Headteachers have voted to boycott SATS....

[deaddei]

but in RL what will that mean?
Will some schools not do them?

BB posts have literally given me stress palpitations out of frustration and despair. I enjoy learning from debate and informed argument but this just doesn't count as one of them. I cannot stand reading such garbage from BB any longer. it makes me want to cry to see so many intelligent and reasoned explanations completely ignored.

Oh thank god, I thought it was just me - everybody seemed so patient, but this thread has driven me loopy.

I'm angry for all those children on a deprived estate with parents of low educational achievement who he dismisses so easily and in such an ill informed manner

tethersend - of course aspirations do not begin or end with functional skills.

However, a child who cannot read or do maths is hardly likely to be able to achieve his/her higher aspirations without having those basics in place. A child may want to be an astronomer and have a real passion for that but will never get there if s/he enters secondary school without having achieved a good standard in maths. Having taught adults at Masters level I used to run remedial maths classes before the course began to teach basic maths skills so they could handle the numerical data we used on the course. I personally know that lack of functional skill severely hampers higher learning. I am sure you do too.

On creative writing. My DS1 is a wonderful creative writer. His teacher says so. I have read his work and agree. It is an innate skill he has.

However, he cannot do algebra or fractions to a high standard - only by testing him with an 11+ maths paper was I able to point that out to his teacher. Without regular functional testing it was not possible to know that weaknesses exist or address them.

I am speaking from personal experience here of havg been educated myself in a state Primary, private secondary, watched my own children go through education and also having taught the product of the UK school system. Please stop saying I know nothing.

ixie - a good teacher is one who gets a child to absord knowledge and understanding by whatever means including standing on he/his using Kenyan click language if necessary and appropriate.

A shoddy teacher is one that cannot get a child to absorb knowledge and understanding - even if s/he is using all the latest teaching methods.

Outcomes are all that matters - not the process of getting there

Does that answer you?

Fractions are taught in Key Stage 2 and 1. Algebra is not, or if it is, only at a rudimentary level. A child does not need to learn algebra at 11 - it is not the basics. Why are you so bothered about algebra? They'll get enough of it at KS3 and 4.

DS1 needs algebra for 11+ exams and he is weak on fractions - despite having been taught it. I needed to know that. I do now but only via a functional test so those weaknesses are now being addressed.

This is a dangerous thing to say but I once had a child who had a parent who was a university teacher of maths. It was hugely important to him that his child was stretched and developed. SATs and testing meant we were always concentrating on average attainment level teaching until the children were safely through. One of my earlier posts explained how frustrating I found that, but that because it impacted on the children I did it - they needed to learn how to pass the exam well so that it did not impact on their confidence as they went forward in their education (you need to be at the right point to get the best out of an exam). We were all impeded by the testing regime. We couldn't start on the KS3 strands (well not many) until the end of May. BB it seems to me that you are shooting yourself in the foot.

You are right - he will need algebra and a really good understanding of mathematical vocabulary. But he also needs the confidence to mathematically reason his way through the word problems on the paper. Have you looked at the QCA website and NRich from Cambridge University - its fun and you can look at the problems and games that allow your child to develop algebraic notation. They divide the site into areas which deal with different strands in mathematics at different levels. There is also a forum and a problem of the week page. I apologise if I am teaching my Grandmother to suck eggs here but this really is worth a look for children who are going to have to do the selection tests.

can someone please tell us if these sats are going to happen in two weeks time or not our kids have been back at school 2 days and not a whisper has been heard.

You're right, you know, Beenbeta. I'm going to start telling my GP how he should get things done - I've been in hospital twice now, and visited the surgery lots of times since I was a child, so I know lots about it.

The announcement of the decision is due tomorrow, I think, busymummy - but it will depend if your headteacher is in the NAHT or the NUT. If they aren't, your school will be unaffected.

I am a parent. If teachers will not deliver what I want in terms of occassional functional testing at SATs (or better at 11+ level) I will do it myself.

I am leaving the thread. I am sad and worried that far too many children leave state school without basic functional abilities and yet some teachers do not want to test for and address those weaknesses.

I know this one busymummy3, its up to the individual headteachers according to the NAHT. I'd continue preparing if I were you. I will be.

Oh BB - its horrible not being listened to isn't it?

Oh fgs, Beenbeta, stop believing everything you read in the Daily Mail and read the article I have linked you to three times - don't believe every political soundbite you hear.

hurrah! at last - BB is going off to do it himself as we teachers will not cannot teach correctly.

and I'm off to be a doctor so I can treat my dad now he's ill. I can do it so much better myself. hurrah for me!

Laters!

(but have you ever heard anything as scary as "Outcomes are all that matters - not the process of getting there".
really)

so am I thinking right ? we will have a situation where if your schools head is in the NAHT or NUT then they may not be doing SATS ,if they are not in these unions then your child will be doing the SATS. So what is the point either they all do them or they all dont do them? I know especially in our school if they do them it will be for the school league table but secondary schools who use the sat scores to set them in y7 surely wont use sat test results for some and teacher assessments for others that would not be fair although fair I suppose is not the word that springs to mind any way about sats. oh well roll on tomorrow and maybe will be a little clearer as to what exactly is to happen in our school.

You're angry because teachers don't hold the same highly questionable theories as you. That's all. Teachers who are trained professionals who see first hand year after year what this testing regime is doing to our kids. I thank the Lord that I didn't encounter you on a parents' evening and no doubt you feel the same. Since when has testing and testing and testing children been conducive to their wellbeing and happiness?