Cat scores, should the school tell us?

[GyozaPoser]

DD is at a prep and her school sent out email saying the children would be taking 'exams' in Maths and English next week. It turns out these are CATs. They don't intend to share the results with parents. Is this normal practice?

Our state primary did them and we were given the results. I see no reason they should withhold them from you.

They use them as part of the decision to offer a secondary place or not which I imagine is why they withhold them. I'm supervised they do them at state schools. What purpose do they serve above the usual SATS?

What year is she in? They very much play them down at my sons' school ahead of time (don't want kids overly prepped) but do share Year 5 and Year 6 results afterwards. We weren't huge the Year 4 results at the time though.

It didn't even occur to me to prep her. She's in year 4.

They use them at dd's state secondary to assess them when they come into Y7.

@GyozaPoser sorry I meant to say we weren't "given" the Year 4 CAT results

You can request them - they cannot withhold any data they hold on your child - but they may not tell you much.

They do them in Y5 in our state school. Scores are given to parents, ahead of us choosing secondary schools.

I’ve looked into this previously. If you ask, state schools have to give you the CAT scores by law. The data laws covering private schools are a bit different and they can choose not to tell you, but I think most will if explicitly asked.

GDPR rules are the same whether the school is state or independent. If you formally request the scores the school will give them to you. They have to give you, if you ask, any data they hold on your child.

@negrilbaby, GDPR is complex. See attached link:
ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/schools/pupils-info/

@AprilLady I am very aware that GDPR is complex! - I work in a school and we deal with SARs. CAT data would not be withheld from any parent if requested - state or independent

@Bvop

They do them in Y5 in our state school. Scores are given to parents, ahead of us choosing secondary schools.

What purpose would this serve?

At our school (independent) they didn’t actually even mention when the tests were but my child mentioned it. He is yr 4 but I have a feeling they actually do them in yr 3. They told us the result (I asked, so not sure if they otherwise would) in the context of first discussion about future schools.

They probably don’t want parents gossiping / competing over it from early on. Particularly as it is apparently difficult to prep for - is an IQ type test.

As in they also do them in yr 3. They do again in yr 4/5/6.

Mine sat CAts in the beginning of year 7, like a pp.

Presuming they tell you the scores, what good will knowing them be? Given that they won't tell you the other children's scores.

We got told y7 scores, then they set poorly thought out ‘targets’ from them.

Similar to Bvop my DD took CATs in yr 5 and we were given the results, in an area where there are selective secondary schools it is a useful pointer if your child might stand a chance of getting in soontobe60.

@Soontobe60 we have superselective grammars in the area so the school discusses with parents at the start of Y5 what sort of school might suit the child, and CAT scores are part of the information.

Where can parents register a CAT exam for DCs if it is not a default choice at state schools?

[quote Bvop]@Soontobe60 we have superselective grammars in the area so the school discusses with parents at the start of Y5 what sort of school might suit the child, and CAT scores are part of the information.[/quote]
Ah I see. The LAs I have worked in don’t have selective grammar schools, only state or private. We don’t do CATs until Y7.

We get print out and explanations of all CAT scores every year once they start taking them in Year 3.

I do think it's a shame that these schools are taking them so seriously as I do think they're a fallable test.

Schools always try to keep these secret - just make an appointment with your head and ask fir them (for all year taken). They are pretty useful to give an idea of what schools to target for next stage. Be polite but firm

My DD prep school shared the CAT results taken in Yr 4 and 5. I am glad they did. It help decided which secondary schools to apply for.