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Original poster

Taking DS on holiday 2weeks before SATS 2020

143 replies

Beanybye · 22/04/2019 08:26

We’ve booked a much needed family holiday to Florida for next April. It’s a once in a life time trip and the only way we could afford it is to go during term time.

DS is a bright lad,no concerns raised about his academic ability. I can’t remember the terms they use now but he’s ‘above’ where he ‘should be’ in maths and reading and at the ‘right’ level in writing. Not that any of that’s relevant.

Anyway, this holiday is 2 weeks after Easter so he’ll be off for a month then in school for a week and then it’s SATS.

At first I wasn’t bothered, DS gets stressed about these assessments so missing the build up to it (i think) will be a good thing. School don’t use it for secondary school streaming it’s used for league tables.

Being a goody goody myself I’m now a bit worried they’ll give me a hard time over it. Any experience? I don’t want to give you all a sob story but this holiday means a lot to us.

OP posts:
cece · 22/04/2019 08:28

You will be judged. Sorry.

cansu · 22/04/2019 08:29

yes they will give you a hard time but as you have already booked it there seems to be no point stressing about it. I would expect to be fined though.

Racerback · 22/04/2019 08:29

Surely if your DS gets stressed about assessments, this is likely to ruin his holiday? He'll be worried sick about the preparation he's missing.

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CaptainBrickbeard · 22/04/2019 08:30

As a secondary school teacher, I would say go for it. SATs cause untold misery and pressure right through to GCSEs. I would rather my children underperform in their SATs to escape the grind of ‘aspirational’ targets hanging like a millstone round their necks forevermore. They are also utterly pointless in every respect and done to measure schools, not done in the students’ interests whatsoever. I’m horrified by Year 6 pupils in SATs boosters after school or at weekends or holidays. Go to Florida. Have a great holiday.

ILiveInSalemsLot · 22/04/2019 08:30

School won’t like it but it won’t matter to your ds. Tell the school your reasons and I’m sure they’ll understand.

Todaythiscouldbe · 22/04/2019 08:31

Our secondary school used the results for streaming in year 7, groups do change after termly assessments but not significantly.
You will be judged but, as the holiday is booked, there's nothing you can do now. Just go and enjoy it

123fushia · 22/04/2019 08:32

You are causing unnecessary stress for school and your child. A cheaper holiday is a poor excuse on this occasion.

99calmbeforethestorm · 22/04/2019 08:33

I left secondary teacher last year. Told of teacher I know are removing their children from school on SATS days and boycotting them.

Mrscog · 22/04/2019 08:34

Oh god go for it, especially if he’s likely to do well anyway. Ignore school, our HT us really supportive of TT holidays - the form always comes back as unauthorised as it has to be but he always writes a lovely letter saying we’re a long time dead after this life, have a great time!

bigchris · 22/04/2019 08:34

Are you talking about year 6 sats?

megletthesecond · 22/04/2019 08:36

Surely he'll get more stressed having less time to prepare for them? He won't have any opportunities to talk to his teachers and it'll be hanging over him all holiday.

MsTSwift · 22/04/2019 08:37

I would avoid school events for a while. You are certainly not a goody goody that’s quite a bold move! Lots of people will say well done sats are nonsense etc in my anecdotal experience whether we like it or not they are very important dds school sets on them. Dd would have fretted and stressed about missing so much school especially then but your lad may be different only you know.

CaptainBrickbeard · 22/04/2019 08:38

Please ignore posts about being judged or causing stress to your son. Taking him away is the best thing you could do to reduce his stress and honestly, as a teacher of long experience I cannot emphasise enough how much SATs do not matter to you or your child. They are for the school only.

Sirzy · 22/04/2019 08:38

I don’t see how taking him out of school for two weeks will help that stress! More likely the worry will spoil the holiday for him.

Can you not rearrange for after the sats?

Aragog · 22/04/2019 08:41

It'll be fine.

Yes you'll get a fine and yes, school will probably not be happy. I teach and yes, some schools make a real song and dance over SATs and try to make them into a far bigger deal than they should be. However, this doesn't have to stop you.

