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Original poster

Do you think it's OK during SATS for a teacher......

17 replies

grassland · 14/05/2008 19:19

to allow children who've finished to wander round the classroom, get books and comics off the shelves and sit on the floor to read them? This is KS2 reading and comprehension paper today. My dd found it a bit distracting and I'm not sure if I should say something to the school. I know it's probably the teacher's two fingers to the tests but it seems rough on the children who've been working hard over the past few weeks and want to do their best. Some dcs were apparently rushing to finish so they could read the comics!

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lilolilmanchester · 14/05/2008 19:22

at the end of the day, the SATs results are mainly for the school's benefit, so his/her problem.

hatrick · 14/05/2008 19:25

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jalopy · 14/05/2008 19:29

I'd expect them to sit there and wait. It's not a long test. They're 10/11 yr olds.

Original poster
grassland · 14/05/2008 19:35

No, they're definitely not used to working in silence! And I'm not a great lover of SATS - just wondering what people thought and what happened elsewhere. In answer to hatrick, perhaps if they've finished they might check what they've written?

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RustyBear · 14/05/2008 19:38

At the school I work at they used to do SATs in the hall & they took a book in with them which they could read when they'd finished.
This year they've decided to do them in the classroom & I haven't been in, so I don't know what they do - I'd guess they are just allowed to read in their seats - I wouldn't think moving around would be a very good idea - too distracting.

hatrick · 14/05/2008 19:42

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hatrick · 14/05/2008 19:44

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RustyBear · 14/05/2008 19:45

Yes, they had to keep the book on the floor till they were finished

Original poster
grassland · 14/05/2008 19:57

I think it was more where dd was sitting as she had to keep moving her chair to allow people to get to the books behind her. It's probably not worth saying anything though as it's all in the past now in any case.

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aintnomountainhighenough · 14/05/2008 21:37

Frankly if they have to sit in silence for the 'exam' and the school are treating them as if they are GCSEs then the children should be made to sit quietly when they have finished. To wander around making a noise is very distracting and unfair to other children.

Its all very well saying that these tests are for the schools benefit however we know that some schools are acting as if this a life and death situation. If teachers feel so strongly against these tests then they should, en masse, take it up with heads who should then take it further. They have the power to change this situation, I hear them bleat but I don't see much action.

hatrick · 14/05/2008 23:23

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ravenAK · 14/05/2008 23:30

Yes, please do.

Assuming these ridiculous tests are still in place when the dc are of an age to take them...we're off to Disneyland that week (& I hate Disney...)

As a teacher - well, I don't keep my views to myself. But my pay progression depends on continuing to get excellent results.

OP: I would've thought it more appropriate for students to choose a book before the exam & have it uder their desks. If you're going to have an exam, do it properly!

This is actually one of my objections to SATs - familiarity breeds contempt & it becomes impossible for students to take real exams seriously.

cory · 16/05/2008 10:17

I'm only moderately interested in the existence or not of SATS (dd doing them this week). But I don't think it sounds too hard to expect 10/11yos to sit in silence for 10 minutes or so.

clam · 16/05/2008 16:18

They should use every minute of the allocated time to check, check and re-check their work. The number of times I've had kids say they've finished and, when I've marked the paper (mocks), found they've missed questions out and made silly mistakes. Failing that, they should sit still and quiet for the remainder of the time. It is very unfair on those still working to be distracted by others moving around. And as for a child having to move her chair to let others past! What was that teacher thinking of? It's unprofessional, at the very least. Hate and loathe SATs as I do, I would mention it to the HEad.

lazymumofteenagesons · 16/05/2008 16:20

If you are going to do the tests then they should be done properly. These kids are mostly 11 years old I presume. They should be able to operate under formal exam conditions.

OrmIrian · 16/05/2008 16:23

I think they should be made to sit quietly until the other children had finished. Whatever you think of SATs it is a little disrespectful of the other children - if they are struggling to finish and having problems maybe, to see other pupils wandering around would be quite upsetting I should think.

Original poster
grassland · 16/05/2008 16:34

Thanks everyone. I think this teacher probably feels strongly that SATs shouldn't be taken too seriously but I think it is unprofessional to impose this on the children. Unless it's the policy of the whole school - which it isn't.

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