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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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JWIM · 08/04/2011 12:40

Spottyfrock - does your son have his own opinion on this? Have you asked him? If he is expected to achieve a level 5 then he is certainly able to have a discussion with you about SATs. If he would like to sit the tests will you say that that is just school/peer pressure? Maybe he would like the sense of achievement and opportunity to demonstrate what he has learned and revised.

PixieOnaLeaf · 08/04/2011 12:41

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Fennel · 08/04/2011 12:42

For the moment, why don't you just put the books away and do nothing over the Easter holidays? My yr6 broke up yesterday, we haven't been asked to do anything over the holidays, she has a bit of sats-related homework but if she was stressed by it I'd leave it.

If you tell him they are just routine tests for the school not for him, and make it low key, then it becomes less of a deal.

Years ago I did plan to take dd1 out for the term of KS2 sats, I thought we might go up the Amazon for a few months or similar. But now we're at that stage she's not bothered anyway, the school isn't very pressurised, so we haven't done anything. but not worrying I think is the key, and giving your child that message too.

pigsinmud · 08/04/2011 12:47

I think now is the time to get him used to tests then. Sats don't matter. My ds2 will be doing his this year. He is anxious and doesn't always show his ability in test conditions. I want him to do them to learn to cope with his anxious panicky feelings.

When he moves to secondary school I know they are endlessly tested, so he needs to learn to deal with nerves now. We have told him it doesn't matter if he doesn't get his target levels, but I know he is putting pressure on himself. For my ds2 if he doesn't reach his targets, I know he will be upset, but he will hopefully learn that it is not the end of the world. That is not meant to sound cold and harsh!! Of course I want him to do well, but I would like him to know if he doesn't get what he wants that it is still ok!

PixieOnaLeaf · 08/04/2011 12:49

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Original poster
sogrownup · 08/04/2011 12:49

Fennel, thank you, that sounds like the perfect approach and the one we have finally adopted. I was just interested in if it was a mandatory process...

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PixieOnaLeaf · 08/04/2011 12:50

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Niecie · 08/04/2011 12:52

But the practice is part of the learning, isn't it? Quite apart from learning exam technique, which is a valuable thing to learn and which the children will use often in the next 10+ years, they are reinforcing what they have been taught. If you didn't know they were doing SATS would you have a problem with the work they had been doing? A lot of their work is repetition and reinforcing anyway and it is bound to be like that as they come to the end of their time in that school and the end of the primary curriculum.

I object to SATS as schools aren't honest about exactly what is being measured. They make it sound like it is in the best interests of the child to be tested and often neglect to mention that it is measuring the school more than the child. However, as a school governor I am also aware that the SATs are a major driving force for change and improvement in schools. Without targets schools (and any of us really) might not make the effort to improve. They could plod along doing things as they always have done. If your SATS don't meet expectations you get the LEA wanting to know why and what you are going to do to improve things. They are necessary as a measure of a school's effectiveness.

I have a younger child coming through the school next year. I want to know that the school is going to keep trying to improve their standards and are not resting on their laurels. SATs are a reflection of this.

SpottyFrock · 08/04/2011 12:56

Sorry, sogrownup, I didn't mean to hijack your thread. I have no problem with them being assessed or even a bit of practice but that's not what goes on. They sit 2 practice papares before parents evening. You are them told where the gaps are and given homework to fill in the gaps. They do some more papares and then another teacher comes in 2days a week to take what they call boosting classes where they go out in small groups to do yet more targetted work. It's all they bloody do in the spring term and I really disagree with it.

We will be going on holiday so he will return the following week. His attendance is excellent so I doubt that education welfare will be interested. They are not interested in him sitting the test, they are interested in him helping their L5 percentage look good.

Feenie · 08/04/2011 13:08

It's not absolutely mandatory - DD1 and DD2 did their SATs, but DS won't because the school have stopped entering their pupils for the tests.

It is most certainly mandatory in state schools. Is your dcs' an independent, Pixie?

Original poster
sogrownup · 08/04/2011 14:06

Don't worry Spotty Frock, good to have a cathartic release.

Lets be honest everyone, your chance to be a carefree child is for a lot less time than you are a grown up......My childhood (and I refer to primary school) is full of happy memories, minus homework, i.e. none what so ever. I have still done well in my adult life and achieved what I set out to achieve.......

Don't get me wrong, we expect DS to do his very best at school, but we don't agree with the pressure of too much homework at this time.

I know that some schools have opted out of SATs but my original question was, for schools who are taking them, is it mandatory for your child to take part.

I have taken on board all your comments and I now feel that DS will be taking the SATs but the prep will remain in school time.........We know he is capable of achieving anything and will do so when he is ready to flick that switch. Final decision!!

OP posts:
Feenie · 08/04/2011 17:11

State schools CANNOT opt out of SATS!

mrz · 08/04/2011 17:22

Schools can't opt out of SATs (unless they are independent) it's the law!!!

PixieOnaLeaf · 08/04/2011 18:11

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mrz · 08/04/2011 18:16

and independent schools use other tests

PixieOnaLeaf · 08/04/2011 18:18

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MrsWitcher · 08/04/2011 18:18

Lack of SATs was one of the big reasons we chose an independent school. School goes up to 18 so no crazy push at any point at primary level.

Lots of schools didn't do them last year though.

mrz · 08/04/2011 18:20

because the unions took industrial action last year

PixieOnaLeaf · 08/04/2011 18:26

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MollieO · 08/04/2011 18:27

Probably a bit late to opt out. Many independent schools don't do SATs so don't spend time doing practice papers.

mrz · 08/04/2011 18:38

Many state schools don't spend time doing practice papers either they get on with teaching instead.

MollieO · 08/04/2011 18:47

Pixie I would be amazed if your school does absolutely no testing at all. Ours does some form of testing in year 5 to give the school and parents guidance on their choice of next school. The same will happen at ds's probable next school to assess potential for CE and therefore next school.

PixieOnaLeaf · 08/04/2011 19:14

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applecakesarenice · 08/04/2011 20:21

The preps round here test and test and test some more from year 2 not to mention the tutoring and the testing the tutors are doing and it's a big reason why we opted for state. Although there is preparation for SAT's it's far less than the testing they'd be subjected to in a private school and my DS is far less pressured than he'd be in a local prep, has much less homework and way more free time. I am all for the SATS, the secondary schools here use them in conjunction with CAT tests for Yr7 streaming so it's not an option as far as I am concerned for him not to take them. Even the private schools want confirmation that state school applicants are on track for a 5. I do take notice of the league tables, nearly 70% of Yr6 at our school get 5's and I fully expect DS to be one of them and it was a factor, amongst many others, in choosing the school.

zoekinson · 08/04/2011 21:39

Many educational experts dispute the importance of standardized testing for children, many now believe it does more harm than good. Unfortunately this country has come to use them to determine whether a school is any good or not, this is very sad. The vast majority of parents simply go along with the whole sats thing because its just what every one does.
IMO more parents need to make a stand to change the system. the most extreme being de-registrations and home edding. there is no reason why this cant be done just to avoid taking sats, de-register when they begin to "revise" and re register after sats.