AIBU to think this school has the wrong approach?

[Butchmanda]

Just had a flaming on my Facebook page as I have so many friends who are teachers. It seems that you just can't ever criticise the teaching profession! Maybe here???
Anyway, my DS is in Year 6 and we're well into SATs mania (I went through this with my other DS two years ago and it was an eye-opener). Teachers lose all fucking reason about everything except the SATs.
SATs talk at and from school is relentless. DS and friends very bored. I know from experience it's going to steadily get worse until May. Luckily not too much SATs related homework so far but I think that's about to change.
I don't mind homework - good preparation / discipline and if it's comprehension/maths problems then that's good too as they're important skills.
However, DS has been sent home with practice books and a homework schedule covering the next 5 months. Each week they are supposed to do their allocated tasks unaided then the parents are supposed to mark the work and write a note to the teacher to say what the child needs extra help with.
WTF? Shouldn't the teacher be identifying weaknesses?!! He's bloody been there over 6 years - they've had plenty of time. I'm incredulous and will be refusing to do this. If that means he won't get the work marked, then no point in doing it.
In reality, he's likely to find it all manageable and I'm not aware of any weak areas (quite the reverse - he's been bloody bored to death for years, as was his brother).
I know schools are under pressure etc etc, but I just think 'fuck off' at the request that I mark his fucking work!
I am, admittedly, very weary (and cynical) about primary school bollocks having been doing this for the past 8 years now. Can't wait to get him out of there.
I will, of course, be (reasonably) polite when I tell the teacher I won't be doing any of this.
Anyone else going through similar at the moment?

[LJdorothy]

You don't socialise with teachers because they are patronising, defensive and devoid of humour? Really? All half million of them? I shall vow never to socialise with bus drivers then. I met a really grumpy one once.

[Leigha3]

The pressure on the students is from the pressure on the teachers from the people above them being pressured usually by some government agency.

That's why the teachers are upset, I doubt any of them got into teaching because they aspired to teach kids how to pass standardised tests.

[Butchmanda]

Shawshanks: interesting question! I can't imagine the school would do this to respond to parent demand, in that I don't think they give a tuppence what any parent ever thought! However, I think there are some parents who think the school doesn't give enough homework, so they might well be quite pleased with this approach. Especially as it's so clear and structure. The keenest parents in this regard seem to be the ones that didn't grown up in this country (and haven't seen how the primary school system has deteriorated into a lot of Government-sponsored bollocks), and perhaps trust that the system here is a good one. I was quite surprised, for instance, talking to a Polish Mum who thought that the kids didn't get anything like enough homework, and this was back in Year 2. I guess it depends what you're used to, and the validity of the homework. I've always thought they've had far too much.

[youarenotkiddingme]

It really won't help children or adults imo.

Some parents will think they have Gerry genius and will tell teacher they struggle with nothing.

Some parents will think they have dippy Doris and be expecting the teacher to provide all this extra teaching.

Some parents have higher academic ability than others so their view is based on their own experience.

And likely most of the children from above category are all equally able and all have their own strengths and weaknesses.

I'm not against supporting your own child. My ds has Sen and worked at home on things school worked on. But I did it to benefit ds not the school as such.

[ShawshanksRedemption]

OP, have the school set up this homework schedule because that's what many parents want to see? You say the school is graded outstanding, so if the school offered nothing like the above to parents, would parents be happy with that or pushing for more? I find (I work in a primary) that there are parents who want to get involved and what you describe sounds like the school's way of taking that on board without adding too much extra to the (already overworked and stressed) teachers.

Is the

[Butchmanda]

Rabblemum: I'm so sorry to hear you and your son had such a hard time? I am a member of some local ASD support groups, and the stories from the parents are hair-raising. I've vowed too that I would take my ASD son out of school if it all gets too much one day. Makes me realise we have been quite lucky but I'm aware of what we could be up against in future. The Head at primary (now retired) said about my son 'why are you making him go through assessment for ASD? If he's autistic, I'll eat my hat'. And, of course, he is autistic. Very much so. They just wouldn't / couldn't see it because their views of what ASD is are so dated. Luckily I got a referral via the GP but they've stopped allowing that now in our area, and so if school don't support you, you are totally fucked. Schools have an awful lot of power. Which is why getting the right people on board as Governors is crucial.

