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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

would you think dd should sit these practice tests

12 replies

stoppinattwo · 05/02/2011 18:24

DD has been absent from school for most of last week and as a result has missed out on some practice tests...her teacher says she MUST do them this week, Im not too concerned about her missing these tests but am concerned about her missing more lessons, and also sitting tests on her own....particularly her mental maths as it will now be done with someone DD is not familiar with (DD is currently SEN for maths)

I would rather she just didnt do them at all tbh, what would you suggest.

I know practice test are good but knowing DD the way I do i think that the environment around the test will make her feel awkward and probably be more detrimental tbh ( a concern her teacher has raised too)

Im currently paying for DD to do some additional maths work with her teacher (outside of school time) to help her keep up and I think it might be better if she took her maths paper in this time with someone she is familiar with ( I would think this would be a nice compromise)on theo ther hand she has been practicing test papers with hehr tutor during these lessons and so I know she is getting familiar with the format...she really hasnt been well this week and I would hate to send her back in to a barrage of tests Sad

Any ideas

OP posts:
Original poster
stoppinattwo · 05/02/2011 18:50

Anyone Sad

OP posts:
sue52 · 05/02/2011 19:12

What are the tests practice for?

Original poster
stoppinattwo · 05/02/2011 19:14

God knows Sue...she is in Yr 4 and so wont be doing SATS till next year

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AgentZigzag · 05/02/2011 19:17

Surely the more practice she gets the more familiar she'll get with the atmosphere?

It seems to be designed to make you feel awkward and stressed, and it's something everyone feels.

But you can overcome it.

Is there any reason you don't want to push her if you say you're not that bothered about the tests?

Original poster
stoppinattwo · 05/02/2011 19:22

Zigzag..I have no problem with her taking tests, this wont be in the right atmosphere though as she will be on her own and not in her lessons with her class

Im aware as she is that she struggles with her maths and feel that we are just at a turning point with it in terms of getting to grips with some fundamental maths...

Im worried that sitting this exam could knock her confidence...I would be happy for her to sit them in the private lesson I pay for where she will be with someone she is familiar with..

I may seem a little over protective and tbh with literacy im not worried about her sitting the test... but I dont see the point in sitting any of them especially when it means she is missing even more work on top of what she missed last week

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thunderbird69 · 05/02/2011 19:25

Surely she won't be doing SATs for 2 more years?

If it were me, I wouldn't see any reason for her to be doing tests/exams at this stage?

Original poster
stoppinattwo · 05/02/2011 19:28

Thunderbird

they do sats in yr 5 or 6? I cant remember

DD is in Yr 4

I cant see the reason either, it was just that her teacher contacted me to say that as DD had been off sick last week she would have to sit these exams on her return to school

The more I think about it the more grumpy im feeling about it Angry

OP posts:
clam · 05/02/2011 19:30

If she's currently in Year 4, then she won't be taking SATs next year, but in Year 6.
These tests are mistakenly referred to as "practice SATs" but in reality are a non-statutory set of papers for lower yeargroups that are routinely used in schoolsnot necessarily to give children practice in test-taking (plenty of time in Year 6 for that, if required) but as part of the school's ongoing assessment programme to check children are on-track for amking the required progress by Year 6. There are many other forms of assessment going on concurrently, but theses test will add to the overall picture.

Original poster
stoppinattwo · 05/02/2011 19:33

Thankyou Clam that is a really helpful explanation Smile

I think I shall gratefully decline DD's inclusion in these tests...she wont benefit on this occasion

OP posts:
sue52 · 05/02/2011 19:33

Sounds like she's getting lots of extra practice with her teacher. To test her just after she's been unwell seems a bit stressful for your DD and not really relevant as she won't be taking sats for a couple of years.

Original poster
stoppinattwo · 05/02/2011 19:35

thankyou for understanding...I was trying so hard not to be precious but you get my point exactly

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Original poster
stoppinattwo · 07/02/2011 12:23

Well I spoke to the school today and they were really understanding Smile...she can do a teacher assessment apparently, which means that she wont have to sit any exams this week at all

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