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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

DD had to do spelling test as well as SATs today

22 replies

Plastictattoo · 19/05/2017 20:58

I was cross as my Year 2 DD got her usual homework (2 English worksheets and 12 spellings to learn) on Monday to be in on Friday, despite her having SATS this week . I said don't bother this week as you've worked hard at school but she got upset that she would have to miss her playtime as she would have to do her homework then. So we did her homework. She always does her homework btw. Anyway, she came home today having done two SATS papers (including the spelling one) in the morning AND then had their usual spelling test in the afternoon. AIBU to think this is OTT? She's 6 ffs!! I'm not going to say anything to school but just needed to rant somewhere!

OP posts:

Ditsy1980 · 19/05/2017 21:00

Same at my DD school. I had thought that their weekly spelling test wouldn't be on with it being SATS but it was. We'd practiced spellings anyway but it's a bloody lot for them to do at 6/7.

user76895432 · 19/05/2017 21:03

I don't think there's anything particularly wrong with it TBH. Lots of Yr2 children like routine. SATs can be unsettling for them because they are something different and a lot of children can struggle with that. Getting back to normal and having the spelling test as they usually do can actually be helpful for some children.

missiondecision · 19/05/2017 21:04

Don't worry about it.
Give her cuddle and a well done.
School is hard work.
Life is hard work.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 19/05/2017 21:06

Im suprised you even know they are doing SATs. I have no idea when DS in year2 is doing SATs, he has no idea he is even doing them. If you feel SATs and a spelling test is too much just dont practiae the spellings. They are 6/7 it doesn't matter one bit how they do in their SATs much less a spelling test!

arethereanyleftatall · 19/05/2017 21:10

My dds experience of sats in year 2 was they didn't even know they were doing it. So, if that's how your school handled it, then I guess they should just carry on everything as usual. it was only (some) parents who made a fuss about it.

Alexandra87 · 19/05/2017 21:11

My son is in yr2 they did their last exam yesterday. They had no homework last week or this week other than reading and were told just to have fun and relax. They've worked so hard in the weeks leading up to the sats I was glad the teacher did this. Had she of set homework though we would have done it

Original poster

Plastictattoo · 19/05/2017 21:13

We went out for milkshakes to celebrate (any excuse for milkshakes !)and she's not bothered. My Dsis is a teacher and their Y2 kids had a treat afternoon with snacks and a film which I thought was lovely (and much better than another spelling test!). Anyway, just about to open wine so will be chilled soon enough. Just wanted to rant as its just me and her and obviously not going to share my views with her as she seems to share a lot with her teacher

OP posts:

Farahilda · 19/05/2017 21:13

I think it can be a very good thing, for younger DC, for assessments to be presented as no biggie and normal life to continue. I think it reduces stress.

Mrmoonmrmoon · 19/05/2017 21:24

My DD's school has been sending yr 2 Sats test papers home for a number of weeks. All of her friends have been worrying about the thought of the Sats & they have still been given homework each week. I think the school have been totally OTT!

Ijustbluemyself · 19/05/2017 21:32

Are SATs still compulsory?

My DP's son is in year 2 and we've heard nothing from him or the school about any sort of tests. If they've kept it secret from the kids it's worked extremely well!

Original poster

Plastictattoo · 19/05/2017 21:35

I don't understand how some schools say the kids don't even realise they are doing the SATS. At my DD's school they have to sit apart from each other and complete them in silence. Also they have to put their hand up and be escorted to the toilet if they need to go! Surely this isn't the norm for any Year 2 class?!

OP posts:

ineedamoreadultieradult · 19/05/2017 21:39

Im pretty sure at my sons school they just take them out in small groups to do the tests and as they usually get split into groups for differentiated work anyway it doesn't seem odd to them. They certainly arent aware of the word SATs or that they have done a test or an exam.

arethereanyleftatall · 19/05/2017 21:45

I'm not really sure of how they made sure the dc didn't know at the school, as I couldn't question dd about it, because I didn't want to let her know she was doing anything different either.
I think whatever they needed to do for the sats, they'd been doing all term so the dc didn't know anything different was going on.
The parents didn't even know what day it was on (we knew which week), and we weren't given the results.

jennielou75 · 19/05/2017 21:50

Escorting to the loo is in the guidance along with telling them to turn off their mobile phones! We didn't give any homework last week or this week. My class were shattered so we had popcorn and Mary Poppins this afternoon!

TheRealPooTroll · 19/05/2017 21:57

DDs school were apparently not telling the children they were doing SATS so as not to cause them stress and we were sent a letter telling us not to mention the words exam or test. However they did send home practice tests as homework daily for weeks in advance and dd informed me they'd been doing them at school as well
They did, at least, have the decency to scrap HW this week and I've been informed by dd that they've been doing fun stuff when not doing the tests that they don't know they're doing
DS (a year older) who goes to the same school genuinely had no idea when he did his year 2 sats and we got no practice papers sent home so it seems the hothousing has only happened this year.

Original poster

Plastictattoo · 19/05/2017 22:00

I hadn't thought of them being taken out of class like that. It was a genuine question - hope it didn't sound arsey! Popcorn and Mary Poppins sounds great!

OP posts:

Original poster

Plastictattoo · 19/05/2017 22:00

I hadn't thought of them being taken out of class like that. It was a genuine question - hope it didn't sound arsey! Popcorn and Mary Poppins sounds great!

OP posts:

snototterly · 19/05/2017 22:15

So, did all year 2s have their SATs this week? My year 2 DD send pretty oblivious to the whole thing.

user76895432 · 19/05/2017 22:18

Not necessarily. Yr2 SATs can take place nay time in May. The teacher decides exactly when.

mrsmalcolmreynolds · 19/05/2017 22:21

otterly I think so, yes. I only realised when another parent said something though, and when asked DD did say she'd done some "quizzes" this week . Definitely no test papers as homework! ! !

ForTheLoveOfSleep · 19/05/2017 22:24

Dd1 had hers this week. We barely acknowledged them as they mean nothing and she really couldn't care less tbh. Just a
"Did you have sats today Dd1"?
"Yeah. We did a maths one."

Our school don't do spelling tests and homework is sent home at the start of term as a table of different tasks with at least three to be completed over the course of the term.

HelenaJustina · 19/05/2017 22:30

DD has come out happy and smiling after all her papers this week and still has some to finish on Monday. But she is like me and loves the calm and quiet and being left to work independently!

We've had no homework or spellings this week and won't have next week either. It's called 'special work' at school and they mostly do it in smaller groups.

I wouldn't be impressed with the attitude of your DDs school but sympathise as I have rule-followers here who would be more stressed by not doing the homework than doing it!

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