Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Year 6 feels a horrible year at primary school

48 replies

Marypoppins19 · 27/11/2018 18:27

My son is really not happy. He feels that science and Pe have gone out the window and it’s all Maths, Writing and SATs. I really think he might well be right!

OP posts:
Mishappening · 27/11/2018 18:28

I am quite sure he is! Don't tell us - tell the Ed Sec loudly and clearly!

NoLeslie · 27/11/2018 18:29

Sorry but yes. My advice is make after school and weekends as much fun as possible. And sign every petition going re SATs.

SavageBeauty73 · 27/11/2018 18:29

It is! My 3 kids hated it. Then after SAT's it's all about the end of term/year show and none of mine had big roles.

Original poster
Marypoppins19 · 27/11/2018 18:34

It’s like they are sucking the life out of education and if it’s not writing or numbers, it’s not worthy! I’m seriously hoping secondary will be better

OP posts:
BevBrook · 27/11/2018 18:34

This makes me cross. My son is Y6 and he says the same. I remember 4th Year Juniors as it was then as a fantastic year, we did a project on the Victorians which I still have, we went to see Cats and made a collage of the different characters, we learnt the Charge of the Light Brigade. Once we were waiting for the bus after a swimming lesson and we saw a kingfisher, so we wrote a poem about it when we came back. I have great memories of my last year at primary school and now for DS it is just SATs, SATs, SATs, SATs. He is bored rigid and as far as I can see will not be learning anything new this year.

Original poster
Marypoppins19 · 27/11/2018 18:34

Good advice NoLeslie

OP posts:
Original poster
Marypoppins19 · 27/11/2018 18:36

BevBrook - yes that is my memory too and I love it. I’m so fed up of him being so flat. He’s bright, amazing at art and design but never gets to do any

OP posts:
Whereisthegin1978 · 27/11/2018 18:36

Agree. My dd has had massive anxiety and worry over sats. Our school have really gone over board. I’m not adverse to tests, I went to a private school where we were tested termly but I never remember it being stressful - it was just “oh we are going to see what you’ve remembered and where you may need help”. I feel for the teachers because the pressure on them from above must be stressful too.

Gizlotsmum · 27/11/2018 18:37

My daughter likes English so isn’t hating it too much but the year has got really nasty with lots of bullying and one upmanship which hasn’t happened before. She is also not to bothered about SATs yet but I have told her they are more about the teaching than her ability! I will be glad when it is over

Gizlotsmum · 27/11/2018 18:38

Too add they are actually doing fun stuff too so they have watched war horse, have mummified oranges and today have seen Carmen at the Royal Opera House so they aren’t pushing too hard at the moment! I realise now how lucky they are

RhinestoneCowgirl · 27/11/2018 18:38

Yes, yr 6 is shit thanks to SATs. Have had one DC go through it, DD is in yr5 and I'm not looking forward to it.

Agree with pp that you just have to make sure that there are lots of nice things outside school to make up for it.

MrsMrsMrsMrs · 27/11/2018 18:40

DD is y6 next year. Her school is ridiculously pushy and data driven. I’m actually wondering if I can Home school her for a year (and that’s not like me at all!)

Echobelly · 27/11/2018 18:42

DD has become aware that there's more test-related stuff, but at least the school's not as manic as some about it.

She has become more aware of the popularity contest aspect of things as well, which I remember intensifying at this age... and the separation between those who still like imaginary games (she and two of her mates) and others who are starting to be interested in boys and the like.

TheMadGardener · 27/11/2018 18:47

Ex-Year 6 teacher here. I'm afraid there's such pressure on schools to get good SATs results that this is how it goes in very many schools. Art, Science, DT, sport, all gets pared down in favour of maths, reading, writing, GPS. It got much worse in my last few years of teaching. To the point where I was told I could no longer take my Y6s on trips or swimming, as they "couldn't afford the time out of class". Our new head brought in a specialist PE teacher so that they could take my class for PE but he wanted me to take kids out of PE in turn and do SATs tutoring with them. The kids hated being dragged out of PE and having to do extra work. Then he wanted Y6 to come in on Saturdays and during holidays to do extra revision, but I refused to come in and teach them so he had to get someone else to do it Grin
Then, even after SATs were over, he complained because I was rehearsing the leavers' show and Y6 were rehearsing/painting scenery/dancing/actually enjoying themselves when the timetable said they should have been doing English and Maths. (This was in the last week of Y6 but he said they should be on timetable until the final day). Even their residential week away was cut down to three days.

I argued with the head too much about the joyless life he wanted Y6 to have, so I got taken out of Y6 the next year and put in a "less crucial" year group.

I don't teach any more but feel sorry for the kids and teachers still on the SATs treadmill.

Original poster
Marypoppins19 · 27/11/2018 18:51

My lord!!! Well he sounds a wonderful headteacher not!!!

OP posts:
babooshkamybush · 27/11/2018 18:52

Year 6 is abysmal...it's a shame because it should be a great year for them. My daughter struggled hugely with the entire year (not academically but socially and emotionally as well as with the weight of expectation re sats). I would do lots of reassuring about sats not being the be all and end all and lots of looking forward to high school...after a hideous year 6 she's now having a great year 7...it's good to remind them that things will change, no matter how challenging it seems now.

Sorry if above seems obvious, it's just much easier with the benefit of hindsight.

The other positive is you will not believe how quickly the year will go...

Jowak1 · 27/11/2018 18:52

I think year 6 is awful for primary school kids now thanks to SATS- constantly banging on about them all year making the kids lives miserable they are 10 !! They should be happy and love school.

phlebasconsidered · 27/11/2018 18:54

It's bloody horrible and it's horrible for me too! (Year 6 teacher)
I try to make it bearable by including some meditation time and exercise time. I've also promised class pizza and science, drama and art weeks once the ruddy things are done!
It's pressure from above. It sucks.

Jeffstar79 · 27/11/2018 18:55

Dd1 was Y6 last year. It was pressured with lots of intervention classes going on but they still had time out for music/sport competions etc. Interestingly they've just had Ofsted in and been praised for achieving good results and the range of activities on offer.

Original poster
Marypoppins19 · 27/11/2018 18:56

babooshkamybush - good advice thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
Marypoppins19 · 27/11/2018 18:56

phlebasconsidered - hats off to you

OP posts:
Popfan · 27/11/2018 18:57

It doesn't have to be like that. My son's school gets amazing results - all 90% plus last year but keeps the curriculum fully going with PE, topic, music, science etc. My DS is really enjoying year 6. He's working hard but says 'It's really fun'. He likes the extra responsibilities in Y6 too. I think we are really lucky.

missymayhemsmum · 27/11/2018 19:02

I'm guessing you are in England? Your poor son. I turned down a good job rather than move dd out of Wales and into the abusive English education system. She had a great yr 6, loads of creativity, opportunities, science and PE. And good national test results.

Ohyesiam · 27/11/2018 19:04

My son started on year 7 in September and he says everything is “easier “ and “ nicer” at senior school. And this is a boy who hates change.
There is hope!

Original poster
Marypoppins19 · 27/11/2018 19:14

Thank god for hope!!!

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread