to struggle to understand why SAT's are such a bloody big deal?

[BloodySATStakingovertheworld]

Have namechanged.

My dd is part of a sports team. They have amazingly qualified to represent their school in a National Final of a competition.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, the competition has clashed with the children starting their SAT's and the school and most of the other parents aren't interested in the slightest in the competition - they're only interested in the SAT's and how the children should be focussed on them.

The headteacher even picked the children out in assembly and whilst they were waiting to be told 'congratulations' for qualifying or 'good luck' for the final, the bloody headteacher said to make sure they take their SAT books to the comp so that they can schedule in plenty of revision and whatever happens at the comp they're to make sure they have an early night ready for the SAT's next morning No good luck, kiss my arse or anything!

Some of the parents are refusing to bring their children to the competition until just before they're due compete (so no preparation time) because they want them to do more SAT's revision first. I think this is sooo unfair to the rest of the team. The preparation time is essential to the comp and it's really letting their team-mates down.

I'm so cross at the school (and the other parents!).

Yes, I know SAT's are important to the school, but they're not the be-all and end-all! These children are representing their school at a National Fucking Competition and haven't even been told GOOD LUCK!!

I'm stunned, I really am.

Dd has worked really hard in school btw and has done extra revision classes as well as lots of extra revision throughout the Easter Hols. But she's worked really hard with her team-mates too! ...and surely that's just as important?

AIBU? Because I'm mightily fucking pissed off on dd's behalf

Will join you in a face, clam.

Why would children want the upper hand over their teachers/schools! My year 6's are 1) very proud of their school, 2) want to do well in the SATs for their own sake rather than mine,3) couldn't care less/have no idea about the schools average scores, but are very competitive in beating their own!
What a strange point of view!

"SATS can be sat any time within a 48 hour time frame"

Not true. DD has some ongoing health issues and I have been talking to her teacher to ensure that hospital visits don't clash with any of the tests. He has checked very thoroughly and told me that the test must be sat on the same day to be valid.

BTW I hate SATS tests and would love to start a campaign to get them banned. DD has spent all this year learning very little except how do do SATS tests. They have had maths and English tests every week since Christmas and I can't wait for next week to be over.

Just checked the ARA 2011 - the test can be sat up to 48 hours in 'exceptional circumstances' - I have no idea what those could be, having never had cause to find out. QCDA's permission would have to be granted, and the child would have to have been kept apart from other pupils, so goodness knows what circumstances they are talking about.

Well the great week is here and DD thank goodness seems to be fine.

Interesting about the SATs cheating stories. I remember my ex-boss, H.T of a "beacon" school coming into the staffroom every lunchtime and telling the Year 6 teachers that x had gained a level 4c and y had a 4a. I was a new and young employee and didn't think anything of it until a colleague mentioned that while he was checking over the papers it must have been tempting to add the odd full-stop or decimal point

He wasn't as bad as the Catholic school head in the neighbouring posh town who (many years ago obviously) sent the actual tests papers home at the weekend with pupils. He was sacked IIRC.

But anyway, all the very best to MNers who have DC stressing about the exams and especially to you OP

I also know of children who have been given the chance to re-write SATs papers. Plenty of schools across the country cheat during SATs week by telling children the answers, tapping on a child's answer booklet to point out wrong answers, placing a rubber on the appropriate incorrect answer and making comments such as, "Look at that again," and "Check your answer." Parents should be asking their children how the SATs were administered this week and report cheating to their LEA.

Plenty of schools across the country cheat during SATs week by telling children the answers, tapping on a child's answer booklet to point out wrong answers, placing a rubber on the appropriate incorrect answer and making comments such as, "Look at that again," and "Check your answer."

How can you possibly know this is the case in 'plenty of schools'?

We had a random SATs police visit today! No problems - they were obviously sealed and locked away immediately after the tests.

Plenty of schools across the country cheat during SATs week by telling children the answers, tapping on a child's answer booklet to point out wrong answers, placing a rubber on the appropriate incorrect answer and making comments such as, "Look at that again," and "Check your answer."

Some of this has been going on in my DD's SATS this week- I am going to mention it to the teachers at the nexts parents eve. These goings- on from a school that 'apparently' doesn't pressure the children

Don't mention it to the teachers, in would be in their interests to cover it up - report it to the LEA, who wil linvestigate. It's very serious.