AIBU to think the school is being a CF?

[mrscupcake]

DS age 10 has come home from primary school (yr6) with a letter asking all parents to pay for revision books for Sats. It isn't a huge amount of money, however they have stated that:

"it is really important that all the Yr 6 children are able to start using the revision books at the same time, we would therefore like the form below completed with the payment by Friday 19th January".

I will pay the money as, of course, I don't want DS to be different to any of his peers, however I feel really really cross that the school are effectively demanding payment from parents for books.

I know schools have very limited budgets, BUT I can't help feeling the real reason they want the kids to have the books is so that the Sats results look good for the school in the league tables and I begrudge paying them for that.

I am already paying a tutor a fair whack every week to help DS with his maths as he hasn't progressed at all at school and had such a negative mind set towards maths that he had completely switched off in the classroom. The school's attitude was that he 'would just have to learn to concentrate and focus'. Unsurprisingly since he started having an hour a week with the tutor his maths has come on in leaps and bounds and he loves doing maths at home and with his tutor. He still isn't very keen at school.

I'm also not particularly pro Sats for many reasons so this, along with the fact that I really don't like the school, could be colouring my view.

So AIBU?

I wouldn't pay it.

I've bought Dd several revision books but in science the ones the school recommended were rubbish & a waste of money.

I've also bought Ds cho key stage 3 workbooks because he is struggling in certain areas.

In your situation I'd prefer to do as you are doing & spend my money on the tutor or workbooks to help his general progress & prepare for the transfer to high school, not on sats revision.

Neither of my two did SATS.

Fitbitfanclub, couldn't have put it better myself.

I wouldn't wish special measures on my worst enemy and definitely wouldn't want my children's school to suffer, however bollocks I think the whole system is. No-one likes SATs, write to your MP but don't blame the school, they are just doing their best and trying to give your children their best shot at doing well. Secretly (or not so much) the teachers hate SATs too.

At my DD's primary the revision books were always paid for out of PTA fundraising money which I was not particularly pleased about. And I think there would have been a mutiny if parents had been asked to pay and the school knew it.

Re PP question about withdrawing your child from the tests, my DD's school made it clear at a pre SATS meeting that any children off ill during SATs week, or taken out, would have to sit them upon their return. No choice in the matter.

Is it a state school OP? Assuming yes, otherwise I'd definitely be wondering why I'm paying fees as well.

Our lovely school has been so badly hit by the budget cuts that the years 5s and 6s clean their own classrooms, the head teachers husband does the plumbing repairs, we do all the gardening ourselves (including buying all the stuff) and we have an Amazon wish list for pencils and paper. It is dire.

So personally I'd pay for the books if my school asked because I know they really wouldn't ask if they didn't have to.

Am clueless - my kids didn't do them, but can you opt your child out of sats?

Wait a minute - you object to laying for the books, you don’t care about SATs but he goes to a maths tutor every week who will be responsible for any success he has?
Lost all respect for your point there, OP. Your DS is doing far more hours of maths in school than with his tutor. The foundations have been laid by his school. Why does he need a maths tutor if it’s ok as long as he works? What is the tutor for?

Presumably because whatever the school is doing, it isn't wotking to help her ds grasp the subject or remain motivated. Nothing wrong with drafting in extra help if necessary.

Presumably because whatever the school is doing, it isn't working to help her ds grasp the subject or remain motivated. Nothing wrong with drafting in extra help if necessary.

And no amount of SATs revision will help with that, he clearly needs actual teaching. And it's a disgrace that he's not getting it in school.

But OP says school say "'would just have to learn to concentrate and focus'."
Doesn't that mean the problem may not be the teaching? Obviously it's easier to concentrate 1-1, but if he can't at school with 1-30, isn't it always be the problem?

What? Parents expected to pay towards the costs of their child's education?! Outrageous! Don't they know this is Britain where everything is free?! Everything free for everyone always!

In short YABU ands CF. You cancjearly affird to pay but still you expect a free ride. How terribly entitled you are.

SATS are pointless. However it is perfectly readonable for schools to expect parents to buy necessary equipment for school.
Perhaps mainstream school isn't the best environment for your child and your reluctance is about that?

Sod that. Are they doing anything about his lack of progress? Tell them to sort that shit before they start piling on sats pressure!

