School asking to move DC’s op for SATS

[Screaminginsideme]

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?

As another CoG, I would be expecting you to ask for a copy of the complaints procedure and then to make a formal complaint about the HT.

As it is a complaint about the HT, it goes directly to the Chair to investigate; with what you have explained here and taking into account the Head's views, I think it likely I would uphold your complaint and would be firmly setting my expectations of the HT as their manager. I would also be reminding the HT that the school's first responsibility is to the child not the League Tables.

I am very sorry that you have been placed in this position.

Chocolate no there really wasn’t more than ‘can you move the date so DC can sit the SATS’

We’re not talking about removing a skin tag here or something equivalent. We’re talking about a significant op that will take time to heal. An op that will improve her currently very restricted life. An op than needs to be done and healed before she starts secondary school.

Nothing and I repeat Nothing is more important than my child’s health. Mental and physical. this operation will help to fix both.

The school can do teacher assessment for the next school and they do CAT test early in year 7 to stream them anyway. She will not be disadvantaged in anyway by not taking them.

You have no idea what you would do in my situation because you aren’t in my situation.

Absolutely fucking outrageous.
Well done for protecting your dc.

Oh I'm sorry if my queries offended you. Of course you must do what's best for your XXx health and school were wrong if knowing her issues to ask you to move it. I really hope it's a bit success and she is recovering soon.

All that said, I think asking for clarification is reasonable. Frequently on MN reports of things schools said are mentioned and on clarification are not quite as easy to judge of as clearing as they first appear. This might have been such a case. And with regard to my saying what I might have done as I have a child with health issues which are not terribly serious but require hospital treatment, I'm sorry if my thoughts were not well received, and I totally accept i don't know what you would do - but on an internet forum people will share their thoughts and experiences as many on here have - and different ideas is what MN is partly about.

I'm sorry your DD needs the treatment and school made the request and I hope it goes well.

A calm letter expressing your surprise and disappointment could be in order.

I've just had the same (very heated) conversation with my DS school. I'm fuming! How dare they put their stupid tests before my son's health. I told them them two weeks ago he was going into surgery on the Monday of SATS week and would be off for 2 weeks. Had a phone call today asking if I would change it or he would not be able to sit them. I said first comes his health, then his happiness and thirdly his education. I still can't believe they thought I would change it a week before his op date😡

So depressing, primary schools used to care about the kids in their schools, fortunately individual teachers still do, but senior management in many places has jumped the shark when it comes to seeing kids as individuals not statistics.

Christ, that school has lost perspective.

I would say "no". The reaction to that would determine what I said next. I can't believe some schools put SATs above health... well actually I can believe it, but it still staggers me every time.

It's actually great timing, your daughter is only missing exams that won't have any bearing on her future whatsoever, rather than actual teaching.

Everything else is the schools problem not yours. I wouldn't worry any further about it.

Jesus.

Something similar happened to my mum's class (she was primary teacher) and the schools demanded one of her students was declined leave to get appendix out as it hit same times as when inspectors were visiting and half the class were merged to cover the HT failings.

She told the board to get stuffed and authorised the time off and said if the student needs help with anything homework based then she was at end of phone and happy to assist.

She also told the inspectors what the board demanded - school passed inspection - board was relieved of duties due to being idiots.

Hope your wee one has a fast recovery and best wishes.

Can I just say

SATS RESULTS DO NOT EFFECT YOUR CHILD'S FUTURE IN ANY WAY.

I am so tired of saying it. It doesn't matter to the chidl what the result is. It DOES matter to the school, but not to the child.

Some secondaries may use them for setting in year 7. But not many, most do their own CAT tests, and many don't set it in the first half term until they have assessed the kids.

Even those that do, if there is no exam result, they will take the teacher assessment, or do a CAT test. Really, it will NOT effect your child's future.

The only thing they are used for relaly is the school's progress, so school is assessed on how much progress the child makes form KS1 to KS2. Secondary schools are then assessed on how much progress from KS2 to KS3. So the school will say your predicted results based on SATS are .......
But that doesn't change the fact that your GCSE results are based on your secondary school education. They can say Oh you were predicted an A and got a C, but that isn't going to change how you do in your GCSE exam.

100 x no! How dare they ask you to do that! And I say this as a year 6 teacher where the children in my class also equate to 4% of statistics! I don't mind preparing for SATs but I am always emphasis to the children they are not to get stressed about them and that no one is going to be asking what they got in their SATs when they're going for job interviews!!
I really hope your DDs operation goes well and she makes a speedy recovery!

Just an update to say I’ve made a complaint to the governors.
When I started thinking about it all I realised just how much they haven’t followed their own policy or government guidelines on dealing with ill children.