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Original poster

School asking to move DC’s op for SATS

62 replies

Screaminginsideme · 02/05/2018 09:00

My DC is in Y6.
DC has been diagnosed with an orphan disease(incredibly rare diseases are called orphan). It isn't Life threatening but it is life changing.
We have had numerous trips to a specialist hospital over an hours drive away and DC has had time off for tests and biopsies.
The medical team want her to have an op that will improve her life. The op will impact her writing arm for a significant time. Her life is restricted currently.
We have been given a date that clashes with the SATS. DC is a bright child and is expected to ‘exceed expected’.
I don’t like the pressure the school are putting on SATS -booster classes until 4 everyday since the Easter break.
The teacher discussed how if DC was off for 5days after the last test she wouldn’t be required to sit them. As she needed a week off after the last biopsy we are expecting to need more time after this much bigger op.
School have asked this morning if we can move the op to the following week so DC can still sit the SATS.
We want this done ASAP so she is recovered ASAP. He life is limited at the moment, no sport or outdoor activities.
I feel like the school are putting their statistics above her needs.
What do I say?

OP posts:
ToffeeUp · 02/05/2018 09:12

You tell them that you will not change the operation date and there will be no further discussion.

All the best for DD

Frusso · 02/05/2018 09:14

You say that you will not be moving the op.
The cheek of them actually asking to move her op is astounding!

Your daughters health and well-being come before any test imo. Especially one that tests how well teachers have taught them children to pass.

You can withdraw her from SATS completely if you so wish.
Her sets for secondary school can be worked out by the secondary school based upon her the levels the current school think she is at, (most usually do some mini tests in the 1st term to determine if sets are right anyway) they don't need actual SATS results.

LIZS · 02/05/2018 09:15

Your priority is your dd's health and wellbeing, say no. SATS are not that important in the scheme of things.

Japanese · 02/05/2018 09:18

That is insane. They have lost all sense of perspective. I would be very firm in my response. All the best for your DD's procedure.

Seeline · 02/05/2018 09:18

definitely say no.

I am amazed that the school think it is easy to ask the NHS just to move an operation to the next week - the thought of having to reschedule an operation that might mean months of delay (and therefore impacting on your DD starting at secondary) is unbelievable.

MrsMozart · 02/05/2018 09:20

Tell them to bob off (other words are available)!

I hate SATS with a passion.

I'm wuite a results driven person, but can't stand the things. DD1 was stressing and not sleeping well because of them - I told her, usually wonderful, teacher. Her response was "Oh no, she's one who doesn't have to worry about result!". Flipping heck! They were young primary children, none of them should have 'had to worry'.

Anyhoo, rant over. Hope all goes well for you DD OP.

LoniceraJaponica · 02/05/2018 09:22

Does the school seriously think that you can book an operation whenever it suits you - like booking a hairdresser's appointment?

Unbelievable!

Your DD's health and quality of life is far more important. The school can take a running jump.

Good luck with the op Flowers

RegionalTreasure · 02/05/2018 09:25

Good God, I do hope you put the school firmly in their place on this. Prioritising (pointless) primary school tests over a child's health? It's madness! Stand your ground, won't you, OP?

SluttyButty · 02/05/2018 09:27

😳 I can't believe what I've just read!
The teacher should poke that idea up their bottom.
They do realise that health and well being trumps education especially those flipping sats and that the nhs is in a little bit of a crisis and ops are being cancelled a lot. Therefore if you request 5he op to be moved they could end up putting you down the list.

That teacher/school need to watch Hospital on Beeb2 to get an idea of how it works.

Pythonesque · 02/05/2018 09:34

Operations can and do get scheduled with important school exams in mind. This one is probably being scheduled now as much to ensure she can be well recovered and in good shape for starting secondary school! And she won't be missing schoolwork that matters ...

Best wishes that it goes well.

Aworldofmyown · 02/05/2018 09:38

You say No. Absolutely do not give it a second thought or feel in anyway bad.

concretesieve · 02/05/2018 09:47

What everyone else has said. School is way, way out of order on this. Best of luck and good wishes to you and your DD Flowers

Wolfiefan · 02/05/2018 09:49

You say you will get this op done at the earliest opportunity and at the best time for your child. Sod the SATS.