Your ds will be so busy on a Florida holiday he'll be unlikely to stress over the SATs - he won't have time in my experience.

Round here none of the secondaries rely on SATs alone for setting classes. They almost all do their own assessments in the first half term.

It's a very poor secondary school that doesn't make justified and reasonable movements between sets throughout key stage 3. Tbh if it's that kind of school then missing SATs is likely to be the least of your problems.

Dd didn't do SATs. Her independent school didn't do them. She's coped through secondary and GCSEs perfectly without them.

So did the children she was with who moved to state secondary. Not held any of them back whatsoever. All been moved around sets along with their peers and all done very well throughout their education. Again their lack of SATs score hasn't made an ounce of difference.

Do what's right for your family circumstances.

Original poster
Beanybye · 22/04/2019 08:41

Yes year 6 SATS.

Racerback no he’ll just be relieved to be missing the pressure in the build up to it.

If missing those 2 weeks is going to affect his results then in my mind, they’re not a true reflection of a child’s ability. They’re just being coached to pass in which case it’s bullshit.

That’s for those who responded with encouragement.

OP posts:
BurnedToast · 22/04/2019 08:42

Go for it. No one will be asking your son what he got in his SATs when he's older which shows their relevance. They're SATs not GCSEs.

MsTSwift · 22/04/2019 08:42

Captain with respect that’s balls. We were told that. Dd school uses the results to set everything. Her friend is bright had a low English score so was told she was only allowed to do one language. Dd had a lowish maths score still in year 8 in a far too low a set for her ability. I resent the school telling us they didn’t matter in our case they really did.

Happygolucky009 · 22/04/2019 08:42

Well I wouldn't cancel the holiday but I do feel for your son who will have to sit the test having missed the opportunity to get some extra tuition. I don't think sats are important but schools and ultimately your child will have drilled into him of their importance and he will have to deal with that pressure .

QueenofLouisiana · 22/04/2019 08:43

Yes they will give you a tough time. The school will undoubtedly expect him to complete work while he’s away. Probably you’ll be fined- it’s just about the only time we fine parents as a MAT.

The teacher will be pissed off, yr 6 teachers are judged yearly on SATs scores (it isn’t just about the school- in reality it’s also someone’s job). A lot of planning goes into these last few weeks- my phone started pinging at 9.30 am yesterday as our yr6 team planned final interventions and shared resources we’ve found recently- and that will be missed.

Please remember that your yr6 teacher can’t take a holiday of a lifetime in term time when it’s cheaper, it doesn’t make teachers feel well-disposed towards yours!

Probably not the answer you really wanted I’m afraid. Possibly because I’m now worried that it’s one of my pupils. However, as a PP said, it’s booked so you may as well just enjoy it now. Let the teacher know well in advance (ideally before Christmas) so they can prepare the work for you, not 2 days before.

caughtinanet · 22/04/2019 08:43

I agree that missing SATs isn't the end of the world but how can you say it won't cause the child stress. You can't possibly say how a child you don't know is going to react to something in over a years time. That would be my concern, that it might spoil the holiday for him.

funmummy48 · 22/04/2019 08:43

We did exactly the same. We had 3 weeks in Florida and it was the best holiday ever..my daughter still talks about it now and she's in 6th form. It took away all the pre-SATS stress as she wasn't there to witness it and she passed them with flying colours. Enjoy your holiday. Children do not need to be stressed about school at that age, there's plenty of stress to come with GCSEs & A levels!

AChickenCalledKorma · 22/04/2019 08:45

Assuming this is year 6 SATs you may find that he wants/need to take revision material with him. Coming back after a month off, with only a week to go, could be stressful for him. And you are right that their main significance is for league tables but he will probably still want to do well.

Have you budgeted for a fine?

Original poster
Beanybye · 22/04/2019 08:48

Some of these replies are so depressing. We are talking about 10 year olds aren’t we?

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Original poster
Beanybye · 22/04/2019 08:49

Yes I understand we’ll be fined.

OP posts: