to be so cross at the amount of SATS revision ds2 has been given?

[daisydoodoo]

Ds2 is in yr6. They usually get homework over the school holidays along the lines of a small project or book review or a few maths sheets. However ds2 has brought home a huge folder labelled SATS revision.

Inside there are four workbooks thick ones not flimsy ones and 20 worksheets. The instructions ask for the work to be completed during the holiday and give the parent a list of how long we are to time them forceach section and then two pages of timed questions for us to ask the child giving the times they are allowed to answer the question in (5 seconds 10, 15). Then a link to where we can print off the answer's.

Thw instructions then specify that we need to mark the tests and email the child's teacher the results and our thoughts on what areas are the childs strengths and weaknesses.

I read all this on frazzle and still fuming now.

Ive added up the time to carry out these tests and it totals 9 hours. Plus then the marking.

The pack also included a letter stating that for 4 weeks all yr6 pupil's woukd be expected to be in school for 8 am on monday tuesday and Wednesday, 50 minutes early.

Surely this is overkill?

The school is ofsted 'good' and ds2 is on target for high 4's possibly even 5's according to parents evening not even two weeks ago.

Im not sure how a sahm couod find the time to carry out the testing (there are revision sheets as well that the child will need to work through before even taking the tests) never mind the fact that parents work and have other children to look after too.

[daisydoodoo]

Frazzle = friday apologies for any other spelling/grammar mistakes I am on my phone.

[scottishtablet]

YANBU

[Salmotrutta]

Don't do it then.

[HollyBerryBush]

So don't do them, they are of little value other than primary school league tale rankings. Secondaries will use their own CATS scores as SATS are over inflated piles of crap.

[Salmotrutta]

And yes, secondary will do their own testing - they certainly do up here in Scotland so I'm sure it'll be the same in England.

And we don't do SATs up here in primary anyway.

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

Hopefully the hour early is going to be for a 'Breakfast Club' which is a lot of fun and a good way to ensure that all the DC start the day with a decent breakfast. Hopefully...

The SATS revision is way too much! My DS3 is in Y6 and has brought home no homework. I'd just email back and say, 'Sorry, too busy this holiday but will attempt one of each.' (Maybe) Make it clear it's your decision so your DC doesn't feel they'll be in trouble.

[YellowandGreenandRedandBlue]

I would not do it.

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

Sorry, just seen that the hour early is for the first 4 weeks! Sounds like a booster group, to me. Usually they are after school or during lunchtimes.

[Parker231]

Other than during last years GCSE exams I've always adopted no homework during the school holiday - they need a break and no way am I spending my time off work doing the teachers job ! I use to send an email to the school at the start of each holiday (and I wasn't the only one !)

[daisydoodoo]

I said to ds2 that we couldn't possibly do it all in the holidays but we would do some but hes devastated and now worried that he will be in trouble when he goes back for not doing it. I've told him not everyone will finish it as we know several who are away for the two weeks and I can't see that they will have taken the work on holiday.

The early start time is 100% booster club no breakfast or fun involved.

That alone made me cross as I have a younger dc at the same school (yr2) who we will either have to walk home to turn around and come back again (15-20 minute walk away) or hang around the playground for an hour.

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

This sounds like a huge amount. DS2 (Y6) got a spelling worksheet, a Maths worksheet and one practice Reading paper.

[Feenie]

That's a ridiculous amount of work, and I speak as a teacher who has taught Y6 many times. What do they hope to achieve at this stage, other than stressing the children out unnecessarily? My ds would not be doing this homework of it was me.

[Feenie]

if

[dizzyhoneybee]

YANBU. It is the holidays, tell the school that when they go back - if they can't get good SATs grades without forcing the kids to do all that then they need a talking to. Phone OFTSED and tell them what is going on!

[Slipperyslopin]

Honestly NO ONE cares about SATs, not even the secondary schools. Just inform them that he's not done them and that it's too much work. Whats the punishment scheme for not doing homwork?

[MaureenMLove]

Tell them you were on holiday and point out that it is in fact the school holiday, when you have been told by them, this is the only time you are allowed to go!

[Felicitywasonholiday]

Totally OTT and I would be raising it with the HT.

I would do perhaps 1-2 worksheets from each booklet. Mark them and chat about it with your DC.

I would then email the teacher the scores (CCing the head) and comment that you are not qualified to make a judgement on her/his pupils strengths and weaknesses and would be looking forward to the teachers feedback on holiday homework.

I'm usually on the schools side in these disputes. But this is ridiculous.

[MaureenMLove]

Oh and the extra early mornings is ridiculous! How on earth can parents who have younger children too, be in a position to get to school an hour early!

I'm sure you won't be the only parent of a yr6 having these thoughts. I think I'd get some feedback from other parents and stick together.

[daisydoodoo]

Ds seems to think they will make him stay in at break to do the work. He's really upset about it.
We were away this weekend so haven't had time to do any. I was back at work today and all dc to my mums but I couldn't ask her to do some with him as she let's me know looking after 2 of my 4 dc is enough work (she refused to take him to rugby camp).

At parents evening we spoke at length with the teacher about how sats were of use for the school and not the pupil and how cramming for one off results didnt offer a true picture of a pupils capabilities.

If ds2 wasnt so upset I'd do as you've said and email saying that we wouldn't be participating.

Ds is a clever boy and off to grammar school in september.

[whattimestea]

My DS2 also came home from school with exact same folder as you describe...is it standard Y6 procedure now in run up to SATS? I was a bit about the amount he has to work thru but he doesn't seem fussed at all. We're doing it little and often over next few weeks.

Do SATS not go towards the 'sets' your child is placed in at secondary school then? I was always under the impression they did and its certainly what school have told us as well??

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

Well, if he's off to grammar school anyway... My friend's DD left school in the last term of Y6 and was home educated for the 3 months after she passed the 11+. They had 3 months of great fun. She came back for SATS week, for the school's benefit. Obviously not possible if you work, but that's how important the last term of SATS cramming is.

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

Grammar schools often don't bother setting in Y7 as they are all top or second set kids.