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Original poster

SATS cheating - by the Head!

561 replies

Dilemmaramma · 16/05/2025 21:16

In my DC’s final SATS exam yesterday, the headteacher was overseeing and they picked up DC’s paper, DURING the exam, flicked through it, then rubbed out one of the answers and told DC to try again. They also pointed out another wrong answer and indicated DC should re-do that question.

This is clear cut cheating, right?

YABU - don’t report it, the whole year group could get their SATS voided and they’ll be devastated
YANBU - this is appalling and the Head needs to be investigated

OP posts:
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9
Riaanna · 16/05/2025 21:53

KIlliePieMyOhMy · 16/05/2025 21:31

Sorry SATS are used as predictions for GCSEs that take place 5 years later.
That's crazy, if true.

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They are part of an algorithm used to generate target grades. Post code is too.

Orangesinthebag · 16/05/2025 21:52

IButtleSir · 16/05/2025 21:51

Where did you get this idea from? Of course the head can be alone in a room with children.

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Not in SATS tests, there have to be two people in the testing room at all times.

gerul · 16/05/2025 21:51

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I can believe this though. When my child told me about an incident just like this she said the helped child was really embarrassed and upset by it

HurryUpHilda · 16/05/2025 21:51

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As I said up thread this is a direct result of high-stakes testing, at age 11! Unfortunately the Head has crossed a boundary here, they are, allegedly, moving round the exam room changing students' answers. If I can put it in terms some MN posters might relate to, your DC is being disadvantaged by a HT who will bend the rules to save their own skin/advance their own careers, it is absolutely appalling.
As a slight sideline, 'many' schools use ks2 SATs to set GCSE target grades, at least initially. Obvs there are other ways (CATs/observation/some sort of entrance exam) but I can assure from first hand knowledge that many Secondary schools use KS2 SATs, in part, for both target setting and teaching groups.

IButtleSir · 16/05/2025 21:51

Apollo365 · 16/05/2025 21:23

The head wouldn’t be on their own in the room, there would be other staff present. Did DC notice anyone else watching this? Or it’s just her word against the head. Personally I wouldn’t report tbh.

Where did you get this idea from? Of course the head can be alone in a room with children.

JasmineAllen · 16/05/2025 21:51

@Dilemmaramma
I have 3 children who have done SATS. None of their schools took any notice of them. In fact 2 school actually told me what waste of time they were as a predictive tool for achievement.

The only thing SATS are used for is scoring schools, not the pupils. That's why the head is so keen for the students to do well.

You could report the head but personally I wouldn't about something so inconsequential.

TheCurious0range · 16/05/2025 21:50

I do also remember in year six SATs hesitating over an answer going to write then stopping, then writing the answer, I think it might've even been circling or underlining something, then looking at it again pen poised to cross it out, my teacher was standing by my shoulder watching me, I looked up she smiled and winked which I took to mean I was right and moved on.

ETA I wasn't mortified I felt relieved, pretty sure I never mentioned it to anyone at the time

Orangesinthebag · 16/05/2025 21:50

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ExtraOnions · 16/05/2025 21:48

SATS are a measure of the School, not a measure of your child. High Schools do thier own tests, and children are streamed on this - they often aren’t even streamed in Y7. They are so pointless, I wish I’d pulled my child out

gerul · 16/05/2025 21:47

I think loads of heads or teachers must do it. It happened at both my DC's schools (different schools). My eyes nearly popped out of my head when DC1 told me, the second time I just sighed and moved on

noblegiraffe · 16/05/2025 21:46

Yeah I can believe it. As a secondary teacher I've heard from kids about help being given. We've also had kids with SEN come in with SATs results that in no way reflect their ability and it's obvious that their scribe or reader has significantly helped them in the exams.

Arina22 · 16/05/2025 21:46

A lot of Education results are bullshit.

Ive worked in language schools. Ive seen the teachers do the exams for students.

My acquaintance works on an adult education program. He told me that he writes the coursework for them.

TheCurious0range · 16/05/2025 21:46

I had a German teacher once who made sure in the room where oral exams were conducted, she had a bin and a hat stand, if you were struggling with which verb to use in the perfect tense, she'd glance at one or the other haben/hat (stand) sein/bin. This will probably only make sense to people who have studied German.

HobnobsChoice · 16/05/2025 21:43

A teacher got struck off for this a few years ago. He was the new head of a recently converted academy. Absolutely ridiculous thing to do
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/former-headteacher-manchester-primary-school-21166881

Oleo24 · 16/05/2025 21:42

It’s morally wrong. I’d be appalled too, OP.

Darkeststarwillshine · 16/05/2025 21:42

Did she give him the answer? From what I just read she has basically asked him to look again at the question.

Azdcgbjml · 16/05/2025 21:42

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It would be very hard for a TA to report their head.

DidStart · 16/05/2025 21:41

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You’d be surprised at what does happen!

As I said up thread, part of my role is to visit schools, unannounced, to monitor the administration of SATS.

We always have one school reported back to the Standards and Testing Agency and quite a few with actions to improve.

Saying that the administration guidance docs are huge. So much detail. So much to follow.

Chickoletta · 16/05/2025 21:41

👋 Secondary teacher and SLT here. I can promise you that primary SATS are not used to predict GCSE grades. Even if they were, your child’s results are not dependent on a prediction, so it makes FA difference.

FrodisCapering · 16/05/2025 21:40

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Apollo365 · 16/05/2025 21:40

MrsKeats · 16/05/2025 21:37

Do you always believe everything your child says op?

It’s a year 6 child though; they are quite perceptive..

Azdcgbjml · 16/05/2025 21:39

KIlliePieMyOhMy · 16/05/2025 21:31

Sorry SATS are used as predictions for GCSEs that take place 5 years later.
That's crazy, if true.

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It is used for Progress 8 which measures school performance against predictions based on KS2 data.

Apollo365 · 16/05/2025 21:39

Dilemmaramma · 16/05/2025 21:37

I believe my DC. I can believe the head did this. I know the TA who was in the room (parent of child in the year group) and she recommended I write to the school.

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So the TA admitted to you this happened? In that case I would report, at least she can back you up.

Original poster
Dilemmaramma · 16/05/2025 21:39

MrsKeats · 16/05/2025 21:37

Do you always believe everything your child says op?

No but I believe them about this.

OP posts:
HeddaGarbled · 16/05/2025 21:38

Ah, it’s all bollocks though really isn’t it. I don’t think I could bother myself about it.

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