KS1 SATS. Is there a purpose?

[ScaryMonsterStories]

Is it just info for government is is there something that the child/parent/teacher get out of it?

Does the outcome affect the child in any way?

[Piffle]

Also can anyone tell me (sorry thread hijack)
what about kids that cannot write?

[seeker]

It is a way of checking up on teachers! It also gives something else for competitive parents to be competitive about!

Seriously, I suppose they have a purpose if you have any concerns about your dcs school - but I can't think of any other useful purpose they serve.
Do you mean physically can't write, statemented so that their special needs mean they can't write or just no having cracked writing yet?

[ScaryMonsterStories]

Hijack away....it doesn't look like we are popular (maybe I should check archives...I bet it has been done to death...I just can't be bothered).

I was just when the parents that usually take a week away during term-time will be sacrificing their hols this year so DC can do well in SATS.

I just didn't see that it was 'important to perform well' on an individual level. Then thought maybe I just don't understand the system so thought I would ask

[ScaryMonsterStories]

XPosts with seeker....

[EmsMum]

My DDs (private) school didn't bother with them.

[foofi]

They're only important for the school, not for the individual child. It shows how well the school does getting a certain percentage of kids to the required levels.

[ChasingSquirrels]

my mum (retired teacher) always said what a complete waste of time it all was - she could grade every child to the results they actually achieved before they took the test.

[Piffle]

well there is SN involved (sight) but not statemented

[seeker]

(This is a general point coming, Emsmum - I'm of course not implying anything about your school!)

Actually, I think there might be more of a point for them in private schools - I know some have teachers that aren't necessarily qualified, they aren't Inspected and don't follow the National Curriculum - so it might be good as a parent to have some sort of objective measure.

[foofi]

I think these days most private schools ARE inspected and DO have qualified teachers.

[ScaryMonsterStories]

So I shouldn't care less about getting my 6yo a private tutor 5 mights a week then ?

It isn't going to affect the rest of their life it they only come 2nd & 3rd in the class ?

[seeker]

SMS - I reckon if they are doing OK in class they'll be fine. KS1 SATS should be fairly low key and actualy don't make any difference to what happens next. The SATS in year 6 are sometimes a factor in setting in Secondary school, but I wouldn't worry too much about the Year 2 ones. I reckon 7 or 8 hours of private tuition a week at 20 quid an hour should do it. I can arrange that for you - just send the money to my paypal account......

[fihi]

ks1 sats are bobbins, and the rumour was that they were going to be disposed of in the near future. no real use to the kids, some (?) use to the school. OFSTED reports much better reflection of the school's work.

[ScaryMonsterStories]

Do you do 2 for 3"0 an hour or will it be £40 . I have DTDs you see.

Or should I select the one I want to excel and let the other fester amongst the 2nds & 3rds ???

[nell12]

Waste of time... they tell you how the child has performed on certain days... and generally the child has been fully prepared for it in advance

We have dropped KS 1 SATs in the school I teach at... we assess the children regularly on all different areas of Lit and Num and our assessments are moderated regularly to check for accuracy.

A far better, less stressful (for children teachers AND parents) and more accurate way of doing things IMHO

[hana]

piffle - I work in a special needs school and when our year 9s write SATS they are given extra time to complete the tests. Previously we were able to scribe for them as well, and read them any questions - not sure if that's still the case as I've not taught year 9 for a few years and have gone v part time

[nell12]

BTW I work at a private school, have an MA(hons) and a PGCE and I am the least qualified teacher there. When will people stop thinking that private school teachers are not qualified

[seeker]

SMS - we could conduct an interesting educational experiment and I could coach one right and one wrong and see what happens. I'd offer a discount if you'd let me write them up as a PhD thesis.....

Nell - I know lots are fine - actually lots are brilliant - that's why I said "some". However, there are some where a bit of objective measuring wouldn't go amiss. There are several round here where parents got an unpleasant shock at 11&divid; time. They thought that a pretty building, blazers and ties and a hefty bill every term equalled academic excellence. It didn't.

But anyway - back to SATS. If they're done properly, the children should hardly know they are doing them. My SIL told her class they were doing special secret work for the Government, gave them badges and code words and the rest of the school was SOOO jealous!

[Blueblob]

I always thought they were to provide the government with stats about schools.

[EmsMum]

seeker... my DDs school is inspected, does follow the national curriculum (but with additions). AFAIK the teachers are all qualified. This seems to be the norm for the private schools available in our area (lancashire)

They do KS2 SATS which is what prospective parents look at most(together with which secondary schools yr 6 go on to and how many scholarships), and do very well. So (to get back to the thread) lack of KS1 sats doesn't seem to do any harm and saves the kids (and parents) the stress.

[dayofftomorrow]

Those of us with older children (pre sats or in the early days) know the benefit of sats, children were leaving primary school without the basic skills, spending all autumn term preparing for christmas plays, all summer term doing non competitive sports.

The private schools don't use them as they have prep entrance exams in year 2 and senior entrance in year 6 or so which are the same sort of things (but probably don't include sections for the less able child)

[singersgirl]

We've been just told at our school that this year the KS1 SATS results are all teacher assessment, and the teachers will be doing ongoing assessment from February to June. So there isn't a day or a week that the children will sit a specific test.