Parents informed about Level 6 SATS

[lisson]

Do primary schools tell the parents if their child is going to sit the level 6 SATS?

[morethanpotatoprints]

How does extra tuition not constitute pressure?
Just a thought

[StuffezLaBouche]

It doesn't always, morethan. I tutor my level six children at lunch time and repeatedly stress they do not have to attend - they have been given revision aids to work through at home as well. I don't force them to d any of this. They all come every week because they genuinely enjoy the things we do and they enjoy learning.

[morethanpotatoprints]

StuffezLaBouche.

I am not being judgmental at all and am finding this thread really interesting. My older dc did Y6 SATS many years ago and I find it so different now. Both the parents and the children in both schools they attended had no idea when they were doing them. There were no revision classes, homework etc. They did related lessons in the classroom but weren't aware of it. I wonder if any schools operate like this now. Probably doubtful as they all seem to happen in a designated week across the nation.
The whole idea of assessment of learning is very interesting, as a qualified teacher I can see the importance of it in both the system and classroom. As a Home educator, I think its nuts and a complete time waster. I'm not suggesting I will never assess learning having taken place, but the idea of finding levels and targets is meaningless now.
As I say though I can completely see the importance in the education system because teachers have to work to targets.

[StuffezLaBouche]

I didn't say you were being judgemental..?
In reply to your comments though, (briefly as eyes almost shutting!) I think most children being put in for level six would need some extra input, further than just differentiated work in class. For example, my kids working at 5a for Reading should get sixes, but at present wont as I need to work with them on answering questions in the required way.

If I had children I would love to home educate them, and I agree that in your circumstances, all this business of levels, sub levels, etc is pointless. Unfortunately there has to be some measurable system for all schools and all children. Such a shame it's so flawed!

[morethanpotatoprints]

StuffezLaBouche I know you didn't. Although I am ever mindful of coming across judgy.

Oh yes, I totally agree about the school system and I think you all do a terrific job. I read your post about the flaming from the the parent and after all the extra work you have done. . I can't help but having a silent gloat when I think of lack of pressure for dd with levels and SATS. Don't get me wrong I have an indication of where she's at and where she struggles, abilities etc. That will do for me.
Thank you for replying to me and hope your parents are all nice to you from now on

[AChickenCalledKorma]

We have a timetable for the tests - all the level 6 tests are on the same day as the equivalent level 3-5 tests. I can't believe anyone thought that was a good idea. DD1's school is normally very good during SATs week - gives them a nice breakfast and runs special fun activities each afternoon to balance out the day. But I guess those doing the level 6 papers will miss out on that .

[StuffezLaBouche]

Sorry, I misunderstood your post! :-)
I don't blame you for your silent gloat - if I had children I would home educate as far as I could. I do feel sorry for some of our year sixes. Out of interest, what year is your dd in? Will go to school for her secondary education?

[morethanpotatoprints]

StuffezLaBouche

She is in y4 and won't go to secondary unless she wants to. She was in school until this year but wanted to leave to practice and perform her music. (long story) but exceptionally gifted in music, composing at age 4 etc. Level 8 in y3 average at maths, not very good at English, probably dyslexic. Very good at reading now, having found her passion about a month ago. (It was Pippy Longstocking that did it)

[lljkk]

The point of SATs is to assess the school, not the pupils. It's an accountability system, it also means parents get a kind of external objective indicator of how their child is doing compared to the national cohort.

(Can't believe I'm defending SATs!).

Actually, I wouldn't mind all that so much IF 1) NC levels didn't come across as tickbox assessment, and 2) IF school avg KS2 SATs were not published. It's the publication that I think creates problems & pressure. Or could be published as categories or percentiles (maybe those would be better).

This thread is yet again MNers mentioning extra revision sessions, extra homework, lots of pressure. None of which is evident in my y6 child's life. Instead, neither love nor money seems to be enough to enable DD to take the SAT test she wants to take and can probably get a decent mark on. I swear I live in a parallel Universe from rest of you, I really think this thread is final proof of that.

[BooksandaCuppa]

Your dd has had no stress thus far, lljkk; that's not to say she won't at secondary, especially if she goes up with all level 6s. I don't mind Sats at all, but did not want ds having teachers expect A*s from him and talk about this to him from first thing in secondary. This can happen.

