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Original poster

Y7 son missed class to do weird tests

95 replies

Buryedmunds · 20/01/2026 18:29

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!?

OP posts:
Original poster
Buryedmunds · 21/01/2026 22:06

MrsHamlet · 21/01/2026 22:04

So they thought there might be a concern and checked it out. That's a positive, surely.

What’s bizarre is his report was very good and no concerns were noted previously. Ever. I’ve asked what triggered the referral as I have no clue!

OP posts:
Starlightsprite · 21/01/2026 22:14

EnidSpyton · 20/01/2026 19:26

I'm a secondary school teacher.

These certainly sound like diagnostic tests for additional needs.

If they were diagnostic tests for additional needs, it is absolutely not appropriate for your child to be tested without your knowledge or consent. As a school we are not permitted to do any diagnostic testing without explicit written parental consent. Some parents do not want their children tested - and even if we as a school disagree, that is their right and we have to respect that.

If the school is concerned about possible additional needs, you should be informed and be part of whatever conversations are going on.

I would be very surprised at such poor practice and the school would be putting themselves in a very dodgy position if this is indeed what these tests were for. As such I think there may well be a more ordinary explanation - as others have said, some kind of national pilot for something or other - in which case the school wouldn't need to let you know.

However, this does all sound a bit odd and you are not wrong to be concerned. I would contact his form tutor in the first instance for clarification and then go to the Head of Year if you don't get anywhere.

100% agree with you. I don’t know why OP is being given such a hard time.

notnorman · 21/01/2026 22:18

That’s the ctopp-2 test of phonological processing and dash-2 test of handwriting speed.
do they think he needs extra time?

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notnorman · 21/01/2026 22:19

Also your son can give permission, it’s not required from parents for AA

Original poster
Buryedmunds · 21/01/2026 22:19

notnorman · 21/01/2026 22:18

That’s the ctopp-2 test of phonological processing and dash-2 test of handwriting speed.
do they think he needs extra time?

Not sure but both results were “above average”

OP posts:
AmethystDeceiver · 21/01/2026 22:20

Starlightsprite · 21/01/2026 22:14

100% agree with you. I don’t know why OP is being given such a hard time.

Show quote history

They're not. They are standardised tests used to determine eligibility for extra time. I administer hundreds a year. They can be used diagnostically but not in the way OP describes, these are standard extra time assignments.

Someone has picked up that he needs extra time. OP should ask school, it's nothing sinister

Original poster
Buryedmunds · 21/01/2026 22:20

notnorman · 21/01/2026 22:19

Also your son can give permission, it’s not required from parents for AA

Sorry what’s AA

OP posts:
AmethystDeceiver · 21/01/2026 22:21

notnorman · 21/01/2026 22:18

That’s the ctopp-2 test of phonological processing and dash-2 test of handwriting speed.
do they think he needs extra time?

I wasn't going to name them on a public forum when OP has described the administration and content

AmethystDeceiver · 21/01/2026 22:22

Buryedmunds · 21/01/2026 22:20

Sorry what’s AA

Show quote history

Access arrangements - extra time falls under this

Original poster
Buryedmunds · 21/01/2026 22:24

notnorman · 21/01/2026 22:19

Also your son can give permission, it’s not required from parents for AA

Oh ok so they could have asked him directly if he wants it and he may have said yes….

OP posts:
AmethystDeceiver · 21/01/2026 22:27

Buryedmunds · 21/01/2026 22:24

Oh ok so they could have asked him directly if he wants it and he may have said yes….

Edited
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More likely they have noticed that he needs extra time, or uses it, or performs better when it is available to him. They may be testing eligibility and starting to gather evidence of need. It's definitely nothing to worry about and is just something you should ask the senco about. School hasn't done anything wrong here but they should be happy to discuss their observations, the process, the outcome etc

Starlightsprite · 21/01/2026 22:33

AmethystDeceiver · 21/01/2026 22:20

They're not. They are standardised tests used to determine eligibility for extra time. I administer hundreds a year. They can be used diagnostically but not in the way OP describes, these are standard extra time assignments.

