does anyone elses school tell the whole class where they came in tests?

[prettypurpledaisy]

My ds and his class have just done CAT tests as a guide to whether they should sit 11+ or not. Parents have not been informed of results and will have to wait until October for parents evening to discuss them. Today class teacher told all the children where they came in the class from top to bottom. I think this is odd, does anyone elses school do the same.

[Blandmum]

We don't. Not only do we not do this, sometimes we don't give children their actual marks, we tell them how they did relative to the last mat, ie, 'You did very well you did 5% better than last time' or 'You didn't do so well in this test, you have to concentrate on X, Y, Z to improve'

Place in class does nothing to motivate the vast majority of children. the ones at the top may start to coast, the ones at the bottom begin to give up hope of improving, and the ones in the middle just flounder.

Children have been shown to do least well when given a mark or a grade. They do best when given constructive comments.

[prettypurpledaisy]

I thought it was strange, and a bit unfair on all of the children. I am a bit peeved as I got a personalised letter about dd two years ago and it was never discussed in front of the children only between parents, and this time I know where ds came in relation to the others but not what scores he got. Will have a word with class teacher tomorrow I think.

[roisin]

No, dss's school certainly do not do this. IMO most children have a reasonably accurate idea as to where they are in the class, but not from these sort of test results.

[ladymuck]

I suppose it might be useful in that if you didn't like any of the other children in the top third of the class you would be less inclined to work towards 11+. But agree I would expect the children to have a rough idea of where they fall anyway.

[heronsfly]

really think that is unfair on the children did you speak to the teacher ?

[prettypurpledaisy]

Thanks for the comments, I know that the children themselves have a pretty good idea where they are in the class but I can't see the value in reinforcing it in front of everyone. Tried to speak to class teacher but he was not in today.