Y7 day 1: I'm already cross.

actually I am with you op

ds started year 7 yesterday, he was pretty nervous, came home on a high having had a really nice day, no proper lessons, lots of getting to know, getting timetable etc. He has now calmed right down and is ready to face first lessons today.

If he went in today and had CAT test, he would be fine, but if he had had them yesterday it would have been pants.

first week, second day, in first few days, fine. But on day one? Bit mean I think.

Holiday - hopefully you would do that anyway?

I was thinking more getting them to bed on time and encouraging a breakfast with some protein and complex carbs!

At a school I taught in a few years ago, they tested on day one of year seven and towards the end of year nine. Hardly any movement. It really doesn't make a difference and is actually a nice start for many students. Tests shouldn't be stressful.

Reading this thread, what strikes me is that some posters are completely unsurprised, while obviously the OP never saw it coming.

...surely children whose parents realise this may be coming are at an advantage over children whose parents do not. It just sort of has the feeling of an insider advantage. Because, if it is your first child, and no one tells you, how would you know?

I think the first day is a bit harsh too

Although ds2 is looking forward to doing the CATs...I worry about him

Our Yr 7's will have various tests with no or little warning in the first few days.

We don't/can't use SATS data alone as some students don't have any data due to Parents refusing to let students sit them, private schools not sitting them, school data not being passed on. A lot of primary schools hot house students for SATS so an apparent Level 6 student in May is more like a solid level 5. We use internal tests, CATS/Midyis, SATS to set students in some subjects.

If they all did it today - the anxiety will be equal.

Us secondary teachers are really evil - you have us for another 5-7 years get used to us!!!

I have twins starting Year 7 this week - they are going to different schools.

My daughter did her CAT tests on transition day - as far as I know, her school were the only school locally that did this. I would expect my son will do his on one of the first days back.

I wouldn't get worked up over it...most, if not all, schools will do CAT tests for new pupils...whether it's on transition day, first day or first week.

I don't think it's that uncommon to be tested when they first start Y7.

My DD was when she started last year and the results were used for streaming Maths from day 1 and later for English & French. I don't think you can just rely on SATs results for that.

First day seems a little bit hard on them though.

first day is a bit OTT

Our year 7s start tomorrow and will be doing reading and spelling tests in their first English lessons, and tables tests in their first Maths lessons, then next week they will be doing tests to level them in all sorts of things. We need to be able to cover our backs when children don't make "expected progress" because the primary schools have taught to the test, crammed really hard and managed to get overinflated SATs results.

Very common, even when I went to school for CATs and aptitude tests to be done in first week so that you could quickly get into the right class.

CATS are better than SATS as they show cognitive ability better rather than just knowledge (and therefore are good for telling bright students apart from those who have just been taught to the test).

All the kids will have been in the same boat re: a little bit nervous. It may depress the results slightly (though CATS are pretty resilient to that imho) but it will not be any more unreliable than them done on any other day because of the type of thing they are testing.

I would have thought setting tests was the perfect way to settle any anxieties. No need for any social interaction and something to focus on.

If they get them done now, they can get on with teaching them next week.

If there is any disadvantage to doing them on the opening day, it's the same for everyone.

Beetle was referring to another thread running alongside this tonight

She's right though - you are sounding very pfb about this.
Of course it's normal to do (whatever) assessments (you want to use) at the start of school.
SATS are useless as a measure of what a child can do, secondary schools need to have solid evidence for all the 'value added' measuring that goes on, as well as knowing what the baseline is, to start teaching.

Some schools do assessments on their induction day in the Summer Term - would you have preferred that?

Ooh right Sassy. I will let him find that out when it happens in that case.

First task is to find his tutor room .

Sparkers - can pretty much guarantee that 1st English lesson will be reading/spelling text bonanza. Terrible way to start IMO, but does give us baseline data we need plus it's the only time of year when getting them marked quickly is easy.

Hope he has a good day!

Ours were told that they will sit some tests on their first day. They also did a reading test on their induction day in July like OhMyActualDays mentioned.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. If they end up being badly set because of nerves etc. affecting the test then I would hope the school would pick up on it after a short while and move them as necessary.

Very normal around here. If not on the first day, they do some testing in the first week. Actually, I think DSs both did some on their induction day for secondary in June. Surely it is better to do the tests without forewarning the children? As you said, they are already a bit anxious (although not all of them will be for sure!) so how would pre-warning them about tests help?

I suspect these tests will have been a much bigger deal in your mind than in the children's.

Our Y7s spent their first day getting to know their tutor, exploring the school and finding out where everything is, having an assembly on expectations etc, and then one normal timetabled lesson. We couldn't have fitted two tests in!

No idea what will happen with DS2 tomorrow. They start High School in Year 8 here. SATS are a distant memory.....