What happens if my child doesn't sit year 6 SATS?

[naturallyred]

I have been told during parents evening that my child will not pass his SATS.

Just wondered if he has to sit them?

[CeciCC]

Hi, I am not expert on education, but I don't think he has to sit them. Private schools pupils don't do SATS even though the ones that they are just preps and finish at 11.
But I would be worry to be told that he won't pass them. Is he some much behind his peers in class? Did you know about him being behind before year 6? I would probably try to tutor him, some time all is needed is another way of teaching for the learning to click or check that he has any SEN like dyslexia or others and then go from there. I wouldn't worry about SATS though

[DoItTooJulia]

Hasn't it changed this year-if he doesn't sit them or pass them in Y6 he'll have to retake in Y7.

What support have the school offered?

[Autumnsky]

Shouldn't you worry why he can't pass the SATS, how can you help him and get the school to help him? The primary school stuff are all essential for his future day to day life no matter what he do. To not sit the exam is like put your head in the sand, isn't it?

[AndNowItsSeven]

No thankfully they scrapped that plan Julia.

[gillybeanz]

My dd didn't do SATS but was H.ed, I really hate the pressure put on dc for end of y6 test, which is what it is. Just the same as I did 30 years ago, with pressure and stress added on from parents and teachers.

It makes no difference if they do them or not, or if they pass them or not.
I think it's wrong for children to be entered when it's known they won't pass.
I would ask that he be withdrawn in this case.

[gillybeanz]

Oh, and mine didn't have to take any additional tests in y7, and although dd is private, I know state secondaries who do their own testing irrespective of having done SATS or not, they also don't use the results for secondary assessment.

[DoItTooJulia]

AndNow some sense! That's good news then. My ds is Y7 so I've tuned out of SATS talk.

Sorry op ignore my previous out of date comment.

[NennyNooNoo]

Your primary school probably won't be happy because their SATS results are quoted as "x% of year 6 children passed" including ones who didn't take the test. Just saying.

[helenwilson]

Whilst I do understand your points, I think it's a bit defeatist to simply give up. It's a poor lesson to teach a child that if they can't do something they should just not bother. You could take the pressure off, encourage your child to aim for a lower mark which may still stretch them, 95, 90, whatever is achievable. It's a constructive experience, if nothing else, to do the tests and to be honest your child will feel a bit isolated if everybody else is doing the tests (even those who will not pass) and they are not - it will make them feel inferior and knock their self confidence just as much as doing the test and not doing well. The national average for passing all three tests was around 53%, there are plenty of children out there who are going to get less than 100 in at least one subject.

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

Not much will happen- DS didn't take his because we were on holiday. He just had his teacher assessment reported and his secondary school did their own tests in y7.

[RandomHouseRules]

You went on holiday, missing SATs? What made you make that decision?

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

It was the year that the government moved the tests. I had already booked the holiday the year before as a treat (last big holiday to Florida before secondary school) and I don't think that the tests have any benefits for the children, just the school as a whole. I worked for the Standards and Testing Agency at the time. I knew he was working at the right level and the head was supportive.

Plus I hate how the children are put under so much pressure to do well in the tests as if it's a marker for the rest of their life.

[Autumnsky]

I agree with Helenwilson, it is fine if your DC are working at the righ level but don't do SATS. But if he can't pass, don't sit the exam won't change anything, he will suffer for his secondary education as well. So it's better to put attention on what area he doesn't understand, and try to get him learn and improve.

[TeenAndTween]

My DD didn't pass 2 out of her 3 SATs papers last year. But she had a good go and did them to the best of her ability.

Doing y6 SATs is a rite of passage. They will still need to do all the prep work (unless you withdraw and homeschool). The SATs week is 'special'. At ours they get special breakfasts and stuff like that. It could be really isolating to withdraw a child just because you think they won't pass. (And shows a lack of faith which may undermine their confidence).

At secondary there are regular tests / assessments. Preparing for SATs is a good way to get used to what will be expected in Secondary.

Just help your DC to do his best and don't place emphasis on the magic 100. Last year only 53% passed all 3.

[Feenie]

It was the year that the government moved the tests.

That didn't happen

[Finola1step]

Moved the tests?