[Butchmanda]

Thistlebell: yes, I guess I do look over their homework. I do more so with the older one, to check he's actually done it. I'm so disillusioned with the primary school that I probably don't check the younger one's. However, I think as a pp remarked, I could/should just let him do it, check the answers, and highlight his own weaknesses. He'll probably be happy to do that.

Not a stealth boast at all. Yes, it's good that they're academically able, but my older son has ASD and had a very difficult time at primary school and is a massive challenge at home. There's more to life than being good at school work and I have the battle scars to prove it. Luckily the secondary has suited him very well, and I hope it will be the same for his brother so no need to look around for a different school - we're nearly there. Secondary is good because they're stretched, but also because there are some very good extra-curriculum activities there and the school generally has a great atmosphere. It does feel, currently, like they're really interested in producing well-rounded kids rather than machines. What it'll be like come GSCE years, I have yet to discover.
Re. home-schooling: it's not worth it now as this is the last year of primary. Also, my son would miss the social side. I do really think it's the way forward for some, though, and would never rule it out. I take my hat off to the parents who do it as it must be hard work!

roomsonfire - ha, ha, ha. I wish there were more (or just you!) at the school gate. We could tell them together to stuff it!

Corbyns: there are no teachers among the parents. So they probably all think this is entirely normal!

[Rabblemum]

I feel your pain.ADHD and ASD often come with anxiety and immature behaviour. I took my ASD son out of school and I wonder if it saved his life.

[gandalf456]

I would hate to be asked to do that. It is not taking into account how busy parents are - especially if they work, too, and have more than one child. I find homework a stress enough as it is, with one at secondary so this would easily push me over the edge.

Anyway, I am not qualified to mark year 6 work. I'm happy to identify weaknesses if I notice them but would resent being given it as a task to do.

[frami]

Schools put far too much emphasis on SATs. Do what you believe in right. My youngest hated the last year of Primary school. When she left head told my her she could expect 3 low grade GCSEs based on her SATs results. She got straight A/A stars including one of the new Grade 9s!

[anothersuitcase]

Op no you are not alone in thinking this. I had exactly the same frustrations during year 6, however I also feel for the teachers and the massive pressure they are under with SATS being used as a stick to beat them with.

[Paperwhites]

Your DC should do the work, of course, check their own work, then turn it in so the teacher can see how they got on.

[CuckooCuckooClock]

I agree that teachers should try not to pass sats stress on to their students (or any of the other pressures) but the reality is that most schools ime are under immense pressure to perform in external exams and it's harder and harder to hide that from the kids.

[Rabblemum]

I won’t even hang out with teachers in my spare time as I’ve had such a horrible time with schools. They told me my son had nothing wrong with him, when he did, they blamed me for everything he did wrong and wouldn’t take advice from professionals. I now homeschool my son.

Your kids go to school to get an objective view of their abilities, the main problem I have with homeschool is parents can’t do that.

Remember schools and teachers are under pressure and seem to ask more and more of parents and expect kids to be grade machines. I do find teachers defensive, patronising and devoid of humour, I don’t think this is the real them but their awful environment. If you’re not happy with their education look into local free schools or do it yourself, schools are Ina sorry state.

[CorbynsBumFlannel]

Yanbu. Can't year 6's be trusted to have a go and mark their own work to identify their weak areas if the teachers have too much to do? Setting marking for parents really isn't on. I bet the parents who are teachers and already have their own marking to do are thrilled!

[KriticalSoul]

I think its ridiculous, but then I have always HATED the SATS, being one of the first ever school years to take them, I've resented them since.

DS is in yr6 and while he's very intelligent, he has Autism/ADHD and an EHCP with 25hrs provision, and I have made it VERY clear that if the school stresses him out in any way/shape or form over these Tests that he will be pulled from school in SATS week as his mental health and stability is more important than the league tables.

The pressure they put on the children is beyond ridiculous and I honestly think the SATS are a waste of time, energy and a whole year of teaching. There's so much more they could be teaching our kids instead of dedicating a whole fucking year to coaching for those stupid fucking tests.

[roomsonfire]

DC came home first day back with 'mum theres 18 weeks until sats and you didn't buy my practice books!'

too damn right I didn't buy practice books. they can fuck off so can the insistent fucking countdown. They are doing revision tests in class already. Fuck this shit.

