flexible, instead of turning them into exam beasts. Exams ought to be an accurate representation of how much someone knows, not an end in themselves. As such, they should require about 2 hours preparation, not the entire academic year (more in some cases!) some schools devote to them.
Bumping for lunchtime. My impression is that we all feel strongly about this, so surely we can help her get more than 144 signatures or the government will be able to cling to their riduculous "but parents want SATs argument"!
Signed the petition - did not watch the prog last night. Have a DS in year 6 and can see what pressure he is under, my DS1 in year 8 actually made himslef so ill with the stress and worry whne he did them he had to be sent home. What good did that do him - absolutely none!
I dont understand why they cant do continus assment and observations with profiles backed up with evidance like for the EYFS. If the SATS are supposed to give a reflection of how the schools are proforming (or did I miss something?!) why are teachers (and some parents) stressing children about them, when the results dont affect them.
I was in the school yard and heard a girl say "I wont have much of a easter holiday its an important year I have to revise for my SATS" What does that do for a childs holistic development?
You would probarly get kicked out we asked our ds to not do SATS(long story). The teacher felt it would do more harm than good so we asked the headmaster We were told we had no choice he had to do them even I know of 3 lots of parents that asked to keep their kids of school during SATS and they got told the same
So if a group of parents got together as a group they'd have to expell everyone's children? This may seem a silly question, but I do think that there is a real issue here with our children being forced to do something that we think is fundamentally wrong. It seems like a bit of co-ordinated action from parents would force them to rethink the system - they can't expel everyone! I realise this is just wishful thinking, but let me dream...
love2- the problem is that a lot of parents are really keen on them, and completely sold on the concept of making their kid shine in this bizarro way. People may say they don't like them, and wish they would be got rid of, but you bet your bottom they're down at WHSmith buying study guides in the next breath.
if you dont send your child all they can do is class it as unauthorised absence they cant be expelled. And what are those guides for?! those tests are to see how the school is preforming thats all.
if you dont send your child all they can do is class it as unauthorised absence they cant be expelled. And what are those guides for?! those tests are to see how the school is preforming thats all.
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