In short YABU ands CF. You can clearly afford to pay but still you expect a free ride. How terribly entitled you are

Um. State education is supposed to be 'free'. We pay for it through our taxes.
There are many people who cannot afford to pay any more and nor should they have to.

My dd’s Yr6 teacher has specifically told us NOT to buy the books as he will be covering everything in class. I think he’s got the books and might be using photocopies for the kids - don’t quote me on that though. I would happily pay because we can afford to do so, I appreciated that not everyone can though and that’s why I think the OP’s school is wrong. However, I do know that the schools are between a rock and a hard place. Bad SATS results mean pupils go elsewhere which means the schools lose funding which leads to a downward spiral.
I hate the whole concept of SATS, surely if you teach the kids the curriculum and some exam technique then the SATS results will come naturally, or am I being naive?

It does get on my wick when people think it is entitled behaviour to expect not to be charged twice for things that have already been paid for via taxation.

I do get very irritated by people who voted Tory in the last few elections and then has the audacity to mon about this sort of thing- this situation was their decision.
Oh FFS! When I was at school donkeys years ago there weren't enough copies of books then either - it's a permanent problem and more due to kids not bothering to look after their books properly. And for A-levels you were expected to buy your own copies of set books - no-one batted an eyelid at it.

I would't pay for books whose sole purpose is to put schools and children under pressure to pass pointless tests. I would feel as if I was enabling something I didn't believe was in the best interests of my children.
So I would write to the school and explain this is why the money would not be forthcoming.

Oh FFS! When I was at school donkeys years ago there weren't enough copies of books then either - it's a permanent problem and more due to kids not bothering to look after their books properly. And for A-levels you were expected to buy your own copies of set books - no-one batted an eyelid at it.

It's true that most state schools were never flush, but the difference between now and a decade ago is substantial. It's not just less direct funding, it's: the chaos caused by the constant messing with curricula; the dismantling of LEAs; the money syphoned off into academy chain bureaucracies; the drop in training standards; the recruitment difficulties; the huge pay cuts; the changing of assessment goalposts; the increased pressure for results; the defunding of SEN kids; the requirement to document 'evidence' to get funding... etc.

Don't take my word for it, read the TES for an update on the state of education. The fact that you doubt the damage being done is an indication of how little it makes the news; things are almost as bad as the NHS.

It's the thin end of a wedge that leads a school rated Outstanding by Ofsted here:

www.theguardian.com/education/2018/jan/11/west-midlands-school-accused-of-segregating-children-in-playground?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Fast_Notepad

I have to say I find this resistance to pay for school supplies completely baffling. I come from a country where parents are expected to send in everything, including pens and paper, and a textbook rental fee and nobody gives it acsecond thought. Charities (and teachers) provide supply for children who could not otherwise afford it.

It does get on my wick when people think it is entitled behaviour to expect not to be charged twice for things that have already been paid for via taxation.

Unless a net contributor (which few are) then most people don't pay for a full school education through their taxes. Even less so if they claim any benefits. Rubbish excuse to not pay.

I always laugh when people moan about SATS etc as so many look at results when choosing a school.

Vagn, same here, I came from country which parents are expected to provide everything, including paints for art, or notebook for lessons. But it's not about that I think, it's more about how people see SATs.

I also grew up in a country where you were expected to pay for all your kids stuff.

Seriously, the tax payer already picks up most of the bill for your kids education.

And you're complaining because you have to buy some books? Wow.

I don't mind paying for a few books.
It's when they want the ££ with 2 days notice.

I had to do it for a gcse thing for ds1.
Emailed the school and asked if I could pay in instalments to be told no.

Yellow, if people are paying what they are supposed to via taxation, then that's good enough and unfair for schools to decide theu are entitled to another chunk of their income. It's the thin end of the wedge because all the time the govt can pass on basic expenses to parents, they can continue cutting the schools budget.
We need to say a collective no to this.

I'm happy to put additional money to fund extras, but I sincerely believe the govt, via school, should not be tapping parents for basic necessities and certainly not for sats prep, which no one actually wants (bar the govt).

I can honestly say that when I have chosen schools I have judged on the feel of the place, how it looks (children's work displayed, in good repair) the staff I met and gcse outcomes.
At primary school level I have honestly not cared how well their pupils perform in tests.