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Original poster

Y6 SATs - level 6 paper?

12 replies

ByTheWay1 · 11/03/2012 16:57

Hi, my DD has been asked to sit the level 6 maths paper - does this "count" towards anything??? i.e. does it matter? the school is on an adventure away week that week, so the head is planning to go there with half a dozen papers and get the kids to sit it there!

She - understandably- does not want to miss the activities that day, so has said she would rather not sit it.

I do not know enough about what it means to know whether to press her to take it or to back away gently and let her prevail on this one.

OP posts:
member · 11/03/2012 17:11

It really counts as nothing except perhaps some kudos for the school if they have a certain number of people they can say achieved level 6 at SATS.

The majority of secondary teachers I've heard talk about the SATS in general, tend to go by Teacher Assessment & their own tests at secondary when deciding on a pupil's ability.

My daughter is also sitting but she is OK about doing so (tho' wasn't at first) & she's not on an activity week which should be about having fun! In your situation, I'd go with my daughter's wishes.

Original poster
ByTheWay1 · 11/03/2012 18:06

thanks for that... I think we will just forget about it... she is not keen, and I don't want her to miss out on canoeing or whatever just for something that would benefit the school, not her personally....

OP posts:
cece · 11/03/2012 18:13

That is madness to get the children mssing fun things to do a level 6 paper! The test isn't till May though, so why they are doing it during their activity week is beyond me.

As a Year 6 teacher, we have ordered a few of the papers. Some of our children are having some extra lessons, but it is completely up to them whether they want to do it or not. We view it as more to do with preparing them for secondary school than passing some test.

mrz · 11/03/2012 18:33

The level 6 maths test takes place on the 22nd May bad planning for the school to be taking Y6 away then

Original poster
ByTheWay1 · 11/03/2012 18:43

Yep very bad planning ! mind you, the first date they had planned was during the grammar school tests in October!!! Strange how so many parents threatened not to go on the trip, so they moved it.... Perhaps they should be asking why there is easy availability on these dates!! Or - heaven help us - looking at the "big picture".

They have also set sports day on the day when one of our local secondary schools has it's induction day - going to be interesting when half the Y6 "athletes" aren't there.

Complete lack of joined up thinking..... hey ho... we are nearly through with them.

OP posts:
asiatic · 11/03/2012 19:17

Your DDs secondary school place has already been decided, so the SATS level 6 paper is of no benefit to her what so ever. It is simply for the schools statistics, nothing more.

Milliways · 12/03/2012 19:52

My DD sat this in yr6 and failed. She was upset but had not really been taught the extra stuff. The school just wanted some of them to try it. If I had my time again I would not let her sit it, she got stressed and nothing was gained. (She still managed an A* Maths GCSE and an A grade A level Maths if that helps you!).

Another boy didn't want to take it but was made to - he wrote on the paper "This is a waste of time" or similar comment, and did not attempt any of it. He went on to get 100% in his Yr7 CAT tests and also to do very well in GCSEs.

startail · 13/03/2012 11:02

As I've said on another thread DD is doing it, but it's more for the school benefit than her's.

OFSTED were really vile last time and dropped them a grade, basically for not cramming SATs down Y6s throats. So a few just missed their L5.

This was DD1 cohort, who I know are doing really well at secondary.

I like the head and DD2s teacher. If DD can get school and herself some brownie points so be it, but it's a stupid system.

Original poster
ByTheWay1 · 13/03/2012 16:53

Well, we decided no....... it is totally and utterly due to the school's poor planning - why would an active girl want to give up on a day's activity to sit a maths test.... now, if it was an RE lesson or circle time etc they were missing, she would be up for it like a shot..

It is a shame, because under normal circumstances it really is her "thing" - she thrives in a test environment (thank goodness!!!) and loves to surprise the teachers - though you would have thought that after 6 years they would realise she is learning more than she "appears to be" - i.e. ALL reports say she is away with the fairies and does not pay any attention in class.....

OP posts:
megapixels · 13/03/2012 17:42

I thought the L6 paper was only introduced this year?

cece · 13/03/2012 19:08

It was around for about 3 years - 2000, 2001 and 2002 and was reintroduced in 2011.

simbo · 03/05/2012 11:55

Just revisiting this thread as my ds has been asked to sit the level 6 test in maths and reading. He's keen some days and very anti doing extra tests on others. Anyone else in involved in this?

They don't seem to be being given extra tuition on the topics that are not covered in the level 3-5 curriculum. The school is taking a suck-and-see approach but only letting a select group have a go.

Wwyd? I have a concern that he may fail through being inadequately prepared, but he won't let me help him at home. He should do well in the normal sats, but could always have an off day, so being told he has the ability to manage something harder might just give him extra confidence.

Anyone else in the same quandary?

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