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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:
chickensaladagain · 16/04/2013 16:39

Dd is doing level 6 maths & English and is going in 30 mins early 1day a week and that's it

All day Saturday is ridiculous and I would absolutely say no

Can't imagine the teachers are best pleased about giving up their Saturdays either

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 16/04/2013 16:41

DS1 didn't want to do after school boosters so I didn't send them - sent in a letter instead stating that if the school had been educating him properly he shouldn't need boosters, and imo extra lessons are cheating on the school's part. DS2 wanted to go because they bribed him with sweets Hmm His choice, I let him go but I still think they're wrong. If your DS doesn't want to go then don't send him.

I thought SATs were supposed to be a way of judging how well the school teaches generally, in which case extra lessons to coach them through it defeats the whole point of them...

Asinine · 16/04/2013 16:42

I had never heard of Saturday school. How ridiculous. If I was OFSTED I would mark them down on principle. Saturday is family time. What about your 'right to family life' (human rights act)? I would refuse.

Seriously though, our dd is doing SATS this time, inc level six. She spent the afternoon playing 'stuck in the mud' in the playground. There is not all this crazy pressure here. He did one paper as homework in the Easter holidays.

When they get to secondary they do CATS, which are a more sensible test of ability.

Asinine · 16/04/2013 16:43

Mrsdmitri

Exactly, that is the letter I would write.

CecilyP · 16/04/2013 16:45

YANBU; if he is not up to the level the school would like him to be by attending school 5 days a week, 2 extra days are hardly likely to make much difference. It really smacks of sheer desperation to me. Actually, if it is to try and get some level 6s, I really don't think they are thinking of the child's benefit. It seems that secondaries only use the results to set for one term, if at all. As so few children will achieve level 6 there won't be enough of them for a complete set in any case.

julietbat · 16/04/2013 16:48

I'm a secondary school teacher of two (younger) primary age kids. No way would I send my kids in on a Saturday for SATs prep unless they actually wanted to themselves. There's enough pressure at secondary school anyway - let them enjoy life while they can Grin
And if getting students in for two weekend days actually made that much difference to their results we'd do it when it really mattered - at GCSE and A-level! And I don't know of that happening in any school where I live.

Original poster
Binkyridesagain · 16/04/2013 16:52

I can't understand why the HT is doing this, unless she feels the teachers are not up to their jobs and she has to step in.(She's running the lessons on the Saturdays)
3 years ago she boycotted the SATS, as a new head making her mark and upping the schools league table standing, she made the decision not to put YEAR 6 through testing that she believed was unnecessary and would put the children under immense stress playing catch up as they were ill prepared.

OP posts:
quoteunquote · 16/04/2013 16:55

Take him to the beach, go to the woods , paddle down a river on a kayak, spend time with him, give him some relaxing reflection time, if children get pushed too much they clamp up, it's self defeating.

Original poster
Binkyridesagain · 16/04/2013 16:58

His plan is to lounge around in his tiger onesie watching Arrow with his dad, at 8:30 am on a saturday, I don't think he should be any where else.

When I get the phone call, I will have to make sure I don't start stuttering and fumbling for words, its a big problem when I am trying to be assertive, I end up sounding like a buffoon.

OP posts:
JamieandtheMagicTorch · 16/04/2013 17:03

Just say you have weighed up the pros and cons, and you don't think it is to his benefit.

BackforGood · 16/04/2013 17:05

I certainly wouldn't be letting my dc go, although fortunately I've never heard of a school doing a Saturday school.
Yr6 is boring enough for them with all the teaching to the test that goes on, which is not for the child's benefit, but is because the Gmnt / OFSTED / League Tables have put schools under such ridiculous pressure to squeeze children through narrow hoops.
I don't know a Secondary school or secondary teacher around here who would trust the SATs results to be an accurate assessment of "the level the child is working at", which is what they are supposed to be. This whole Saturday school business just confirms they are right.

IslaValargeone · 16/04/2013 17:09

I wouldn't feel obliged to provide too much of an explanation Binky, then you needn't worry about fumbling for words.
Just say No and if she carries on, politely say the discussion is closed.

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 16/04/2013 17:10

yy Back For Good .Poor Primary schools, panicking because they have been given silly targets. Poor children, having the pressure transferred down to them.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 16/04/2013 17:40

Oh my! I've never heard of this but it seems so over the top! Fair enough if it was something that would benefit your DS like GCSEs but no one will be looking for SAT scores on his CV! I would seriously be considering the ethos of the school if this is what they believe is necessary. Why can't they prepare your son during regular hours?! Who are they to emotionally blackmail you? Calls from the headteacher?! And as for the poor staff who have to work those Saturdays...
FWIW, DM was a primary teacher and had to introduce SATs for 7yo and ran them for years until she retired. Back in the day, she didnt even tell the children they were SATs and there was much less parental awareness. This gave a much fairer picture of a child's true level, rather than being primed to pass.

valiumredhead · 16/04/2013 17:42

'Family commitments' seem to cover situations like this well Wink

daftdame · 16/04/2013 17:44

If the head is pushing this you could stress how you think DS will perform better after a good break & you don't want to build thinks up too much!

valiumredhead · 16/04/2013 17:48

daft that leaves it open for discussion though, you need put it in such a way so there is no room for negotiation.

janelikesjam · 16/04/2013 17:54

Honestly, I find it all a bit sickening.

The schools children with high SATs are often those who are coached most intensely.

That said, if your son wants to do it, I suppose it would be OK, but even reading about all the drama around this raises my blood pressure. Plus children need a break, mentally and physically from school, and "over-schooling" can be counterproductive!

p.s. I thought schools were meant to do all this on the quiet without children knowing and getting stressed about it. Are they doing it in children's best interests - or to ensure their place on the SATs competitive ladder?

BlackholesAndRevelations · 16/04/2013 17:54

This is ridiculous! As other posters have said, it's clearly for the benefit of the school (so many boxes to tick, progress to show, pressure pressure pressure) rather than the children.

You don't want him to go, he doesn't want to go; reason enough to tell the head when she harasses calls you,

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 16/04/2013 17:54

Gosh, the more I think about this, the more indignant I become!
I'd be tempted to ask for another day off at a later date to make up for this Saturday if it's that important - wonder what their reaction would be to that suggestion!

Original poster
Binkyridesagain · 16/04/2013 17:56

That's where I went wrong this morning, I left it open to discussion, which the secretary took advantage off. She was unable to answer any of my questions and had obviously just be given the task of getting me to send in the reply slip by any means, i did feel that the school believed this to be compulsory and the reply slip was just to make sure the paperwork was correct.

OP posts:
Mutt · 16/04/2013 18:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

daftdame · 16/04/2013 18:04

Valium, agreed, only if the OP wants to explain her reasoning, not that she has to or should be expected to. Op could just let the head rant away & then just say no or leave it open and don't turn up.

daftdame · 16/04/2013 18:10

By the way a reply slip is to give your permission!

pointythings · 16/04/2013 19:28

I think you would do your son a huge favour by not sending him, OP. He's probably over-coached already, but on the whole isn't it better for him to come into secondary with a score that reflects his true abilities? That would make him more likely to end up in the right set, not less.

Contrast this with the over-coached children who end up being reassessed and then downgraded - that won't do anything for their confidence at all.