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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think year 6 Sats should be cancelled this year?

61 replies

Blueraincoat20 · 03/12/2020 14:06

Surely it makes sense? (I think they should be abolished anyway but this year it feels particularly unfair.) This year group have had heavily disrupted year 5 (and 6), have had to choose secondary schools without looking around, potentially transfer while this is all still going on...

My DC is already getting stressed with all the practice tests etc, on top of having to isolate at points, changes in school routine, trips cancelled etc. AIBU to think enough is enough?

OP posts:

Sirzy · 03/12/2020 14:07

I fully agree they should be cancelled.

However I also think questions need asking of schools that are already getting pupils stressed with practise tests and the likes. Ds is in year 6 and the topic hasn’t even been mentioned yet.

canigooutyet · 03/12/2020 14:13

If primary exams get cancelled it would also mean secondary exams would need to be cancelled.
Sats aren't done until next year iirc, mocks are already happening.

Original poster

Blueraincoat20 · 03/12/2020 14:14

Yes I'm a bit that it already seems to be an issue... then again it's generally an excellent, very inclusive and not exactly high pressure school - the whole term seems to have been relatively relaxed and fun so far (covid outbreaks aside!) but now the tests have started and it just feels a bit like the straw that might break the camel's back...

OP posts:

Thatwentbadly · 03/12/2020 14:15

I think they should be cancelled every year.

Looneytune253 · 03/12/2020 14:17

I don't suppose it matters if you remember they are mainly for assessing the teachers anyway. I've got one in year 6 and one in y11 so it's gonna be a tough year but can't say it's even been mentioned to my y6. They're all in the same boat so they can still get an idea of higher ability etc

LittleOwl153 · 03/12/2020 14:18

I don't agree with excessive prepping for SATS and that is where the system is wrong. If the tests were purely a benchmark for the move to secondary they would be much more useful - and would just be about what the kids knew on the day - so covid etc wouldn't impact their ability to take them assuming they were in class that day. Secondaries just retest in Sept anyway so they know what they are actually working with.

Sirzy · 03/12/2020 14:19

@canigooutyet

If primary exams get cancelled it would also mean secondary exams would need to be cancelled. Sats aren't done until next year iirc, mocks are already happening.

Why? You can’t really compare SATs which are a tool to judge the school to GCSEs and A levels which are used to help students move on to the next phase of life.

Year 6 teachers are more than capable of passing on information about their pupils to the new schools

Original poster

Blueraincoat20 · 03/12/2020 14:19

@Thatwentbadly

I think they should be cancelled every year.

Completely agree!

Has anyone withdrawn their DC from Sats?

OP posts:

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 03/12/2020 14:21

I actually think it’s important to do them as secondary schools rely on them. My DS is Y6 too. Everyone has been affected by Covid-19, it’s not like one child being sick.

Original poster

Blueraincoat20 · 03/12/2020 14:21

Agree @Sirzy that GCSEs and Sats are not comparable. My DC has been told it's to measure the school, but is still getting down about being tested (also has SEN and not a fan of school at the best of times).

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altiara · 03/12/2020 14:21

SATs are a test on the school really, I find secondary schools test the children again before streaming.
Can’t see a problem with the tests, but huge problem if they are making the children stressed about it.

dreamingbohemian · 03/12/2020 14:23

I agree. My son's class is expected to attend extra teaching sessions in grammar and maths because of the exams, they have to go in 30 minutes early twice a week. It's ridiculous.

I understand you need to assess teachers and schools somehow but it should be done in a way that doesn't stress out the kids or give them lots of extra work.

PurpleTygrrr · 03/12/2020 14:23

They have cancelled the spelling and grammar test for KS2 and all the SATs for KS1. There was a DFE update today. Shame it's not all of the SATs but better than nothing.

canigooutyet · 03/12/2020 14:24

Starting prep for them now, why?

I would be "that" parent and question this.
When mine did them, the school did a bit of prep work during a few weeks in the run up, which consisted of a couple of exams to get them used to it. No set work, no homework.

Everyone was told more than once don't stress, use them as practice for year 7 September exams..

Sirzy · 03/12/2020 14:24

As for withdrawing from them it can be done but I don’t know how easily. It’s something we have discussed for DS but for now we have agreed we will go with try them and if he shows signs of increased anxiety then we will withdraw him (all agreed with the school and his 1-1)

Original poster

Blueraincoat20 · 03/12/2020 14:24

@GhoulWithADragonTattoo

I actually think it’s important to do them as secondary schools rely on them. My DS is Y6 too. Everyone has been affected by Covid-19, it’s not like one child being sick.

I don't think it's unfair in the sense of not being equal between current yr6 children - although some who have been pushed into poverty or had parents seriously unwell will have been affected much more than others - I mean that it's unfair on this year 6 to have such an awful last two years of primary school!

If Sats were cancelled this might mitigate this somewhat - yes in an ideal world kids wouldn't get stressed about them but they undoubtedly affect teaching and learning however 'lightly' you approach them...

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canigooutyet · 03/12/2020 14:26

So because one impacts the school they should be cancelled but carry on with the ones that directly impact the students?

Marzipan12 · 03/12/2020 14:27

Like others have said they are to assess the school and secondary retest anyway . Having said that I think year 6 should take them to get used to having tests and assessments. In year 8 my child has already been tested and assessed 3 times in every subject since September and it's the same in all year groups. SATS is easy by comparison so see SATS as a practise to prepare your child.

formerbabe · 03/12/2020 14:28

@GhoulWithADragonTattoo

I actually think it’s important to do them as secondary schools rely on them. My DS is Y6 too. Everyone has been affected by Covid-19, it’s not like one child being sick.

Yes completely agree.

My dc briefly stressed about sats until I reminded them that it wouldn't affect their future and no one will know the result except the teacher and schools...no need to declare it on a job application or anything!

Original poster

Blueraincoat20 · 03/12/2020 14:28

@canigooutyet

So because one impacts the school they should be cancelled but carry on with the ones that directly impact the students?

To be honest I think all exams should be cancelled this year (and SATs and GCSEs permanently abolished, as is being discussed).

But GCSEs seem a bit trickier in a way because a fair alternative has to be found - whereas SATS are pretty pointless at the level of the individual child. As others have said secondary schools test again anyway...

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formerbabe · 03/12/2020 14:30

Yes but there's always inequality regardless of covid. Surely test results will be useful to see who is doing ok and who might be slipping behind, for whatever reason?

Original poster

Blueraincoat20 · 03/12/2020 14:32

@formerbabe I think a teacher will be able to tell that anyway? That's not the purpose of SATS AFAIK- they are purely to measure schools performance (their other functions can easily be performed by teacher assessments/tests once they arrive at secondary).

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ineedaholidaynow · 03/12/2020 14:32

Teacher assessments are still going ahead for KS1 and KS2.

Keepdistance · 03/12/2020 14:33

They use sats results for gcse predicted grades. They are what is used for secondary 'progress 8'.

I dont think they need to cancel as they arent that important for the kids. They are what year 6 is mainly about.
The gov will want to.see how far behind year 6 have fallen

Original poster

Blueraincoat20 · 03/12/2020 14:35

I dont think they need to cancel as they arent that important for the kids. They are what year 6 is mainly about.

@Keepdistance I don't understand this? How can both of those things be true?

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