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Original poster

Can I ignore the headteacher?

65 replies

KittenVsXmastree · 12/12/2019 21:01

DS is in year 6. We went to his Christmas performance today, where the head proceeded to say, while he had us all together, he wanted to emphasise the need to not let the kids slow down and have a break over the Christmas holidays, and we should be getting them to do some SATs practice most days.

I'm tempted to ignore the head, and let DS have a proper break over Christmas. How much of a bad idea is this? Will DS really suffer?? We are new to SATs. Neither child did Y2 SATs, as we weren't in the UK, and haven't had much experience with this school in terms of ethics and expectations - except the only homework is one English and one maths worksheet a week, along with reading.

OP posts:
Bananasandchocolatecustard · 12/12/2019 21:06

Ignore the HT. Your child needs to relax, have fun and be a child.

TheZeppo · 12/12/2019 21:06

Ignore!

I’ve just spent a parents evening (Year 11) advising against revising this break. They need a rest!

turkeyontheplate · 12/12/2019 21:09

Oh ffs the HT needs to go piss up a rope. Ours told us to bring the children in even if they were running a high temperature, we could sit in the playground and take them home once they'd done the tests Hmm

He/she has lost all perspective. There are reasons for this, of course, but they're not your or your child's problem.

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PerspicaciaTick · 12/12/2019 21:10

It is the school's job to prepare the children for SATs, in school hours.

TimeforanotherChange · 12/12/2019 21:12

Utterly ignore the headteacher. And I'm a teacher. Sats mean fuck all to anyone except him and his data.

Spinderellacutituponetime · 12/12/2019 21:13

Ignore. Definitely. SATs are for the school and not the kids. Total unnecessary pressure. Children need a holiday especially after the exhausting pre-Xmas term.

noblegiraffe · 12/12/2019 21:14

What? My DS is in Y6 and they’ve not mentioned SATs practice at home at all, let alone over the Christmas holidays.

Sounds insane, let your kid enjoy Christmas.

BlueCornsihPixie · 12/12/2019 21:14

Ignore the head! Your child needs Christmas off, they are only 10/11!

I'll never forget our year 6 teacher bringing in a pupil who was off sick on the sats, she drove to his house to collect him. He came in in his dressing gown and sat in the back of the room with a bucket! Some schools lose all perspective when it comes to sats!

KaleidoscopeEyes · 12/12/2019 21:15

When my dd did SATs, she went in for the first two days and then got tonsillitis. The HT called me at work 7 TIMES to try and make me take her in. She also suggested that someone come and sit on the end of her bed at home and do it Hmm

She was a good student, good attendance etc.

It's such a load of bollocks. I'm still angry and it was 11 years ago 😂

OxfordCat · 12/12/2019 21:16

Rubbish! SATS bear no relevance whatsoever to your child's future, and really there is no need for any child to do any revision for them at all. The reason they feel pressure is the gov pressuring the HT's and this pressure piling down on the teachers and onto the children.

Sprinklemetinsel · 12/12/2019 21:16

At the end of the holidays, a couple of days before term starts, wake his brain up a bit! Do some bits and bobs of homework so he gets off to a quick start in the new year.

I don't agree with the Head at all, but there is definitely an air of dopiness on the first few days back!

C305 · 12/12/2019 21:17

I'm primary school slt & we say the complete opposite to our parents/children over the holidays! Ignore him & let your child have a rest and some fun!

iklboodolphrednosedreindeer · 12/12/2019 21:17

Is his name Ebenezer?

LolaSmiles · 12/12/2019 21:19

I explicitly tell my GCSE students to have a break over Christmas. It's not healthy to push exams above all else.

For y6 SATs I'd be ignoring the head.

Zofloramummy · 12/12/2019 21:20

Omg that’s awful, ignore. Let him enjoy his Xmas, they get enough pressure in secondary. Let him relax and enjoy being with his family. What a plonker, more concerned about the schools performance than the children’s well-being.

alwayscauseastir · 12/12/2019 21:21

I don't give two hoots whether my daughter does brilliantly or average in her SATs. The pressure they're placed under is just too much. When deciding on secondary schools I spoke with maths teachers (as this is my daughters weakest) and they said they do independent assessments on kids once they settle into high school, and take little consideration into the results. When it comes s to GCSEs it'll be a different attitude but until then I won't be pressuring my child.

MrsKCastle · 12/12/2019 21:22

Ignore. Have a lovely Christmas with your child.

Original poster
KittenVsXmastree · 12/12/2019 21:22

Excellent!
Fun, and laughter, and mornings slobbing in PJs here we come.
And cooking and trips to the library and leisure centre and walks in the snow the kids are asking for (I'd be happy without the last one!).

OP posts:
JeanMichelBisquiat · 12/12/2019 21:23

It's the head's job to be the buffer between the political pressure of SATS and the kids' wellbeing. If he can't manage to do that, then you need to do it.

My DC did them last year and her school did well above national average - they were very clear that they didn't even start talking about them until after Christmas, and there wasn't even any revision pressure in the Easter holidays! (They did run a regular hour after school every week for.kids who needed help to catch up and those who were likely to be working beyond or whatever, but the teacher always had nice cakes and stuff for them!).

Take absolutely notice of this, and be the buffer for your kid. And we wonder why children in the UK are so stressed!!

JeanMichelBisquiat · 12/12/2019 21:24

X-post....standing ovation, OP Grin

Sandaled · 12/12/2019 21:25

YANBU, your plans sound lovely. I would recommend reading when possible though, but that fits quite nicely into snuggly evenings or mornings in bed or jammies.

Scarydinosaurs · 12/12/2019 21:26

Your head is a twat

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 12/12/2019 21:28

No, Sats are for the schools benefit not for the child, they will be re-evaluated in their first few months at secondary.

Shetlandponyranger · 12/12/2019 21:28

Ignore! I’m not even giving my GCSE students homework, they have just finished mocks and need a rest before the big push when we get back.

Parker231 · 12/12/2019 21:30

School work is for school hours not evenings, weekends and holidays. Who has time for school work at Christmas!