DD has been asked to stay after school for extra maths lessons to try to get her up a level in year 6 SATS. Should I be pleased at extra 1-1 or annoyed at the extra pressure they are putting her under

[sandyballs]

I can't decide. She isn't bothered by the extra maths or particularly stressed by SATS. Not yet anyway, maybe she will be after this!

She might be stressed nearer the time. You might as well do it, because it will boost her confidence on SATs day and prepare her for secondary school.

Is it actually extra maths? (I'd leap at that).

Or is it more of the maths that is on the KS2 curriculum anyhow?

Be pleased!

People pay £30 per hour for this. You are getting hundreds of pounds of tutoring for free.

You can be sure the teacher isn't getting any money for it.

The 1-to-1 in Maths that my school has been running has been amazingly successful. The school obviously care more than you, as it affects their results, but any extra learning for a child has got to be a good thing imo.

It sounds great. If there were no SATS, then maybe the school would not be making this extra effort.

I'd tend to leap at it too, if I had a child working below target.

I would leap at it!

We use our 1;1 to plug any gaps that the children have in their understanding, or to go over topics they are unsure about. If it helps them to achieve a higher level, great. If it doesn't, it means they are more prepared for secondary than they would otherwise be. 1:! tuition is very effective!

Disagreeing here.

It's not always useful.

Presumably OP she is a 3a at the moment?

If you want extra help ie a kind of private lesson for no extra cost then say yes please. If you don't then just decline, there will be plenty of other parents who will undoubtedly jump at it. I'm sure it isn't compulsory, I really can't see why you should be 'annoyed'.

What level is she working at? What's her target? And how do they set in her Secondary school?

Thanks for replies. DH agrees but I'm not sure it's necessary and worried it will mean she does start stressing about it all whereas at the moment it really doesn't bother her. I would understand it more if she was struggling but she got a 5B in last weeks mock paper and the school are pushing her to achieve a 5A.

If she is already achieving well then no I wouldn't bother.

They're offering free 1:1 tuition to get her from a 5b to a 5a? That is truly weird. Very unusual.

How bizarre! Are you sure they're not going to put her in for the optional level 6 paper?

Although, I still can't see why you'd turn down free 1:1 tutoring.

I see what you mean about free 1-1 but still wonder if it's unnecessary pressure. Supposing she has this extra stuff but still achieves a 5B or even a 5C or a 4A. She will feel like she's failed when in fact it's still a good result.

No mention of level 6 papers. I think it's weird too, would understand it more if she was 3a like you say. Might pop into school tom.

I wouldn't bother.It's not a matter of it being 'free' tuition.She doesn't need it.From bitter experience i would warn you against letting a primary school teacher , teach her secondary school maths.They have specialist teacghers in secondary school who will have a lot more experience of teaching level 6 maths .Do not let the primary school teacher muddy the waters!

Her secondary school have their own tests in year 7 to stream them.

I resent that, as a primary school teacher who is perfectly able to teach level 6 Maths.

what's wrong with a primary doing level 6 maths?
my DD is doing it and really enjoys it

That's interesting Ariadne.

It's certainly not what 1:1 tuition funding was meant for!

And level 5s are supposedly not differentiated, so she'll come out with a level 5 anyway.

I would be more concerned at the late stage they are offering this help, sandyballs - seems more like cramming to me than helping your dd reach the next level securely, rather that by revising and scraping it. If they had offered it at Christmas, I would be less suspicious.

If it's truly for your dd's benefit, then presumaby they will continue past SATS, until July, then, yes?

I second Feenie, yes I'm sure there are some primary teachers who couldn't teach level 6, but there are some like myself who got a maths degree and are subject specialists. Also I might add have taught a number of level 6 children (however these are gifted mathematicians, not just very able which some people presume). Personally I would find out the schools real motives, if she was a level 3 ks1 then she should be a level 5, there are no breakdowns, as secondary teachers would no doubt agree, getting 93% doesn't necessarily mean they are a 5a.