Someone has picked up that he needs extra time. OP should ask school, it's nothing sinister

Show quote history

Ok, I don’t fancy getting into a credentials argument with you. I will agree to disagree.

Original poster
Buryedmunds · 21/01/2026 22:38

What’s also bizarre is (before the head of year confirmed anything with regards to what this could be about, she said it may be the CAT results but then the senco said a teacher had referred him 🤔

OP posts:
AmethystDeceiver · 21/01/2026 22:57

Buryedmunds · 21/01/2026 22:38

What’s also bizarre is (before the head of year confirmed anything with regards to what this could be about, she said it may be the CAT results but then the senco said a teacher had referred him 🤔

I would just ask the senco OP, they will be able to answer your questions

EnidSpyton · 21/01/2026 23:28

@Buryedmunds

This is really poor practice on behalf of the school.

There is no way I would be pulling a child out of lessons and testing them without letting parents know first.

There is also no way I would be doing any kind of testing with a child without sitting them down and clearly explaining what I was testing them for and why before they did the tests.

If a teacher has concerns, those concerns should be raised with the parent before any testing is done. Parents should always be informed of any concerns regarding learning needs before the school does anything.

Yes of course it's great the school are being proactive etc etc but their first port of call should always be to discuss with parents that a concern has been raised and what would the parents like the next steps to be before acting on anything. You shouldn't be left to find out there's a concern about your child, through your child coming home and telling you they've had to do tests but they don't know what they are. It's really shoddy practice.

I am shocked at the amount of people on the thread - including teachers! - who think this behaviour is ok. It certainly wouldn't be in my school.

Original poster
Buryedmunds · 22/01/2026 08:33

EnidSpyton · 21/01/2026 23:28

@Buryedmunds

This is really poor practice on behalf of the school.

There is no way I would be pulling a child out of lessons and testing them without letting parents know first.

There is also no way I would be doing any kind of testing with a child without sitting them down and clearly explaining what I was testing them for and why before they did the tests.

If a teacher has concerns, those concerns should be raised with the parent before any testing is done. Parents should always be informed of any concerns regarding learning needs before the school does anything.

Yes of course it's great the school are being proactive etc etc but their first port of call should always be to discuss with parents that a concern has been raised and what would the parents like the next steps to be before acting on anything. You shouldn't be left to find out there's a concern about your child, through your child coming home and telling you they've had to do tests but they don't know what they are. It's really shoddy practice.

I am shocked at the amount of people on the thread - including teachers! - who think this behaviour is ok. It certainly wouldn't be in my school.

I agree with you, just made me feel so low as it was unnecessary considering she scored above average. It’s tainted how I feel about the school now.

OP posts:
dizzydizzydizzy · 22/01/2026 15:07

Buryedmunds · 20/01/2026 18:54

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

DC2 was line this. 3 months after A-Levels, they mentioned that they couldn't tell the difference between p and b. That was the start of things..... dyslexia diagnosed at 18, ADHD at 20 and there is more in the pipeline. I wish their school had picked up on some of this. From age 14 onwards, DC2 had crippling anxiety but seemed absolutely fine before that.

Mere1 · 30/03/2026 07:12

RedToothBrush · 20/01/2026 18:57

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.

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Our son in law did well in external exams at school. University picked up that he might be dyslexic and tested him. He is. He was given extra time in his exams. He’s a city lawyer in London now. Having the test didn’t hold him back.

notnorman · 31/03/2026 15:17

Buryedmunds · 21/01/2026 22:24

Oh ok so they could have asked him directly if he wants it and he may have said yes….

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Yes, absolutely.

Silvertulips · 31/03/2026 21:09

We often took bright kids to help train adults in the tests so not to put pressure on those kids that needed the assessment. .

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