Y7 son missed class to do weird tests

[Buryedmunds]

My son is in y7 and told me today that he missed his dt lesson as he was taken to a meeting room where he did these weird tests, one of which was writing about anything for 10 mins. Another task was to read some random numbers as fast as you can. He was not told what this was for or why…..does anyone know what this could be about!?

Were they all doing it or was it just him?

He said it was him and a few random others which included two year 11kids

Email his class teacher

They sound like standard tests for handwriting speed, visual processing etc. We have similar for every new starter. Email his tutor to check

Trial of some new assessments for supporting learning/measuring progress.

Nothing exciting, but might prove useful once the data's in for every school taking part.

Could it have been a dyslexia screener?

The random numbers would be the Turner Risdale digital memory test, which looks at working memory, the 10 minute one is a standard writing speed test. Did he do a one minute reading test too? We do these in year 6 as part of the evidence for additional time in SATS, perhaps his school does something similar for extra time in internal exams?

Sounds like dyslexia and processing speed tests. Perhaps they have picked up an issue and are screening him . If they have be pleased, they can get support.in place now for his GCSE'S

But shouldnt they have made the parents aware of this?

I don’t think it can be dyslexia as his English Sat score was high and he was a top speller in y6…..

I really don’t wish to come across rude, but why ask MN? An email to the teacher would clear this up very quickly.

sounds like access arrangement tests for assessment support. They might think he will benefit from a reader or extra time

Yes, so was I.

I’m still dyslexic…

This

Why? What difference would it have made?

When training others in dyslexia testing we chose random kids to take the test to show normal results - could be something similar

DH is brilliant at spelling. He aced exams.

Diagnosed dyslexia at 18.

He has a high iq and great memory which masked the dyslexia. But he's dyslexic.

Don't assume that those things mean someone isn't dyslexic.

Greater depth kids sometimes have slower processing speeds. They’re trained to identify ways to maximise his potential. He may have been rushing in the yr7 assessments or producing work below his classwork standard.

His report scores were all working above (the December report) 🤷🏽‍♀️

That sounds like access arrangement tests. I used to do these as part of my job. Without written parental consent it was a complete no-no.
Contact school and ask the question.

They probably didn’t draw attention to the tests in any way so that they would get a genuine result from them. Some parents might make a drama about an upcoming test and give their child anxiety about it. This would affect the result.

Sounds like dash writing - we don't get written consent to do it. We wouldn't have the capacity for a start.

This lack of understanding about dyslexia is why some people go unnoticed for so long, much to their detriment.

For whatever reason, school have clearly flagged that there might be some area of support that your son needs and have carried out a screening to check that.

Myself and another couple of kids in my class were taken out for extra tests in yr6 (I’m in my 40’s) and I think it was to do with maybe seeing if we would benefit from some higher learning or were eligible to sit the 11+ exam for the local grammar school. We were the clever ones - could it be something like this?

I would be pleased this was being addressed so soon. We have grade 8-9 students with access arrangements to make sure they don’t under perform even when they’re seemingly excellent.