Though maybe you do live in a parallel universe if your teacher still insists they're on a different week

[lljkk]

I wondered about that, if DD having Level 6s would lead to stupidly high targets. DD pushes herself so hard, I don't want external stress as well, just support. We have half plans to move house and maybe after that I would finally find myself in same universe as rest of you. :)

[SherbertStraws]

Does it really matter if they get level 6s? I am asking that seriously. What do they gain from getting level 6s instead of level 5s?

[Sparklingbrook]

I think it's more what the school gets TBH Sherbert.

[jeee]

lljkk, my DD sat level 6 papers last year the week after the normal SATs. My son is sitting them this year, and the school has said that this year they intend for them to be taken on the same day, but in the afternoon, as the other papers. So it may be that the teacher is thinking of last year.

In fact, at least some of my son's teachers are under the impression that the level 6 papers will be taken the week later. I don't think it reflects on their ability to prepare the children for level 6.

[lljkk]

Don't think they gain anything at all Sherbert, Dd just wants it for her own satisfaction and in a way it's a good experience in terms of her learning to handle exams excitement/stress/pressure.

I may be a complete idiot by trying to push for her to do the L6 test, though. I am on a learning curve.

Could even be a bad thing to get Level 6, because (I hear) their yr9 & yr11 targets are made on the basis of what their yr6 SAT results were. Obviously this might be undue pressure, especially on a cohort that is probably overwhelmingly very bright or self-motivated anyway.

*y8 DS never did y6 SATs and the state school seems to have plucked his targets out of thin air, so I am not sure truly how much the y9/y11 targets have to be fixed from KS2 SAT results.

[BooksandaCuppa]

On the whole, LaQueen, I suspect you're right. But a lot can happen between year 6 and year 11: hormones; peers; motivation; illness; family disruption...let alone the difference in curriculum/skills which might mean a high flier does not necessarily continue to be so.

I just hate the idea of a school constantly pressuring a dc to achieve an A*. Honestly, anything less for a level 6 child would not be accepted.

[lljkk]

DD would be breaking a sweat for sure, she relishes the challenge because she worked for it.

There are so many stories of very clever people who failed the 11+ because of a recent death in the family, floundered in vocational schools, only to eventually find their way back to clever academics by the most circuitious routes; they truly were badly affected by adversity.

[lisson]

Apparently DS's school are going to inform the parents if their child is doing any level 6 next week. Its probably not a coincidence that this will be after the deadline for registering the children has passed.
As a parent, its irritating to have this info withheld but from the teacher's perspective I can see that its quite brilliant because if any parent wants to change the decision either way, it will be too late. (That's assuming that the teacher considers the parents' involvement as unwanted interference , but, in this case, I think that's a given!)

[BooksandaCuppa]

not quite 'either way', lisson as you can ask for them not to do level 6, just not to do it!

Am sorry about your Dad, LaQueen; as you say, for some people it is a great comfort to escape into study; it is for me too (not quite the same as you but my stepmother was also terminally ill during my finals).

[AChickenCalledKorma]

In response to ShertbetStraws: "Does it really matter if they get level 6s? I am asking that seriously. What do they gain from getting level 6s instead of level 5s?"

Speaking for my own child - and for her teachers (assuming they are telling the truth!) It doesn't really matter if they get level 6s. What matters is that they are being given the opportunity to work, in a structured way, towards something that will challenge and engage them, at a stage of their education where they have pretty much nailed everything else they are expected to do at primary school. DD1 is in a small group of children who are "having a go" at level 6 - they are enjoying learning some new stuff and they are not bored brainless from repeating the same work that they already know. The level 6 test is giving their teachers official permission and freedom to continue engaging them beyond what has previously been the limit of what is on offer at primary.

So, weirdly, I also find myself in the position of defending SATs. And DD1 is not showing any symptoms of pressure - on the contrary, she is doing extra maths for fun, because she likes learning new stuff.

[lisson]

Does anyone know where/ if the level 6 SATS get published in league tables? I can't find the 2012 ones.

[Feenie]

Yes, they will, and they were reported in 2012 aswell - Maths was 3% and Reading 0% (they upped the passmark considerably, was very different to the sample they had given).

[teacherwith2kids]

AChicken,

That was exactly what DS gained from doing Level 6 maths. He, his class and his teacher were all energised by having a challenge to work for and new curriculum material to cover. As they did their level 6 work in class time (it's a school which treats SATs very lightly, with just 2 'familiarisation papers' during trhe whole of Year 6, and where all maths is taught in mixed ability classes) it also brought on the whole group - the number of Level 5s was also very high and I think that the energy and interest and curiousity modelled by the 'top table' filtered down as a 'buzz' to everyone.