0ccamsRazor · 02/05/2018 09:53

I wouldn't even honour them with a reply.

I hope that your dd makes a fast and positive recovery from her op Flowers

NorbertTheDragon · 02/05/2018 10:01

No. Tell them to fuck right off. How dare they put their stupid statistics above a child's health and wellbeing. I'm so fed up with reading this sort of thing.

My own son had a blood test booked and I was asked if he could have it done another time. I said no, his health is far more important than tests. They then said he'd sit the test at break time and I told them he would not be losing break time. No way. And that wasn't even a SATs year! But the pressure starts early.

user789653241 · 02/05/2018 11:15

My ds has regular hospital apps and we always try to have it during breaks/holidays, including past surgeries. If my ds was in op's position, I would think about it depend on how not taking sats impact dc or not. I couldn't careless about school's statistics. But some secondary school use the results, so depend on school, it may impact the child.

AuntFidgetWonkhamStrongNajork · 02/05/2018 11:35

I think you need to have a meeting with the HT, and say very slowly "are you seriously asking me to postpone DD's life-improving medical treatment, for SATs?" Being charitable, I'm sure they haven't thought it through - of course the NHS let you chop and change dates of ops around all the time now. They are probably just in SAT-fog but it needs pointing out how utterly ridiculous they have been.

soapboxqueen · 02/05/2018 11:47

Considering the pressure put on schools, I'm not sure why anyone is suprised.

No it isn't reasonable to move or reschedule your child's operation. Just tell them that.

If your child will be in school but unable to write, have they checked if they can get a scribe? They might have already done this and been told the recommendation is that scheduled operations should be planned around tests. Easy for them to say, much harder for schools to implement.

If your child can't to the test within 5 days she will get 0. Teacher assessments will be passed onto the high school. Not many high schools use the sat results for anything much so I wouldn't worry about it.

Original poster
Screaminginsideme · 02/05/2018 14:35

I’ve spoken to the Head this morning.
We can’t change the date without risking the op not going ahead. There is pm slot the following week but a) she’d Have to starve all day.
b) the surgery before is a long a difficult case and may over run so bumping the next op I.e my DC’s
C) the previous surgery case is long and difficult and purely selfishly I want our surgeon to be ‘fresh’ when operating on my DC. I don’t want Him tired/stressed from the case before.

We need this op done so she can be fit for secondary school. Once this op is done there are drug protocols that need to be looked at and again any delay adds more time to this timeline.

The Head is relatively new and wants a good set of results - my DC’s teacher has said health comes first.

I am just shocked really at the audacity. I’ve said if it is that important to you she sit them, ask if she can do them early. She’ll be out of contact with everyone after the op anyway....

OP posts:
MaybeDoctor · 02/05/2018 14:39

Something is really wrong with an education system that even asks this of a parent. Sad

Redcrayons · 02/05/2018 14:41

Wtf is wrong with them?
Tell them no and give it no more headspace.

Hoppinggreen · 02/05/2018 14:44

No way would I
When dd was in year 6 there was a bit of pressure being applied to the whole year by the teachers and she was getting a bit stressed about it. They were irrelevant in her case anyway and I told The Head that if I felt dd was getting too upset about taking them she wouldn’t be.
Apparently the teachers backed right off and they Year had a “ don’t get too worried about your says, just do your best”speech

ToesInWater · 02/05/2018 14:51

She is in primary school, to be brutally honest nothing in primary school really matters but your daughter's health is everything. I hope her health issues get sorted xx

MadeinBelfast · 02/05/2018 14:56

I would tell the school that she is being withdrawn from SATs now. That means if, for instance, the operation gets cancelled at the last minute, you won't feel under pressure to take her in to do them. Nearly every secondary I know assesses children when they arrive in Y7 and SATs scores, or lack of them, will have no impact on her secondary education. The school will know exactly where they stand and hopefully it'll take the pressure off you a bit at this busy time. All the best for the surgery.

MycatsaPirate · 02/05/2018 15:05

I think I'd be tempted to tell the HT to fuck off.

Absolutely health comes first. Every single time.

If you had surgery planned as an adult and your work asked you to postpone due to overtime being done, you'd quite rightly say NO and threaten them with unions/HR/tribunal.

I can't believe the HT even thinks this is up for debate.

Good luck for the operation and really hope all goes well.