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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Can we opt our DS out of taking SATs?

140 replies

sogrownup · 08/04/2011 11:37

The pressure placed on DS (yr6) around the SATs is incredibly high. After much thought and anxiety we have decided to opt out of the whole 'pressure at home' side of these tests to create a little balance. The Easter Holidays will be void of any formal homework and will be about relaxing and learning through play........
If the school is taking part in the SATs is it mandatory for your child to sit them? Can we opt our child out? If we can do this, are there any horrendous consequences that we have not considered?
Thanks all......

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PixieOnaLeaf · 08/04/2011 11:42

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IndigoBell · 08/04/2011 11:45

You can't opt out of SATS.

You can keep your child home 'ill' - but be prepared for a phone call from school. They will probably not be at all impressed and put a lot of pressure on him to come in.

Probably a better option now is to talk to his teacher.....

Not doing the SATs won't effect your DS at all. But it is a legal req that he does it and school have to ensure he does......

mumblechum1 · 08/04/2011 11:47

The SATs are really not important in the grand scheme of things. Certainly my ds did no preparation whatsoever for the yr 6 ones as he also had the 11 plus which did actually matter.

The SATS will not have a bearing on your child's future. When he goes to secondary school they'll do their own baseline tests and set accordingly.

I really wouldn't fret at all if I were you.

SpottyFrock · 08/04/2011 11:50

What if you want your child not to do any of the practice papers or spend this term doing stuff that prepares for the SATs? Can you ask that they do a normal curriculum without any of that? Why can't schools just present them on the day.

I hate them and I will keep my DS out of school just because I know they are counting on his level 5.

Original poster

sogrownup · 08/04/2011 11:50

Thanks, at least I know where I stand now and I feel justified and quite liberated by taking a stand against the anxiety that this is creating!!

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SpottyFrock · 08/04/2011 11:52

It's all the stuff before which I resent. If they just gave them the papers one week and said it was an end of term thing then I'd send him. But to hear over and over how bright he is and what is expected of him and to know he's been practising since Feb angers me. He will be sick that week.

ronshar · 08/04/2011 11:56

Why make your son different? Have you asked HIM how he feels about it all?

Spotty. Why would you want to do that to your sons teacher. Are you not proud that your child is bright and is doing really well for his teacher?
Do you not feel that is sending the wrong message to your child?

Original poster

sogrownup · 08/04/2011 11:59

Good for you SpottyFrock, not sure I am that brave but will not be even mentioned SATs in this house now!!
I am afraid of switching DS off education for ever by pushing him too much too early. They are all so different and develop and engage at different times and paces.....I know my DS well enough to know that this SATs stuff will not inspire academic achievement!!

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SpottyFrock · 08/04/2011 11:59

Why would his school do that to him? Why practise? Just give them the test. I hate all this practising to get the best scores. They're like an exam belt and I'm not going to help them along with it.

PixieOnaLeaf · 08/04/2011 11:59

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Original poster

sogrownup · 08/04/2011 12:05

Pixie, with respect, this pressure at 10 and 11 years can't be right. GCSEs and further education come around soon enough and one would hope that young adults of 16 and beyond are a little more prepared and mature enough to cope with these exams.
Perhaps different Primarys do it differently, but DS's school is going too far in my opinion......soooo much pressure!!

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PixieOnaLeaf · 08/04/2011 12:08

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ronshar · 08/04/2011 12:11

Have you ever tried to do something to the best of your ability with out any practice?

Did you take your driving test? Did you have any lessons first?

Put your self in an eleven year old shoes. You get given a test paper, you have never seen it before, you dont really understand the format of the questions. Now try doing that exam paper in a short space of time to the best of your abilities?

What is more fair to a child? Practise or in at the deep end?

I know which one my daughter rathers and that is the practice they have been doing for the past 8 weeks.
Oh and she is predicted a level 5 as well. She cant wait to show them how clever she is.

SpottyFrock · 08/04/2011 12:15

No, I'd be happy for him to take the tests if they allowed him not to do any of the prep work. I asked if he could be withdrawn from that and they said no and admitted that just prior to the tests a lot of time is spend practising. I think that's appalling. An entire term wasted just to ensure a couple more Level4s and level5s.

SpottyFrock · 08/04/2011 12:17

Well, two things make me annoyed. Ronshar, I don't believe that all they are doing is allowing the children to be clear on the format. They want them all to get great scores as it reflects well on the school.

The other thing is I don't think they'd care so much about him missing them if he was attaining level3. I hate the fact that they're more keen for him to be there just because he's bright.

PixieOnaLeaf · 08/04/2011 12:18

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Niecie · 08/04/2011 12:19

Your child will take his cue from you. You sound like it is winding you up so if you want to keep this low key you are going to have to stop worrying about it. Don't do the homework if you don't want to but taking your DS out of school for the actual test is making a big deal out of it. If I was your DS I would rather sit the test than be part of my parents' protest against them. He won't have a pleasant week sat a home when he knows his peers are sitting the test and that he is at home under false pretences.

My DS is doing them in May too. I am keeping them low key and I haven't bought the revision manuals they suggested or any of that sort of thing. He will do his homework though because I don't think it is a very good lesson to teach that he can duck out of them if he doesn't fancy it. I also don't want him to have to bear the reprecussion of my objection by singling him out from the rest of his class.

Besides, I don't think children do buckle under the stress of exams even at 10 or 11. Children have always been tested at the end of junior school, I know I was, and they survive.

ronshar · 08/04/2011 12:20

Have you asked your son how he feels? You might be surprised to find that he doesnt care. It might be just you who has the problem with it.

I do understand It is alot of pressure. But it is a way of finding out how crap good the teaching is!

PixieOnaLeaf · 08/04/2011 12:20

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SpottyFrock · 08/04/2011 12:23

I don't want him to have done any practice but unless I was prepared to take him out for weeks on end starting in February I had no choice.

Do you not think it's an outrage that they are missing nearly a term's work just because so much time is given over to these tests? There is so much scope for learning in Y6, it's such a waste.

I dislike the fact that they want him there because he makes their scores look good.

PixieOnaLeaf · 08/04/2011 12:25

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SpottyFrock · 08/04/2011 12:26

Oh come on! In theory, he should have been taking on board all the necessary info throughout KS2. If school have done their job properly, he should pass. But no, we have to get close to 80% Level bloody 4 and as much of them as possible to level 5.

SpottyFrock · 08/04/2011 12:28

Why can't they agree not to practice? It's because they can coach more out of them and look better in the league tables if they do. Well, my kids aren't going to help them do that.

I have no problem with the school in general but I hate the fact that they are an exam factory in Y6. Who cares about the league tables???

PixieOnaLeaf · 08/04/2011 12:34

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Original poster

sogrownup · 08/04/2011 12:37

Didn't mean to create conflict you guys, just interested in your opinions!!
I agree with much of what has been said and in my opinion you need to assess the child and the effect it's having on them as an individual.
My DS could so easily be switched off by too much pressure now and lets be honest as SpottyFrock has pointed out, if the steady development of these children had been apparant thoughout their schooling to date this requirement to cram would not be an issue. I understand some schools keep it more low key.....

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