Yr 2 SATs tests whole class invalidated?

[yanbu123456]

We have just been told today that the whole of our yr2 class SATs tests have been invalidated because one child had done one of the tests before out of school.

Why would the whole class' tests then be invalidated not just that child's? Would it be the school's decision?

I know teacher assessments are more important and we will get those and that's what their levels are based on but it seems a shame the children did all these tests for no reason (although you could argue all year 2 children do them for no reason).

Namechanged for this in case any other mum's from our class/ school are reading.

Anyone had this happen? The tests are all out there for 2007 and 2009 so it can't be that unusual a situation.

There is a reading test and a maths test abut 1 hour each and a spelling test
Now I don't know which paper the child mentioned by the OP had practised ... But that's all the head needed to void (or use an alternative for that child )
TBH its all a little far fetchedOTT

mrz - yes, but don't forget you're looking at it from the point of view of someone who knows the system. If you don't, then I don't think it's unreasonable to ask the questions when you are actually trying to help your own child.

Mrz are you saying my OP is OTT or the head's reaction is OTT?
Also I might be wrong but I think all the likely to be L3 children did the L2 papers too. So most of the week involved quite a lot of testing and the children were all talking about their tests.

They shouldn't have - the statutory docatement states that children should only do one test.

Yes I know but I'm pretty sure they did both.

They sound completely test obsessed

I'm saying the school has acted totally OTT.

from what I understand

a Y2 child says I've already done this test with my tutor ... (was this before the test started or after?)
the head sends out a note saying the results for all tests for all children are invalidated because of this (had the child also practised the other test booklets?)

IMHO total overreaction - I would probably have given the child a different test if I felt I must test

Why would they do that Mrz? Maybe the test results were not 'on message' and they didn't want parents requesting the results and then questionning the teacher assessment?

So although the tests don't really matter, this draconian action makes me suspicious.

Yes he said it just as the booklets were handed out I believe.

Then wouldn't the sensible thing be to remove the child and let the class get on with that particular test ... it certainly wouldn't invalidate the other test papers he hadn't seen before. Personally I would have just let him get on with it but so as not to make a fuss and speak to his parents at some later date.

Yes I agree - in fact he did just go off and do something else while the others carried on so I don't understand at all why the school have turned this into a big deal.
I can understand the head mentioning that ideally in future parents shouldn't have their children doing past SATS papers as it makes things difficult for the school but not the invalidating all the others' tests. She is not a well-liked head who parents trust (ha hope she isn't a Mumsnetter...) so that is why people are wondering why this has been done.

That's what I can't understand either yanbu ... it seems mad to say that all the tests are invalidated when they play such a small part in the levels anyway.

mountains and molehills spring to mind

I don't understand why you're so outraged about the HT invalidating these tests if you understand that teacher assessment is more important. Seems to me this is a very pressurised school from the parents. Tutors in Y2 is ridiculous, they probably even have them for Reception pupils! Having been a teacher myself for many years, what is more than apparent to me is that the HT is trying to fend off pushy parents who are obsessing over test results when quite frankly they show nothing. I've worked in a school just like the sounds of this one where the day after a parents evening a parent hassled me at my classroom door to show me how their daughter was actually able to do all the maths they weren't able to do in school at home! Stop stressing about a ridiculous test which in the grand scheme of things does not reflect how your child is performing!

Feenie, my DD also did the L2 paper, then as she'd done well did the L3 paper.

Though bless her, as the school were trying to play down the test situation, they told the children it was to find out what they didn't know and still needed to be taught. DD thought as she had to do more papers than most of her class, that she was one of the ones who knew the least and needed loads more teaching.

I was told back in parents eve in march if I wanted to help my child we could google sats tests and do some at home ( we didn't) so surely this would have invalidated the tests too ( if we had done it)????

I don't understand why it would invalidate the whole year, surely the child in question could have been given another test instead??

10 yrs ago , at my DS1s old primary school some SATS results were invalidated and their teacher left suddenly for family reasons..We were told the same thing.I only found out years later( when the HT started dating my DB ) that the teacher had actually been falsifying the children's work!!!

The tests had a much higher status 10 years ago.

What a bizarre system. How does it make sense to assess children based on a readily available test that is reused year after year but is supposed to be secret and unseen?

It's representative of the downgraded status of the tests (i.e. they are such a small part of the assessment that there's no need to produce a new one) and also representative of the fact that the government doesn't trust teacher assessment enough to let go of tests completely.

Thought it was worth noting that past KS1 papers for the years currently used in school as the formal assessments are not freely available across the internet to the general public. KS2 papers ARE available as these are changed on a yearly basis. A professionally qualified tutor would be aware of this and wouldn't use them as a practice paper/teaching tool!

Ah ok - thanks (my kids are way past this stage)