Nearly in tears at the school gates , bullied by a teacher !

[sadalot]

I am taking my two children and my dh on a much needed holiday after half term. My dd is autistic and have received some money onwards a holiday. The deputy head granted me 5 days holiday. My son is in year 3 and I have now been told that he will miss 15 tests in that week and that they will not be able to take the tests this week or when he comes back. I have also been told that by missing all these tests he will go down a set. The head of year 3 started shouting at me in the playground and then told me she had to go because she had 20 children waiting for her in a after school club. I felt like crying, I play a big part in my children's education and I feel like shit because I am taking them on holiday. I pay for extra tuition for both my children and they are generally happy at school. WWYD next?

The TA was extremely unprofessional talking you you like that about other students or teachers. She deserves a bollocking for that every bit as much as the teacher deserves a bollocking for shouting.

If they could reschedule four main tests I would be happy! I do want an apology from that cow though

And what if they can't reschedule without causing a fair amount of disruption? Why should they do that for you to go on holiday? I would expect it if your ds was ill and it couldn't have been helped, but he's not ill, he's having a holiday. It's completely different. Surely you knew there was a chance of this happening when you decided to take this holiday in the summer term?

The deputy head giving you an authorised absence isn't the same as saying they will rearrange tests.

When tests have to be rearranged in my school because of illness, a TA has to be taken out of the main class to supervise it. That is acceptable for sickness because it couldn't be helped and could affect any child. But I don't think it is acceptable to take a member of staff who is supposed to be there to support a whole class away from other children because a parent chose to take a holiday in the middle of the summer term.

It is absoloutley shocking of a state primary to set a 7 year old 15 tests in a week. Three tests per day? Also, am I right in thinking that it is a very large school (as they have different sets for ability, rather than one big class)?

If so, the chance of there being a year three off poorly for a week that week is high, would they be shifted down a set?

I agree with asking for copies of the tests, so you can do them on holiday (and then not actually do them) just to see what they produce.

Everyone keep going Shock! Horror! at the 15 tests in a week thing. My 7 year old didn't do 15 subjects let alone get 15 tests in a week or a month.

Maybe test 1 is write a story about what you did at half term and test 2 is 20 spellings and test 3 is the times table etc etc.

Everyone is assuming that the OP's DC is at some Tiger Mom-ish primary school.

I work in a primary. The time tests is taken is not set in stone (unless they are KS2 SATS) but they will have known in March when they would be having them.

I understand that the OP has received money for this holiday (family fund?) which will not have been much and so a holiday during half term holiday might not have been an option from a financial point of view.

Even if the school uses SATS papers for assessment purposes in year 3 that amounts to 6 tests, not 15.

Whatever the issue is with the timing and number of tests is irrelevant. My ds's Maths test has been rescheduled from the original date it was going to be on, and it's not a problem at all. I trust the school have their reasons for doing that, and as its still term time there is no reason why it should affect anyone other than those who take term time holidays. Holidays are not an essential. If you think tests are not essential too, then just accept the fact that your child will miss them. Otherwise don't take term time holidays.

15 tests? Sounds like bullshit to me (from the teacher, not the OP).

If I thought my child that young was being put through 15 tests in a week I'd be asking the school why they couldn't spread them out a bit! Way too much pressure for somebody that young IMO!

They do have a section in the school used for special needs children - it is big and I have only ever seen two kids there at a time. The deputy is is charge of this section surely they can do the tests there? It has two sections and is fairly quiet.
If they dont do the tests I am not letting them ruin the holiday for me. If he goes down a set,no biggie,it's like many have said on here he will reassessed in September

Plus the cow said they would be in exam conditions

They might want to make an example of me

I always thought tests would at the end of half terms not at the beginning