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Who else is gearing up for SATS?

86 replies

milliways · 03/01/2005 21:37

My DD13 is back at school tomorrow and has spent loads of these hols revising. Yr9 SATS start in May but mocks etc start straight away. I know options have to be chosen in next few months but the amount of homework this yr has already been minimum 2hrs per night - usually more. She is in a good state school and is very motivated but the pressure on them seems v.much worse than at YR6. Anyone else going through same?

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Nutcracker · 03/01/2005 21:49

Oh right ok.

Have no concerns about dd's ability anyway so will remind myself of that if her teacher says anytinhg.

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janeybops · 03/01/2005 21:50

not sure they are to test if teachers are doing their job properly as all they test really is the childs ability to do the test.

If you think a teachers job is to train children to do a test then yes it is testing how well the teacher is doing their job.

Sorry rant over!

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popsycal · 03/01/2005 21:51

agre with janeybops....

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Slinky · 03/01/2005 21:53

Agree Janeybobs totally....but when faced with an EXTREMELY stressed 7yo 2 years ago - this was what I felt I should tell her!

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popsycal · 03/01/2005 21:53

slinky - you were dead right to tell her that!

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janeybops · 03/01/2005 21:56

it is ridiculous that a 7 year old should be put through it all for nothing. I am sure her teacher could tell you what level they are working at without doing a test!

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milliways · 03/01/2005 21:56

What do you tell the teenagers?

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kangasantamummy · 03/01/2005 21:57

DS is in year 5 does that mean they are next week?

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Slinky · 03/01/2005 21:57

DD1s Year 2 teacher was a NIGHTMARE when it came to SATS. As soon as they went back to school after Christmas, they spent weeks and weeks completing old test papers. EVERY weekend homework was an old test paper. I stopped DD1 doing the weekend homework (other than her reading, spellings etc).

She's since left, and DS1s Year 2 teacher is absolutely lovely. Have voiced my concerns already that I would not be happy for a repeat performance but she's announced that the kids will not be aware they are sitting tests and she will certainly NOT be sending home old test papers

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Slinky · 03/01/2005 21:58

Exactly Janeybops. DS1 hasn't sat the SATS yet, but I already know what level he is working at and what she hopes he will achieve in the summer.

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popsycal · 03/01/2005 21:58

kanga mummy - no they will be at the end of the summer and are not SATs...

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kangasantamummy · 03/01/2005 22:03

thank goodness DH thinks DS teacher said something about tests next week

But hopefully they are just spelling tests and stuff like that.

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kangasantamummy · 03/01/2005 22:04

popsycal thanks

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Freckle · 03/01/2005 22:06

Although DS1 is in Y6, it's not the SATS that are bothering me, but the 11+ which he has to sit next Monday and Tuesday! He's a very bright boy who normally sails through his practice papers with scores of 90% and above, but he's done a couple recently and scored poorly by comparison. I'm sure it's nerves and lack of confidence, but I have no idea how to combat this.

Poo, who'd be a parent, eh?

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janeybops · 03/01/2005 22:07

Year 5 don't do official SATs but can do optional SATs. You would need to find out from the school if they do these. Normally done in May - often the week after Year 6 SATs ime.

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JulieF · 03/01/2005 22:08

I'm so glad that my dd's school are not taking part in SATS. If she went to a state school then I would withdraw her.

All that time spent revising, when they could actually be learning something or taking part in music/drama/sporting activities.

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kangasantamummy · 03/01/2005 22:08

brill thanks janeybops

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milliways · 03/01/2005 22:11

Our school did 'optional' SATS every Yr from Yr2! They said the children get used to them so not such a stress in Yr 6. IMO just a stress EVERY year. At secondary school, anyone who failed Yr6 sats had to sit a special paper in Yr7, and everyone else did CAT tests. Yr 8 was only yr off since age 7. It's ridiculous.

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Blossomhill · 03/01/2005 22:12

Yes we are. ds is in year 2 and will be sitting them in the summer. Any tips on how I can help him and make things less stressful for him (he worries a lot) I would be grateful.

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milliways · 03/01/2005 22:18

We did one practice booklet at home for first DD in Yr2 & quickly worked out that in Maths you could get half wrong and still pass. When she had done the first few (easy) questions correctly she could see had almost got the required level anyway (may have changed now).That did help. Did not bother with practising with next child, just told him that it was for the teachers to see what he was good at at what needed more help. This worked for him. Luckily both did v.well. It is only now in Yr9 that the stress really shows - teenage tempers etc. It is just so much pressure.

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Blossomhill · 03/01/2005 22:22

milliways can buy them in Whsmiths?

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milliways · 03/01/2005 22:24

Yes - and Waterstones. After Christmas they normally have a whole section of them. They give you answers and table of what level you have achieved.

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JanH · 03/01/2005 22:28

DS2 left primary school in the summer but had weeks and weeks of crap in Y6, from Christmas until taking the tests, practising SAT papers. The other Y6 class didn't. He got soooooo fed up with it. Y6 is supposed to be fun FFS!

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Blossomhill · 03/01/2005 22:33

I must buy some, thanks

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milliways · 03/01/2005 22:36

Have fun

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