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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not push DS into Saturday School?

68 replies

Binkyridesagain · 16/04/2013 16:09

its that dreaded time of year again, SATs.

School phoned this morning asking me to return the reply slip for saturday school. It is an extra school day that is being offered for 2 saturdays, to train the kids to pass their SATs.

I have not given my permission for DS to attend because 1) SATs are useless and nothing to do with a childs ability, 2) they get enough "revision" the 5 days they are in school each week 3) DS doesn't want to even if they are serving bacon butties for breakfast 4) this is another FULL school day in the week.

The school have attempted to sway me with the bacon butties, all his friends are there, it reduces stress at testing time,they need the scores to get in to the right set for secondary etc etc.

I am beginning to waver as I am feeling guilty that I am not joining the rest of the parents in sending my son to this extra school day. Am I wrong?

I have asked DS if he feels okay during tests, if he gets stressed or nervous and he says he doesn't. He is not below standards for his age group and I have no concerns about his abilities, neither does his teacher.

So AIBU in not sending him?

I am also due a phone call from the HT to try and persuade me to send him.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 16/04/2013 16:14

Ds did extra booster lesson but in school time, I had enough problems with that let alone doing it on a weekend! I wouldn't send him in and I would have very strong words with any Head that rang me!

seeker · 16/04/2013 16:16

Difficult. I would be inclined to let him decide.

IslaValargeone · 16/04/2013 16:16

YANBU.
The secondary school will do their own assessments surely? It's nothing to do with what's best for your son.

jacks365 · 16/04/2013 16:17

YANBU but the school is putting this much pressure on you. Just go for the other tactic of it just not being possible due to other arrangements then trying to bribe with bacon butties means nothing. I always have parents and sports activities as back up to use as an excuse.

Lovelygoldboots · 16/04/2013 16:17

It is up to you but I think it sounds great. Is he year 6? My DD is and I am paying for extra tuition to give her a bit more confidence. I am by no means a pushy parent but she is keen to do well. I would be sending my daughter, if that helps Smile

seeker · 16/04/2013 16:17

That's not always true. My ds's secondary school sets from day 1 based on SATS and doesn't rejig til after Christmas.

TigOldBitties · 16/04/2013 16:18

YANBU. I think 5 days a week is enough for any child and you are totally right about the sats, presumably he is still getting homework over the weekend so when is he supposed to get a break.

Stand your ground, they're just doing it for their own benefit. Also as an aside, with 4 DC, and various nieces and nephews who have all moved up to secondary school, I am yet to see a secondary school that doesn't test or assess pupils on starting the school. It would be a rare school to really use the sats results in regards to pupil ability.

Original poster
Binkyridesagain · 16/04/2013 16:20

He's also doing booster lessons in school, they are wanting some of the children to do level 6 in maths so they giving them extra tuition for it.

DS is more stressed at the thought of giving up one day of his weekend to revise at school, than he ever was when doing tests. I feel he's not going to benefit at all.

The HT has also spoken to him about it, and he remained very firm in his stance, and told him that she would be calling me. She is a great HT but IMO, in this she is causing a lot of unnecessary stress.

OP posts:
TigOldBitties · 16/04/2013 16:20

Also I'd be very Hmm about what they claim to be able to do in 6 days that they can't in 5. Especially when by day 6 all children will be tired and restless. It will be like a prolonged Friday afternoon, I can't foresee much learning or that it would make that much impact to any child's levels.

Original poster
Binkyridesagain · 16/04/2013 16:22

The secondary DS will attend doesn't need the SATs results. Older DS already attends and on entry the school didn't have any results as the HT of his primary school (the same head as mentioned) boycotted them. His schooling has suffered because of a lack of SATs

OP posts:
IslaValargeone · 16/04/2013 16:22

But they do rejig if they don't assess straight away.

Lovelygoldboots · 16/04/2013 16:23

Level 6 Shock. I didnt think that was even part of the curriculum at ks2. That's bonkers. Too much pressure.

Original poster
Binkyridesagain · 16/04/2013 16:23

*hasn't suffered because of a lack of SATs

OP posts:
Mutt · 16/04/2013 16:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sugarice · 16/04/2013 16:24

Not a cat in hell's chance would I have sent any of mine in for this, frankly they would have had to be dragged in, not to mention missing the activities they had on a Saturday.

Stand firm especially if your ds isn't keen.

Plus at secondary they were all tested again to assess which group they would go into anyway.

seeker · 16/04/2013 16:25

You don't want to be in the wrong set from September to January, Isla.

OP- check with the secondary school before you make any decisions.

Ragwort · 16/04/2013 16:27

I would seriously question why the school has to give 'extra' tuition. Surely it should all be part of the normal timetable?

My DS did SATs last year, there was no extra lessons, normal timetable carried on, perhaps a couple of practice papers, plenty of the usual sport/drama/after school clubs etc. As far as I was aware no child got 'stressed' about the tests (there was certainly no angst discussed among the parents). Surely the school must be failing if they have to 'hot house' the children before the tests?

(Not an 'outstanding' school by any means !).

Just say 'no thanks' to the Head.

daftdame · 16/04/2013 16:29

What a pain! The SATs are supposed to test how well they have been taught / how much they have learnt AT SCHOOL. This is your weekend. Do what you want, if DS is happy and you are happy he won't explode having to do a test type thing, you're doing the best you can for him. Plan something else if you want that means you can't possible go.

Mutt · 16/04/2013 16:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IslaValargeone · 16/04/2013 16:31

OP, do you know the setting system of your dc's new school on admission?

Snorbs · 16/04/2013 16:33

I'd tell them to bugger off. My DS's secondary school did set from day 1 in maths and english based on SATs results but then did a massive re-organisation based on their own assessments after the first term. It meant that SATs results only made any difference for a few months out of a seven year secondary school career.

My DD has been doing little else but SATs revision in Y6 since before Christmas. As her secondary school will also be re-organising their sets after the first term, it means that her SATs results will have an effect on her secondary school career for less time than she's been revising for them. WTF?

Good SATs results are in the primary school's interests much more than they are for the children's.

Sirzy · 16/04/2013 16:33

DS doesn't want to even if they are serving bacon butties for breakfast

That is why you shouldn't make him go.

He is 10 or 11 he has plenty of years of exam pressure in the future without being forced to do an extra day at school when he doesn't want to

Original poster
Binkyridesagain · 16/04/2013 16:35

DS will be doing his SATs, the secondary school will have the results of these tests and the teachers assessment to decide which set will be appropriate for his abilities.

Even if they didn't have the results, I am sure they will be able to assess which sets he would be better in, they managed it very well with older DS.

OP posts:
IslaValargeone · 16/04/2013 16:38

You seem pretty happy that the school manage things well then.
I think if he doesn't want to go in then it's rather a waste of time. He's hardly likely to make spectacular progress when he's rather be playing football or whatever.

Lovelygoldboots · 16/04/2013 16:38

The questions can be so tricksy on Sat,s papers that it can be very difficult for teachers to fit in the time to teach them the techniques to do well so it reflects the childs actually ability. My DD has lost daft marks on practice papers not reading the question properly. I do think some children can benefit from something like this. Our school don't offer it.

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