Is your school giving level 6 SATS to some year 6 children?

[CheesyWellingtons]

A friend's school is doing this - asking the brightest children to sit level six as well as the normal SATS. Not sure whether I think it a good idea or not - it seems to put them under a lot of pressure.

Why does it put them under pressure? DD2 would have loved to have taken the level 6 paper.

Because they have had very little actual teaching for it.

There used to be an optional level 6 paper - I think DD1 must have been in one of the last years that could have done it. There wasn't really any extra teaching but if a DC was at the very top of the level 5 they could have a go. It was more a case of extending existing knowledge rather than new topics.

I'm not sure why they have brought it back presumably because maths levels go up to 8 in KS3.

Yes, at DD's junior school about six DC are doing the L6 reading paper and about 15 the L6 maths. If we draw a Venn diagram, we see that three children are doing both!

It certainly seems to be making the whole thing drag on as the L6 papers are next week, and then the regular writing one is the week after

Mine's doing the l6 paper and has picked up stuff like simple algebra from the l6 booster classes that his school have held. If the children in that school achieve l6 then I'd say that they were a truer l6 than kids like mine who have been coached to the test.
Like the ks1 tests I think the children should take the l3-l5 or l6 test.

l6= level 6
l5=level 5

I think in our school they ask all the children who are likely to get a l5 if they want to sit the l6 tests (next week, mostly?). Some choose to do so, others don't want to. I think the ones who have felt anxious about it have opted out. Leaving the competitive eager ones to do the extra tests.

My yr6 is very much looking forward to the l6 tests. She can't resist a challenge.

Dd1's school gave them the option if they were safe level 5s.

She's very pleased to have the challenge, particularly in maths.

Personally I'd rather they hadn't produced it, because she'd coast level 5-she's a secure 5a at least throughout. However she is a good level 6 in maths, but the literacy stuff she may or may not achieve level 6, so she'd have had a nice relaxing week with nothing to worry about if it wasn't for the level 6 hope.

By half term next year the SATS results will be irrelevant anyway.

In our primary half of the year group of 60 children are taking the L6 tests - so effectively the top performing half of the year group in each subject. We're likely to get about 25% at least getting L6 in maths - not sure about the literacy papers. But, as everyone has said, it's new this year so different schools are trying out different approaches.

DS and 5 others in his year are sitting L6 papers. They have been put under huge pressure despite promising they wouldn't be. SATS are complete and utter toss.

There are 5 dc doing them at our school, but they have all been entered for maths and reading (not sure about writing). We are not talking about it amongst ourselves, as nobody wants to upset parents of children not doing them nor provoke questions and comments. I wish the parents had been consulted. I would have said no. My ds said he didn't want to but they went ahead and entered him anyway. The secondary school won't thank them.

Will a child be awarded a level 6 if they achieve it? I've heard mixed views that the highest that can be achieved is a level 5, so therefore a waste of time but not sure if this is true. My ds secondary school stream accordingly so it's quite important for us:)

Provided they get a L5 on the 'normal' SATs and then they get a L6, they will be awarded it.

Now, writing is only teacher assessment anyway so it might only be used to help inform the teacher.

I had about 12/13 children get L6 (optionals) in maths last year. I decided to only give two of them a L6 in TA though, as they were the only ones I was confident were consistently that level.

No, and the local secondary agree that it would be a bad idea. They're not taught for it and the secondary do their own assessments in autumn term of Y7 anyway.

Why is it a bad idea though?

DD was asked to sit the L6 reading paper - very much her choice, no pressure at all. She and one other girl in Yr6 will be sitting it, they have been working towards it in class and are viewing it very much as a challenge for the fun of it.

5 children are sitting L6 maths, again by invitation, no pressure to perform. School have been quite pressured about the 'normal' SATs but not at all about these ones.

Because they're not taught for the stuff it tests, and also because it holds no meaning, as the secondary won't use the results in any way. They're 11 years old. If it's pointless, why bother? so they or their parents can boast about them being super clever and having reached such an elevated level ?

They're not giving it to anyone, but they are having some children sit the papers. It has caused some upset...

Level 6?

Yes, it causes upset too. Children what to know the results. If they don't do 'well' they feel deflated. If they aren't selected to take the test they may feel put out as well. These things can affect confidence, and I repeat we are talking about 11 year olds. The results are not qualifications, they are not useful for their future in any way (unlike e.g. a GCSE). Our school is excellent with gifted children and has schemes with the most talented getting input from local secondaries in the relevant subjects. They are most definitely stretched and challeneged. They do not, however, sit pointless unecessary tests that could cause stress to them and others.

DS is sitting both.

The maths is entirely sensible, as that's his true level from Teacher Assessment.

I think the writing is something of a stretch - but then his teacher tells me that his writing has come along in huge leaps this year so maybe he is up there.

Quote from letter about it
"We have entered the children who either work at level 6 on an everyday basis, or who perform at a very high level 5 consistently, with significant elements of level 6. We are therefore entering only a few children."

The top set have been doing l6 maths to keep them progressing at thier level, but the school are not entering them into l6 SATS. Which seems sensible to me.

I have friends who have been pressurised to let children take l6 booster classes after school, which seems a bit mad. Before long we will have parents tutoring for l6, and then when that becomes the norm, tutoring for a GCSE in Yr6 - where will it end?

SATS are supposed to test the results of the education offered in the school, not the level to which childen have been hot housed in addition to classroom teaching to reach l6.

My niece is the only one in her class doing it. Me and my sister are both abit because we dont really know what it means. My sister is very laid back, said it doesnt affect high school is September so she's not going through it with her. I know my niece is an avid reader and loves in English, but, her spelling leaves alot to be desired. And whats with all the "proper" writing they are doing these days? I cant make head no tail of it. I remember at primary school not been allowed to do joined up writing until we were 12 now my 7 year old dn uses joined up writing and i cant read a word of it. When did this become the norm?

Children are doing the L6 tests because reaching level 5 is no longer considered to show enough 'value added' in schools where children start school above average. If schools can't show that they have moved the children on enough then they will get a lower ofsted rating when they are inspected.

Ah, yes, an attempt at achieving Michael Gove's aim that all schools perform at an above average level