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Original poster

Appeal against a SAT mark

30 replies

Ruthrob61 · 15/07/2007 20:18

Having been through all this with one child (now 19 with baby 6mths)). My son has just had his SAT results.

We were happy with all but one (in fact one we were surprised he received a 4 in).

However, his Maths SAT did not reflect what we believed he ought to have had. I always find it odd that teacher assessments always seem to reflect the end result ie TA 4 actual assessment 2 for example).

We want to appeal the grade he got. No, he is far from MENSA but in mathematics from Year 1 to 6 his yearly reports reports always stated a 'good mathematician and ought to go far in this subject'.

Does anyone know how (of if possible) a parent can appeal against a SAT result. I know GCSE results can be appealed but can KS2 results also carry that possibility?

I would be extremely grateful if anyone parent can give me an idea (or if they have managed to do this themselves) how it may work?

Thanks for listening.

Ruth

OP posts:
islandofsodor · 15/07/2007 20:37

There is very little point in appealing as SATS are pretty meaningless except to the school's league tables. Perhaps he just had an off day.

Schools can appeal but will generally only do so if they feel that all their marks are low or that criteria were not properly followed that will affect their overall position.

Really really really not worth the hassle.

Milliways · 15/07/2007 20:41

DD's secondary school had further SAT papers that were taken in Yr7 by anyone who did not get the standard level in Yr6 Primary.

If he has to take these it may reassure you.

Also, if he does go to secondary with a level 2 they will earmark him for additional help. If he does not need it it will quickly become obvious, and he may be allowed to feel fantastic that he has improved so well so fast??

I wouldn't worry at all. They are only for the schools benefit as I.slandofSodor said

MintyDixCharrington · 15/07/2007 20:43

poor kid. leave him alone. they are pointless tests which mean nothing for the kid. what are you going to be like when it is time for his GCSEs? sheesh

ChipButty · 15/07/2007 20:46

Find out his mark before you even think about appealing - he may have missed out on Level 5 by only a point or two. Level 4 is the national average BTW so you shouldn't be too hard on him - like someone else said, he may have had an off day.

MaureenMcGonagall · 15/07/2007 20:48

Best place for SATS results is in the bin imho.

meandmyflyingmachine · 15/07/2007 20:49

I'm pretty sure you need the school to do it for him. Schools can appeal against KS3 SATs marks, so presumably KS2 also. WHether it is nevessary is another matter.

MintyDixCharrington · 15/07/2007 20:51

I wonder if you have communicated with him how horrified and upset you are at his failure to perform in a completely meaningless and pointless test?
That should set him up nicely for serious exam anxiety in the future

Freckle · 15/07/2007 20:51

Given that SATS are designed to test how the school teaches your child, why would you be bothered by his mark? This sounds like parent paranoia gone mad. He's done well in all subjects bar one, in which he scored the national average. Talk about putting pressure on your child unnecessarily.

cece · 15/07/2007 20:53

There is absolutely no point in doing this. SATs are just for the schools league tables.

MintyDixCharrington · 15/07/2007 20:53

high five, freck
how are you?

saggermakersknockturnalley · 15/07/2007 20:54

Do you know the individual marks within the level? School can tell you what he got for each section - maybe he fell down badly on the mental for example. They can get it looked at again I think but is it really worth it?

southeastastra · 15/07/2007 20:55

not sure if you can appeal. will it affect his chances of getting into another school?

Anonymama · 15/07/2007 20:57

As a teacher, I would agree with the general consensus here that SAT results are a bit meaningless. When your DS goes up to secondary school he will probably sit a series of CAT tests, which are a bit like psychometric tests and can't really be prepared for. They are a more reliable predictor of final GCSE grades (apparently). At the end of the day though, any teacher worth their salt will get an idea of whether your child is being understimulated or feeling totally out of his depth (or somewhere in between).

Try not to let the current mania for assessing kids every two minutes worry you, or your child. If he is learning new things, enjoying school, and developing well socially, then you have nothing to worry about. And you can always make your face known at your 1st parents' evening in the new school and voice your concerns over the accuracy of any previous testing to your son's new maths teacher.

Freckle · 15/07/2007 20:57

I'm fine thanks, MDC. Just running around like a headless chicken trying to fit in all the end-of-term things along with everything else.

Will get DS2's SATs results on Monday. Am I bovvered???

CristinaTheAstonishing · 15/07/2007 20:59

Ruth, I'll join the others and say I don't think it's worth the extra pressure on your DS. Is he disappointed? He may learn from this. My Ds had his SATs results. He's only year 2. He got level 3 at Maths and Reading and 2A at Writing. This latter is below his ability and I know his teacher was disappointed on his behalf as she said she knows he can do better. I just told DS to pay more attention to reading the instructions and that was that. I know KS1 isn't as tough as KS2 but I really don't think it's worth the bother. Enjoy the holidays!

MintyDixCharrington · 15/07/2007 21:00

he he he
end of summer term is knackering isn't it. we kept being told about extra things we needed to go to at the last minute "oh the children are doing an origami and macrame display tomorrow at 11.15 - 11.45, if you could possibly make it, Jonty would be SO pleased" aurghghghgh.

Freckle · 15/07/2007 21:04

I got a note home on Tuesday asking to send DS3 to school dressed as an Egyptian - on the Friday. Plus I have to send him in dressed as an tudor child on Thursday. Naturally I have a myriad of different historical costumes just gathering dust at home. Don't we all?

MintyDixCharrington · 15/07/2007 21:08

Oh my GOD how on earth do you dress up as a tudor child without getting the velvet and the sewing machine out? (or rags I suppose, if you want to go peasant, hmmm that would be easier...)

hahaha good luck!

Freckle · 15/07/2007 21:10

DS3 did say he didn't mind being a poor tudor child! Still mulling over how to organise a poor tudor costume in amongst everything else going on.

MintyDixCharrington · 15/07/2007 21:11

now this is a class of children dressed up as tudors

you appear to need a floppy velvet hat, some lace around the neck and a rather natty jerkin.

get to it, woman!

MintyDixCharrington · 15/07/2007 21:12

ta daaaa. throw money at the problem. £28 and they deliver!

Freckle · 15/07/2007 21:13

Thanks for that. I feel sooo much better.

Feenie · 15/07/2007 21:19

Speaking as a teacher, you can ask his class teacher to check the paper against the mark scheme, but it is very unlikely that the mark is wrong - English papers are often appealed because it can be so subjective, but in Maths the answer is either right or wrong. I have rarely found a mistake in a Maths mark.
However, his high school will take far more notice of the teacher assessment than two 45 minute snapshots. Sounds to me like he was very nervous for the actual tests - this an issue that you could ask teachers to keep an eye on in high school.

wychbold · 15/07/2007 21:19

I don't know the mechanics of an appeal R61 but I thought that I would add some moral support.
It would worry me if I thought that my DC was going to be put in the wrong set at their new school due to a quetionable SAT result. It is not unknown for the results to be wrong because of adding mistakes in totting up the various sections of the test or because of transcription errors. Can it do any harm to have a quiet word with the school (without your DS being aware)?

wychbold · 15/07/2007 21:25

"I have rarely found a mistake in a Maths mark."

We have just been discussing this on another chatgroup to which I belong. A small and entirely unscientific survey, but we had errors reported by approximately 1 in 20!