I don't want DC stressing and doing sats practice at home. There is enough at school. I don't want the stress of exams (DC has learning difficulties so its extra hard and stressful) at home daily with practice that I do not feel is relevant and will worsen DCs anxiety (we did year 3 sats. It was horrendous)

I remember doing my year 6 sats. We did a practice test for each paper to see where we were at. Teachers then targeted class work to cover bits they may have missed. because I did the higher sats papers I had a little bit of extra in school tutoring with maths as part of a small group.

Thats it. No homework, no constant count down, no relentless revision. I want my DC to go through them like I did.

and If i was brave I would tell the headteacher to shove his actual sats countdown thingy up his bloody arse.

[Thistlebelle]

I’m not in England so we don’t do SATs, from what I se from friends it seems to our huge amounts of pressure on everyone.

But.. don’t you usually check over his homework? I always check my kids’ homework and point out errors. seems pretty standard to me.

[Butchmanda]

Crochet: I don't understand your point? I thought all schools (except private schools) have to do SATs. Parents complain about all kinds of things at the gate but don't tell the school their concerns.

Foxyloxy: absolutely correct - they very much wanted my son to do his exams as they knew he'd do well. And i'm not saying all ex-teachers as Governors are bad, but I do think a bit of a balance of background might lead to better policy making. To have 3 of them , of similar outlook and background (and frankly - narrow-mindedness) is a bit unfortunate.

Anyway, not intended as a Governor-bashing exercise - I've accepted that, in this school, it is what it is!

[Butchmanda]

The point is that there are 3 Governors who are elderly and ex-teachers. It's about balance surely. There's also a lot of Catholic/in-crowd/face-fitting, which I had no idea would be the case.
And - Cuckoo - you're right - I have no reason really to complain. in fact, I'm not going to complain to the school, I'm just going to say I won't do it.
The main point of my post was to see if I was alone in finding this an appropriate approach from the school, or whether it was common practice.
The SATs are bonkers, but that's also not the point of the post. I know teachers have a hard time. But it's how they pass that stress on that's the problem. I'm always heartened to hear stories of schools who really downplay the SATs. If I were looking for a primary school now, that's what I'd be looking at. Which is the exact opposite of how I felt 8 or 9 years ago. You live and learn!

[Foxyloxy1plus1]

You lost me at ancient governors too. I was probably one of the ones to which you refer, a former teacher wanting to offer my time and knowledge in a voluntary capacity. Please note the word "voluntary."

If the school is outstanding, has been for a while and intends to stay that way, then the focus will inevitably be on maintaining it's league tables position year on year, despite each year having a different cohort.

The governors are there to oversee the strategic direction of the school, not the operational day to day working. So you know whether the current focus is directed by governors or an operational decision by the Head.

This goes to show that relying on a Ofsted rated outstanding school can be a mixed blessing and is not necessarily the be all and end all. I think that the strategy is flawed anyway, because what happens with the parents who don't want or don't have the time to spend marking work.

I think you're probably realising that you aren't happy with your child at that school. I'd hazard a guess too, that the reason they " hounded" you to take your child in when he was unwell, was because he would have made quite a difference to their statistics.

This, I'm afraid, is what the education system is becoming. As a former SENCo and Assistant Head though, I'm appalled, but not surprised at your description of the provision for SEND.

[CrochetBelle]

People moan about it at the school gates and then roll over and just accept it. I seem to be one of the few that has piped up from time to time.

Yet you send your kids to a school that does SATS, and then moan when they have to do SATS

[sinceyouask]

SATs mania is ridiculous. It ruins year 6 for the dc. Say as much though and you are treated to another lecture on the pressure experienced by teachers: that the children are actually the reason for the school being there at all and that their experience of it should be higher up the agenda than the teachers experience of it is ignored.

[OnlyAbigail]

I think you've just started this thread to stealthily boast about how incredibly bright your children are, OP....

If they're so bored at school then why not homeschool them??

[TheHungryDonkey]

I think the AIBU should really be To Think Sats Has The Wrong Approach.

I feel sorry for my son's Y6 teacher. She has inherited my child, who is about three years' behind, from another school and his results will unfairly reflect on her teaching ability when the results are published.

Some of the lengths the pushy schools go to to get top results is a bit barmy though. Luckily, the teacher friends I have on Facebook are ones that left the profession so are sympathetic.